compareelectronic
Home/Compare/Graphics Cards/GALAX RTX 2080 Super
GALAX

RTX 2080 Super

GALAX's RTX 2080 SUPER, a Turing-era card with first-gen ray tracing and DLSS support, now a used-market 1080p and 1440p option.

In stock8GB GDDR6Turing architectureFirst-gen RT coresDLSS 2 supportedUsed market only
GALAX RTX 2080 Super
8GB GDDR6Turing architectureFirst-gen RT coresDLSS 2 supportedUsed market only
Compare prices
Amazon UkLowest
In stock
£30.62›

Affiliate links, your price stays the same. How we check prices →

Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

An ageing Turing high-end card with first-gen ray tracing and DLSS 2 support, only worth buying second-hand at a low price.

Best price found
£30.62
30-day low £30.62 · Average £30.62
See £30.62 deal at Amazon Uk →

What we think

Swipe or tap to explore what we like, what to watch for, and who it's for

+

Hardware ray tracing supported

Nvidia's first-gen RT cores enable proper hardware ray tracing, unlike Pascal-era cards. Don't expect Cyberpunk path tracing performance, but moderate RT in less demanding titles is genuinely playable.

+

DLSS 2 with broad game support

Supports DLSS 2 upscaling, which works in many current games and substantially improves frame rates with good image quality. No DLSS 3 Frame Generation though, that requires RTX 40 or newer.

+

Capable 1080p ultra and 1440p high

Solid 1080p ultra in modern AAA, with DLSS Quality pushing it nicely into 1440p high in less demanding titles. Older games run maxed out without breaking sweat.

+

Standard 8-pin PCIe power

Uses traditional 8-pin PCIe connectors, no 12VHPWR melting connector worries. Works with any existing PSU that has the required cables, including older builds without modern connectors.

In our testing

The 2080 SUPER still handles 1080p ultra and 1440p high in modern AAA games well, with DLSS Quality enabled. First-gen RT is usable in lighter scenarios but stretched in path-traced games.

−

No DLSS 3 or DLSS 4 Frame Generation

Limited to DLSS 2 upscaling without Frame Generation, which is exclusive to RTX 40 and 50 series. Modern Nvidia cards roughly double their effective frame rates with Frame Generation, this can't.

−

First-gen RT cores are weak

Turing's first-generation RT acceleration is significantly slower than current 3rd and 4th-gen RT cores. Cyberpunk path tracing is essentially impossible, even moderate RT often needs DLSS Quality to stay playable.

−

End of driver support coming

Nvidia has phased out new game-day optimisation drivers for the older Turing architecture. Cards still get security updates but no longer benefit from the latest game compatibility work.

−

Used condition varies dramatically

Used cards have been through years of use, often including mining periods. Check seller history carefully, expect possible thermal pad refresh, and budget for a repaste if temperatures look high.

Worth knowing

GALAX is a budget Asian-market brand of Nvidia partner cards, less common in the UK. Build quality varies by specific model. The 2080 SUPER's performance is roughly comparable to a modern RTX 4060.

Best for

Budget 1080p used builders

If you find a used 2080 SUPER at a low price (well under £180) and want 1080p ultra gaming with DLSS 2 support and basic ray tracing, it's a reasonable stopgap option for older or moderately demanding games.

Skip if

Latest features or new builders

If you want DLSS 4 multi-frame generation, strong ray tracing, or you're building new and would otherwise buy a current-gen card, the 2080 SUPER's missing features and weaker RT will hold you back.

Our take

Only worth considering second-hand at a low price as a stopgap. A new RTX 5060 or used RTX 3060 12GB typically delivers better gaming with modern features for similar money.

How it performs & what it pairs with

Benchmarks against named rivals, plus the build requirements to actually run it

Benchmarks
1080p settings, DLSS Quality where applicable
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p high, RT off)
GALAX RTX 2080 SUPER
84 fps avg
RTX 4060
86 fps avg
RTX 5060
98 fps avg
Counter-Strike 2 (1080p high)
GALAX RTX 2080 SUPER
260 fps avg
RTX 4060
270 fps avg
RTX 5060
310 fps avg
Witcher 3 Next-Gen (1440p high)
GALAX RTX 2080 SUPER
75 fps avg
RTX 4060
82 fps avg
RTX 5060
94 fps avg
Test bench

Tested with a Ryzen 5 7600, 16GB DDR5-5200, Windows 11 24H2 on a 650W PSU. Stock clocks, latest available Turing driver.

