Nvidia GeForce GTX vs RTX: Difference and Comparison

Nvidia has always been everyone’s first choice regarding computer-related queries. Moreover, establishing the Graphics Processing Unit has shunned every other company in manufacturing gaming and professional components in the best possible way.

Overall, Nvidia GPUs have attracted techs more than any company has done since they are affordable, have great performance, and are regarded as the best Graphic processing cards for use. 

Key Takeaways

1. GTX cards use traditional rasterization techniques to render images, while RTX cards utilize ray tracing technology for more realistic lighting and shadows.
2. RTX cards have dedicated Tensor Cores for AI and Deep Learning tasks, which can be utilized in certain applications for improved performance.
3. RTX cards have higher power consumption and heat generation than GTX cards due to the additional hardware required for ray tracing and AI tasks.

Nvidia GeForce GTX vs RTX

Nvidia GeForce GTX is a graphics card launched in 2008 for a rich gaming experience. It comes at an affordable price range with excellent long-running performance. Nvidia GeForce RTX was launched in 2018 for cinematic and visually pleasing gameplay. It features ray-tracing cores and AI-powered DLSS.

The Nvidia Geforce GTX produces graphics processing units under the brand Nvidia. The Nvidia Geforce GTX stands for Gigar Texel Shader eXtreme, a well-performing microarchitecture card.

Moreover, Nvidia GeForce GTX is specialized in Turing architectures to provide a good graphics experience while playing games on a PC. On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX comes under the GeForce 20 series developed by Nvidia in 2018.

Nvidia GeForce RTX stands for Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme, which is a great card that designs more beautiful complex, large-scale models in architecture and product design, plus scientific visualization, energy exploration, and video production for a real-time representation.  

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Nvidia GeForce GTX	Nvidia GeForce RTX
Meaning	Giga Texel Shader eXtreme (GTX) is a graphics processing unit for gamers in order to secure high-quality gaming experiences launched by a brand Nvidia.	Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme (RTX) is a GTX graphic card to boost the performance, video quality and power for a real-life ray tracing experience.
Launched	Nvidia GeForce GTX is launched by an American multinational technology incorporation Nvidia in 2008.	Nvidia GeForce RTX is launched in 2018 for desktops and PC for the best graphic experience.
Generation	The Nvidia GTX has multiple series, with the first edition installed in 2008 as the GTX 260 under Series 200. Besides; GeForce GTX Series 16, two large versions have been introduced as the GTX 1650 and GTX 1660 Ti.	The Nvidia RTX is a next-gen card, as it is featured with ray-tracing cores and an AI-powered DLSS 2.0 version.
Features	Nvidia GeForce  GTX has a range of performance in the long run. It has Ultra-fast GDDR6 memory and advanced graphics cards that bestow the best gaming experiences.	Nvidia GeForce RTX is renowned for being the best performing graphic card, which brings real-time light simulation to users while gaming.
Suitable for	Nvidia GeForce GTX is highly redolent for gamers who play games such as PUBG, Fortnight, League of Legends, Starcraft and other Esport games for the best graphical experience.	Nvidia GeForce RTX provides the best high-quality performance and power-consuming gaming, which bolsters COD, Fortnite, Minecraft, and many other PC games.

Performance

The following table illustrates the performance of several GTX and RTX graphics cards. Performance is measured in terms of the Frames Per Second (FPS) they can achieve in various popular video games and the TeraFLOPs (TFLOPs), which measure the card’s computational power.

Parameter of Comparison	GTX 1080	RTX 2080	GTX 1660 Ti	RTX 2060	GTX 1050 Ti	RTX 3050 Ti
TFLOPs	8.9	10.1	5.5	6.5	2.1	4.0
FPS (Cyberpunk 2077)	45	60	35	50	20	30
FPS (Witcher 3)	90	120	70	95	40	60
FPS (Red Dead Redemption 2)	60	80	50	70	30	40
FPS (Doom Eternal)	100	140	90	120	60	75
FPS (Shadow of the Tomb Raider)	80	110	60	85	35	55

Technological Features

This table compares key technological features such as Tensor Cores (for AI acceleration), RT Cores (for real-time ray tracing), and the architecture used in each card.

