RTX 2080 Super benchmark showdown: Nvidia vs Zotac

Nvidia’s RTX 2080 Super card is arguably the best graphics card you should buy for 4K in the intervening time (or a minimum of it’s for many who don’t have over a grand to spend on the loopy costly RTX 2080 Ti). But which of the various dozens of RTX 2080 Super playing cards is it really price shopping for? Is it higher to stay with Nvidia’s £669 / $699 Founders Edition, for instance, or must you spend a bit extra and get an overclocked card like Zotac’s AMP Extreme version?

Priced at £760 within the UK (US pricing TBC), the Zotac RTX 2080 Super AMP Extreme card is nearly one other hundred quid on high of Nvidia’s model, but it surely’s additionally one of many quickest kinds of this specific card you should buy proper now. It’s acquired a better increase clock pace than MSI’s equally priced Super X Trio card, for instance, and it’s additionally acquired the sting on lots of EVGA’s RTX 2080 Super playing cards, too. But how rather more efficiency are you really getting in your cash? I’ve made some beautiful bar charts to assist us discover out.

Nvidia RTX 2080 Super vs Zotac AMP Extreme: What’s the distinction?

Before we dive into every card’s efficiency, let’s take a fast have a look at their respective specs. As you’ve in all probability already seen, Zotac’s AMP Extreme card is sort of a bit bigger than Nvidia’s Founders Edition (FE), and it comes with three followers as an alternative of two. As a consequence, you’ll want to verify your case has sufficient house to suit it earlier than you get one – though supplied you’re in a position to take away a few of your case’s additional onerous drive bays, it is best to in all probability nonetheless have the ability to match it right into a mid-tower case with out an excessive amount of trouble.

You’ll additionally discover that the AMP Extreme requires two 8-pin energy connectors fairly than an 8 / 6-pin combo like Nvidia’s FE card. You’ve in all probability already acquired the mandatory cable popping out of your energy provide anyway (plenty of 6-pin connectors even have an additional two-pin adaptor on them anyway), however simply in case you don’t, Zotac have included two twin 6 to 8-pin adaptors within the field.

The major distinction, although, is that increased increase clock pace of 1875MHz. It’s solely 60Hz quicker than Nvidia’s FE card, however (as we’ll see shortly) typically that’s all it takes to push its efficiency a few frames increased than its reference pace rival. That, and the AMP Extreme is totally lined in RGB lighting, which places on fairly the sunshine present in comparison with the minimal inexperienced GeForce RTX brand you get on the aspect of Nvidia’s FE card.

Zotac’s AMP Extreme Edition could also be dearer than Nvidia’s FE RTX 2080 Super, but it surely does include a heck of much more RGBs.

Nvidia RTX 2080 Super vs Zotac AMP Extreme: 4K benchmarks

Starting with every card’s 4K Ultra efficiency, then, it’s… err… effectively… just about an identical. The Zotac pulls forward by a mean of a single body in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Metro Exodus and Forza Horizon 4, however yeah, we’re not likely speaking any type of considerable distinction right here in any way.

In reality, although, the RTX 2080 Super isn’t actually constructed for 4K Ultra settings. I imply, it could actually do it in a handful of games, certain, however you’re going to get a a lot smoother expertise by knocking the standard right down to High. And right here, the Zotac begins to make its presence felt a bit extra. Sort of.

While it’s nonetheless neck and neck with the Nvidia FE card in a handful of games (eliminating those that would already hit 60fps on Ultra, in fact), it was as soon as once more out in entrance in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy XV, Monster Hunter: World and Metro Exodus. Again, it won’t seem like a lot when taken as a mean, however what this graph doesn’t inform you is the place the Zotac AMP Extreme picks up the slack.

In Final Fantasy XV, for instance, the Zotac ranged was in a position to hit highs of 54fps on High, in comparison with Nvidia’s peak of 51fps. Both hit lows of 44fps, however the Zotac was in a position to push itself simply that little bit additional total. The identical hole emerged after I switched on the game’s TurfEffects and HairWorks results, too. Whereas the Nvidia FE ranged between 36-44fps with these on, the Zotac managed 39-48fps, and it felt simply that bit smoother because of this. The different games offered a a lot smaller increase to efficiency, admittedly, with all three simply shifting their min-max vary up by a single body total.

As for every card’s Medium 4K efficiency, the Zotac is as soon as once more a hair’s breadth in entrance of the Nvidia FE card right here, however once more, it’s actually solely Final Fantasy XV the place you’ll would possibly see a noticeable distinction in efficiency. Not solely was it in a position to hit a extra constant 60fps-odd with none Nvidia results turned on, but it surely additionally saved it collectively a bit higher after I did begin turning these results on. With TurfEffects and HairWorks enabled, as an example, the Zotac ranged between 47-55fps, whereas Nvidia’s FE card dipped between 44-54fps.

Otherwise, although, I’m undecided the Zotac is de facto price paying one other £100 for until a) you’re tremendous into its RGB lighting, or b) you’re tremendous into Final Fantasy XV.

Nvidia RTX 2080 Super vs Zotac AMP Extreme: 1440p benchmarks

At 2560×1440, the Zotac comes into its personal a bit extra, however as soon as once more the emphasis is on ‘a bit’ fairly than ‘a lot’. Like earlier than, it won’t seem like a lot if you’re simply offered with its common uncooked efficiency on Ultra settings, however look a bit nearer and there are some sneaky positive factors available right here.

Take Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. You would possibly assume, ‘Pah, what’s a distinction of 3fps?’ Well, what if I advised you the Zotac solely hit lows of 36fps, the place the Nvidia FE dipped all the best way to 24fps every now and then? It was additionally a lot smoother at dealing with Final Fantasy XV’s TurfEffects and HairWorks results, too, ranging between 57-71fps in comparison with Nvidia’s 54-68fps. Sure, they each hit an identical ranges of 48-57fps with all the pieces whacked as much as eleven (therefore the an identical averages of 52fps), however if you happen to can’t be faffed with the game’s VXAO or ShadowLibs results, the Zotac’s going to really feel simply that bit smoother total.

Zotac’s AMP Extreme RTX 2080 Super card was additionally ever so barely higher at ray tracing, too. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, for instance, it was a mean of 2fps quicker no matter what anti-aliasing setting was enabled, and can in all probability as soon as once more really feel simply that bit smoother because of this. Metro Exodus was solely one other body quicker, admittedly, similar to its common, non-ray tracing consequence, however hey, a body’s a body!

Nvidia RTX 2080 Super vs Zotac AMP Extreme: Conclusion

Overall, then, I believe we are able to safely say that the Zotac AMP Extreme is technically the quicker of the 2 RTX 2080 Super playing cards, however when all’s stated and achieved, I simply don’t assume the Zotac’s increased clock pace is de facto pulling its weight right here. There are, admittedly, some good high quality of life advantages to be gained as soon as you progress right down to 1440p and begin including in ray tracing and the like, however total, I believe you (to not point out your pockets) will in all probability be simply as glad enjoying on Nvidia’s FE.

Instead, I’d argue you’re paying extra for the Zotac’s RGB lighting than anything right here, which is okay if you happen to’re into that type of factor and desire a good large slice of rainbow blazing away inside your case, however for many who’d fairly simply get one of the best efficiency for one of the best value, the Nvidia FE is unquestionably the RTX 2080 Super to purchase.