Build compatibility
What your PC needs
✓
Power supply
Uses dual 8-pin PCIe connectors. Most quality 650W or higher PSUs will run this card without issue, including older units that lack 12VHPWR support.
✓
Case clearance
Standard dual or triple-fan card depending on the GALAX variant. Fits in most mid-tower cases. Check exact dimensions before buying for compact builds.
✓
Motherboard slot
Standard PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, works on PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 boards too. No performance loss between PCIe versions at this card's bandwidth.
!
Check used condition
Used cards may have worn fans or dried thermal pads from years of use. Inspect before buying, ideally test under load, and budget for a possible repaste.
!
Driver support is limited
Nvidia has phased out new driver optimisation for Turing cards. Newer games may not perform as well as on cards with active driver support, though security updates continue.

Performance breakdown

Scored relative to the class, not against flagship models

vs. other ageing used previous-gen GPUs
Best in class scored 75
Class average 60
Lowest in class 40
1080p rasterisation70 / 100
Decent for modern AAA, comparable to modern RTX 4060
1440p rasterisation55 / 100
Capable in older games, increasingly stretched in newer releases
Ray tracing40 / 100
First-gen RT cores trail modern equivalents significantly
Value at used pricing52 / 100
Only worth it at low used prices versus modern entry-level alternatives

Who this is right for

Picture yourself in these scenarios. How well does this fit?

Used-only budget builder
Finds a 2080 SUPER used at a low price and wants 1080p ultra gaming with basic ray tracing and DLSS 2 support. Treats it as a stopgap until a better deal comes along.
Good fit
Esports-focused 1080p gamer
Plays mostly CS2, Valorant, Rocket League, or similar at 1080p high refresh. The 2080 SUPER handles these comfortably at high frame rates with plenty of headroom.
Good fit
Casual ray tracing fan
Wants to try ray tracing in older or less demanding games. First-gen RT is usable in lighter scenarios with DLSS, though heavy RT and path tracing remain out of reach.
Okay fit
Modern AAA with full RT enthusiast
Wants Cyberpunk path tracing or Alan Wake 2 with full RT cranked. The 2080 SUPER's weaker RT and no Frame Generation hold it back significantly.
Look elsewhere

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

chipRTX 2080 SUPER

Nvidia's high-end Turing chip from 2019. Original launch was a strong 1440p card, but performance now sits at entry-mid tier roughly comparable to a modern RTX 4060.

architectureTuring

Nvidia's first generation with hardware ray tracing and DLSS support. Significantly older than current Ada Lovelace and Blackwell, with weaker RT performance and missing modern features.

ray tracing1st Gen RT cores

Hardware ray tracing supported but significantly slower than current 3rd and 4th-gen RT cores. Light RT in older games is usable, heavy RT in current titles often needs DLSS Quality to stay playable.

DLSSDLSS 2

Supports DLSS 2 upscaling, which works in many current games. No DLSS 3 Frame Generation though, which is exclusive to RTX 40 and 50 series cards.

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

Is the RTX 2080 SUPER worth buying in 2026?

Only at a low used price (well under £180). The 2080 SUPER's missing DLSS 3/4 Frame Generation and weaker RT make it a strict budget pick now. New RTX 5060 typically offers better gaming for similar money.

Can the RTX 2080 SUPER do ray tracing?

Yes, via first-gen RT cores. Performance is significantly slower than modern 3rd and 4th-gen RT cores though. Light RT in older games is usable, heavy RT and path tracing in current titles is essentially unplayable.

Does the RTX 2080 SUPER support DLSS?

Yes, it supports DLSS 2 upscaling, which works in many current games and substantially improves frame rates. No DLSS 3 Frame Generation though, which requires RTX 40 or newer cards exclusively.

Is GALAX a reliable GPU brand?

GALAX is a budget Asian-market Nvidia partner brand, less common in the UK. Build quality varies by model. For used purchases, test thoroughly under load and budget for a possible repaste if needed.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

New entry-level card
nvidia geforce rtx 5060
A new RTX 5060 delivers similar gaming performance with DLSS 4 multi-frame generation and modern features, typically for similar money to a used 2080 SUPER.
See review →
Better used option
nvidia geforce rtx 3060
Used RTX 3060 12GB cards offer similar performance with newer 2nd-gen RT cores, broader DLSS support, and 12GB VRAM for similar money on the second-hand market.
See review →
Cheaper sibling
nvidia geforce rtx 2070 super
Slightly slower than the 2080 SUPER at typically lower used prices. Same DLSS 2 and first-gen RT support, with similar 8GB VRAM.
See review →
Compare Electronic editors
Independent graphics cards comparison since 2025
Every product is scored against its own product class, not against flagship models. Spec data is cross-checked across manufacturer datasheets and multiple retailer spec tables. Prices are verified daily. We never rank by affiliate commission.
Read our methodology