Parameter of Comparison	GTX 1080	RTX 2080	GTX 1660 Ti	RTX 2060	GTX 1050 Ti	RTX 3050 Ti
Architecture	Pascal	Turing	Turing	Turing	Pascal	Ampere
Tensor Cores	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
RT Cores	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Memory (GB)	8	8	6	6	4	4
Memory Type	GDDR5X	GDDR6	GDDR6	GDDR6	GDDR5	GDDR6
DirectX Support	DirectX 12	DirectX 12	DirectX 12	DirectX 12	DirectX 12	DirectX 12

Price-to-Performance Ratio

In the following table, we analyze the price-to-performance ratio of each graphics card. This is a crucial consideration for many users, especially those on a budget. The ratios are calculated based on the card’s price per TFLOPs.

Parameter of Comparison	GTX 1080	RTX 2080	GTX 1660 Ti	RTX 2060	GTX 1050 Ti	RTX 3050 Ti
Price (USD)	500	700	280	350	150	250
Price/TFLOPs (USD)	56.18	69.31	50.91	53.85	71.43	62.5
Price/FPS (Cyberpunk 2077)	11.11	11.67	8.00	7.00	7.50	8.33
Price/FPS (Witcher 3)	5.56	5.83	4.00	3.68	3.75	4.17
Price/FPS (Red Dead Redemption 2)	8.33	8.75	5.60	5.00	5.00	6.25

Power Consumption

Different graphics cards consume different amounts of power under load. The following table indicates the power consumption of various GTX and RTX cards, providing a sense of their energy efficiency.

Parameter of Comparison	GTX 1080	RTX 2080	GTX 1660 Ti	RTX 2060	GTX 1050 Ti	RTX 3050 Ti
Power Consumption (W)	180	215	120	160	75	100
Performance/Watt (TFLOPs)	0.049	0.047	0.046	0.041	0.028	0.040
Performance/Watt (FPS Cyberpunk 2077)	0.25	0.28	0.29	0.31	0.27	0.30
Performance/Watt (FPS Witcher 3)	0.50	0.56	0.58	0.59	0.53	0.60
Performance/Watt (FPS Red Dead Redemption 2)	0.33	0.37	0.42	0.44	0.40	0.40

Ray Tracing Capabilities

The final table shows the capabilities of each card to handle real-time ray tracing, a feature that adds realism to games but requires substantial computational resources.

Parameter of Comparison	GTX 1080	RTX 2080	GTX 1660 Ti	RTX 2060	GTX 1050 Ti	RTX 3050 Ti
Real-time Ray Tracing	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
DLSS Support	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Ray Tracing Cores	N/A	46	N/A	30	N/A	20
Ray Tracing Performance (BF V, 1080p)	N/A	60 FPS	N/A	45 FPS	N/A	35 FPS
Ray Tracing Performance (Metro Exodus, 1080p)	N/A	40 FPS	N/A	30 FPS	N/A	25 FPS

What is Nvidia GeForce GTX?

Nvidia has developed a brand of graphics processing units for gamers, namely GeForce. It was designed to meet the add-on graphics boards, the high-margin PC gaming market expectation.

The Nvidia GeForce GTX was introduced in 2008 for excellent performance and gaming experience. What more to say is GTX is an acronym of Giga Texel Shader eXtreme, a variant under the brand Nvidia GeForce.

The first edition under GeForce GTX came in 2008 under the series 200 and was named GTX 260. Subsequently, GTX cards have been released under innumerable series.

However, the latest version is GTX series 16, which has GTX 1650, GTX 1660 Ti, and its other super counterparts. Nvidia GeForce GTX is one of the best cards for games, including League of Legends, Pubg, Starcraft, Fortnite, Overwatch, and many other PC Esport games, as it provides high-quality power for running the game, ultra-fast GDDR6 memory and up-to-date graphics performance. 

It was also known for rendering great long-run performance at a reasonable price. Furthermore, the Nvidia GeForce GTX series uses the shared Turing architecture in their cards for exceptional gaming performance. 

What is Nvidia GeForce RTX?

Similarly, Nvidia has developed one more line for graphics processing cards with a slight transformation. With this note, Nvidia GeForce RTX is a graphic card line, which stands for Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme.

RTX was introduced in 2018 to deliver laptops and desktops the power and performance for real-time ray tracing and AI. Moreover, Nvidia GeForce RTX renders great gaming graphics to stimulate the game as a real-time, cinematic quality, and visually appealing play experience.

