what/llm/can/i/run
compare/rtx-2080-ti vs rtx-5070

RTX 2080 TivsRTX 5070

▸
If you already own a RTX 2080 Ti → wait. Buying new → RTX 5070.RTX 5070 has +1 GB VRAM, 9% more bandwidth, unlocks +2 models, at +$300 (+100%) price.

▸Side by side

Contender
RTX 2080 Ti
NVIDIA · Turing · sm_75
Street$299
vram
11 GB
bandwidth
616 GB/s
tdp
250 W
released
2018-09-27
vs
Contender · winner
RTX 5070
NVIDIA · Blackwell · sm_120
Street$599
vram
12 GB
bandwidth
672 GB/s
tdp
250 W
released
2025-03-05

▸Spec diff

specrtx-2080-tirtx-5070delta
vram11 GB12 GB+1 GB · 9%
bandwidth616 GB/s672 GB/s+56 · 9%
tdp250 W250 W+0 W
street price$299$599+$300 · 100%
arch maturity2018-09-272025-03-05newer = less stable

▸What changes with the upgrade

▸ Unlocked by RTX 50702 models
gemma 3 27bQ2_K60 t/s · bench 50.6
Gemma 2 27BQ2_K60 t/s · bench 46.2
▸ Speed deltas on shared modelstop 5
Gemma 2 2b131 → 143 t/s +9%
Gemma 3 4B69 → 76 t/s +10%
Meta Llama 3.1 8B69 → 76 t/s +10%
Gemma 2 9B62 → 68 t/s +10%
Gemma 3 12B62 → 68 t/s +10%

▸Value verdict

▸ Should you buy/upgrade?

RTX 5070 adds 1 GB VRAM for +$300 (100% premium). The real question is whether your workflow needs models that RTX 2080 Tican't run.

If yes — you want to run gemma 3 27b or similar — then the 1 GB is load-bearing, not luxury.

$ recommend → If you own a RTX 2080 Ti: wait. Prices drop, refresh cycles continue. If buying new: get the RTX 5070 IF your budget allows AND you need the unlocked models.