Furthermore, it is the next-gen card, as it is featured with ray-tracing cores and an AI-powered DLSS 2.0 version.  Moreover, Nvidia GeForce RTX supports COD, Fortnite, Battlefield, Control, Cyberpunk 2017, Minecraft, and many other PC games. 

Over time, Nvidia GeForce RTX has released many of the best-performing cards on the market, with quite an eye-watering price, such as RTX 2000, 3000, RX 6000, and many more. However, besides featuring amazing reflections and lighting effects, they bring real-time light particle simulation into the game. 

Main Differences Between Nvidia GeForce GTX and RTX

1. The Nvidia GeForce GTX is a graphic processing unit for gaming purposes, whereas the Nvidia GeForce RTX is a GTX graphic-performing card.
2. The Nvidia GeForce GTX was launched in 2008 under the series 200 and later developed many processors. On the other hand, RTX was launched in 2018 as the best-performing graphic card by the same Nvidia company, GTX, brewed.
3. The Nvidia GeForce GTX is suitable for games such as League of Legends, Starcraft, PUBG, Fortnight, and other Esports games for the best graphical experience. Meanwhile, Nvidia GeForce RTX performs best in COD, Fortnite, Control, Cyberpunk Minecraft, and many other PC games.
4. The Nvidia GeForce GTX is known for Ultra-fast GDDR6 memory, which performs well in the long run. Albeit, the Nvidia GeForce RTX is renowned as the best-performing graphic card and also provides real-light simulation to gamers. 
5. The Nvidia GeForce GTX is the first edition of generation 200, whereas; Nvidia GeForce RTX is a next-gen card.

Technical Specifications Comparison

GPU Architecture

Nvidia GeForce GTX series uses Pascal and Turing architecture in its GPUs. The Pascal architecture was introduced with the GTX 1000 series and provided significant performance improvements over the previous generation of cards. The Turing architecture, introduced with the GTX 1600 series, continued this trend by offering better performance and additional features, such as improved ray tracing capabilities.

On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX series is built on the Turing and the more advanced Ampere architecture. The RTX 3000 and RTX 4000 series use the Ampere architecture, which provides even greater performance improvements and more advanced ray tracing capabilities, along with other enhancements such as AI-accelerated graphics rendering and better power efficiency.

Memory

Both the GTX and RTX series of GPUs come with different memory configurations, but the RTX series offers higher memory capacities and faster memory speeds. For instance, for the GTX series, you might find GPUs with 3GB, 4GB, or 6GB of GDDR5/GDDR6 memory.

In contrast, the recent RTX models, such as the RTX 3080, boast up to 10GB of GDDR6X memory, while the RTX 3090 has a massive 24GB of GDDR6X memory. This increased memory allows for smoother gameplay and better handling of higher-resolution textures and complex scenes in games.

The main technical differences between the Nvidia GeForce GTX and RTX series are their GPU architectures and memory configurations. While both offer powerful performance, the RTX series, built on the Turing and Ampere architectures, provides more advanced ray tracing capabilities, AI-accelerated rendering, and higher memory capacities for improved gaming experiences.

Performance Analysis

Graphics Rendering Efficiency

Compared with earlier GTX series, NVIDIA’s RTX cards boast significantly improved graphics rendering efficiency. The RTX series features dedicated hardware, such as Tensor and ray-tracing (RT) cores, which enable advanced gaming visual effects, like real-time ray tracing and deep learning super-sampling (DLSS). By leveraging these technologies, your RTX card can deliver more detailed and realistic game visuals, providing an enhanced gaming experience.

On the other hand, GTX cards lack RT cores for ray tracing and Tensor cores for AI-driven features like DLSS. Consequently, they might struggle with ray-tracing-enabled games or those that benefit from DLSS. However, GTX cards can still deliver a solid performance in most games, provided you’re willing to settle for lower visual settings or a reduced frame rate.

Energy Consumption

When comparing NVIDIA GTX and RTX cards, a critical aspect is their energy consumption. Generally, RTX GPUs demand more power than their GTX counterparts, primarily due to the added hardware components for ray tracing and AI processing. However, despite requiring more power, the RTX series offers better performance per watt than older GTX cards, thanks to their more efficient architecture.

To illustrate this, let’s look at some numbers:

GPU	TDP (Watts)	Performance Per Watt
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080	320	3.01
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080	180	2.07

As you can see, the RTX 3080 consumes more power than the GTX 1080, yet it also provides a higher performance per watt. This translates to more efficient energy consumption in the RTX series compared to the GTX series.

In conclusion, NVIDIA RTX cards’ graphics rendering efficiency and energy consumption are superior to their GTX counterparts. By opting for an RTX card, you can indulge in advanced gaming visual features and enjoy a more efficient energy consumption profile.

End-User Experience

Gaming Experience

With Nvidia GeForce RTX cards, you’ll significantly improve your gaming experience due to the introduction of ray-tracing technology. Ray tracing enables more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows, providing a visually enhanced gaming experience compared to Nvidia GeForce GTX cards.

You will notice more immersive environments and improved graphical fidelity in games optimised for RTX. Additionally, RTX cards offer Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), a feature that boosts performance without sacrificing image quality.

On the other hand, GTX cards provide a more budget-friendly option while still offering good performance in most games. However, without ray tracing and DLSS, the visual quality and performance might not be as impressive as with RTX cards.

Professional Application Functionality

For professional applications like 3D rendering, video editing, and simulations, Nvidia GeForce RTX cards provide better results than GTX cards. The dedicated RT and Tensor cores in RTX cards accelerate tasks requiring real-time ray tracing and AI-based features.

• The RTX cards provide:
  • Faster performance in rendering, simulations, and other graphics-intensive tasks
  • Improved ray-tracing capabilities for realistic lighting and reflections
  • AI-acceleration features for improved efficiency in supported applications

Conversely, GTX cards may not perform as well in specific professional applications, especially those that rely on ray tracing or AI-based features. Nevertheless, if your work does not demand such advanced features, a GTX card could fulfill your requirements at a lower cost.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

When deciding between NVIDIA GeForce GTX and RTX graphics cards, it’s important to consider the cost-benefit analysis. Assessing the value of each card can help you make an informed decision based on your needs and budget.

The GTX 1600 series may be a more budget-friendly option, but it has some significant drawbacks compared to its RTX counterparts. For instance, GTX cards lack ray-tracing support, a feature that RTX cards provide. Ray tracing creates more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows in games, enhancing the visual experience.

Comparing the cost per frame, it is crucial to analyze whether the price difference justifies the difference in performance. In some cases, RTX cards can offer a superior price-to-performance ratio. For example, the Radeon RX 6600 has been found to outperform the RTX 3050, making it a more cost-effective option in certain circumstances.

As you can see from the search results, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti has a slightly higher cost per frame compared to its competitors. This means that the value difference between this generation’s high-end models and the previous generation’s options may not be substantial enough to justify the investment.

When comparing graphics cards, it’s essential to consider various factors, such as:

• Performance: Examine the frames per second and overall performance of the GPUs to determine which one aligns with your requirements and gaming preferences.
• Features: Evaluate the additional features of each GPU, such as ray tracing, DLSS, and other technologies that may impact your gaming or content creation experience.
• Power and cooling: Check the power consumption and cooling requirements to ensure your existing system can support the new GPU.
• Price: Determine if the card’s price aligns with your budget and the value you expect from the GPU in terms of performance and features.

By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision on whether to choose a GTX or RTX GPU for your system. Remember that the best choice ultimately depends on your specific use-case, preferences, and available budget.

Future Compatibility

When considering the purchase of a new graphics card, you should consider future compatibility with emerging technologies and games. Nvidia’s GeForce RTX series offers improved capabilities compared to the GTX series, ensuring that your system remains ready to handle upcoming advancements.

One key difference between the RTX and GTX series is the former’s introduction of ray tracing support. Ray tracing greatly enhances visual realism by simulating the behavior of light in real-time. As more game developers adopt this technology, investing in an RTX graphics card will ensure you can enjoy the benefits of ray tracing in future titles.

Additionally, the RTX series supports DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), an AI-powered technology that increases performance without sacrificing visual quality. With DLSS, your RTX card can deliver higher frame rates and resolutions in supported games, giving you a smoother and more immersive experience. This feature is absent in the GTX series, making the RTX cards a more future-proof option.

Regarding performance, the RTX series offers better capabilities than their GTX counterparts. With each new generation of cards, Nvidia improves upon aspects such as power efficiency, memory capacity, and processing speeds. By opting for an RTX card, you’ll benefit from these enhancements and have a better chance of maintaining satisfactory performance as games become more demanding.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010465511000452
2. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6489715/