ServeTheHome’s September 5, 2019 review found NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Founders Edition faster than the original RTX 2080 but slower than the RTX 2080 Ti in its compute and graphics tests. The card’s 8 GB of VRAM, 250-watt measured full-load draw and dual-slot Founders Edition design made it a capable 2019 workstation and gaming GPU, but those results are historical rather than a current buying recommendation.
What ServeTheHome tested
William Harmon tested the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER on a workstation platform built around an ASUS WS C621E SAGE motherboard, two Intel Xeon Gold 6134 processors (8 cores and 16 threads each), 192 GB of Micron memory, a Samsung PM961 1 TB SSD, Windows 10 Pro Workstation and a Noctua NH-U14S DX-3647 cooler. Because the platform uses server-class Xeons, comparisons with reviews using consumer desktop CPUs should be treated cautiously. The complete hardware description appears in ServeTheHome’s specifications and setup section.
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The review retained fresh, out-of-box results instead of mixing them with silent-mode or overclocked runs. Its numbers are therefore most useful when compared with tests using the same benchmark versions, settings and operating conditions.
Benchmarks and what they represent
- Geekbench 4: a general GPU-compute test.
- LuxMark: an OpenCL benchmark based on LuxRender.
- AIDA64 GPGPU: OpenCL workload testing.
- hashcat64: GPU password-hashing performance.
- SPECviewperf 13: application-style OpenGL and DirectX graphics tests.
- Rendering tests: practical GPU rendering workloads included in the review.
ServeTheHome discusses these workloads and its comparison methodology in the compute benchmark section.
#1 Best Overall
- Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super
- Boost Clock: 1830 MHz
- Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- Memory Interface: 256-bit
- Output: DisplayPort x 3 (V1.4)/ HDMI 2.0B x 1
Results: between the RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti
Across the review’s compute and graphics workload results, the RTX 2080 SUPER occupied the expected middle position: it outperformed the outgoing RTX 2080 and remained behind the RTX 2080 Ti. That ordering describes this 2019 test set, not a present-day ranking against newer GeForce, Radeon or professional GPUs.
The most important workstation distinction was memory. The tested RTX 2080 SUPER has 8 GB, while the compared RTX 2080 Ti has 11 GB. A workload that fits comfortably in 8 GB can benefit from the SUPER’s performance; a scene, dataset or viewport that exceeds available VRAM may favor the Ti regardless of benchmark speed. Two SUPER cards were also discussed as an alternative, but multi-GPU gains depend on software support and scaling rather than simply doubling one-card performance.
RTX 2080 SUPER specifications and physical design
| Specification | RTX 2080 SUPER Founders Edition or launch information | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| GPU clock | 1,650 MHz base; up to 1,815 MHz boost | GPU-Z values reported in the review |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 | Review sample |
| Memory speed | 15.5 Gbps | NVIDIA manufacturer specification |
| Memory bandwidth | 496.1 GB/s | NVIDIA manufacturer specification |
| Launch price | $699 | NVIDIA’s July 23, 2019 launch terms; not current market pricing |
| Launch availability | July 23, 2019 | Historical announcement |
| Board format | Dual-slot, dual-fan Founders Edition | Partner cards can use different coolers and dimensions |
| Dimensions | 10.5 inches long × 4.556 inches tall | Measured/reported for the reviewed Founders Edition |
| Display outputs | Three DisplayPort 1.4, one HDMI 2.0b and USB-C | Check the exact board before purchase |
| Auxiliary power | One 8-pin and one 6-pin connector | Applies to the reviewed board; verify your model and PSU |
NVIDIA described the 1,815 MHz boost clock as a 105 MHz increase over the original RTX 2080. Those clock, memory and launch figures are manufacturer specifications, not independent performance measurements.
Power, cooling and case compatibility
In ServeTheHome’s AIDA64 GPU stress test, with HWiNFO used for monitoring, the card drew 250 watts under full load and 14 watts at idle. These are measurements from that test system, not universal consumption figures for every game, application, BIOS or partner design.
Rank #3
- Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
- Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- Memory Interface: 256-bit
- Max. Resolution: Support 4x Display Monitors
- Input: 2x 8pin PCI-E Power Connectors
The Founders Edition uses two fans and is described as exhausting heated air toward the rear of the card. In a dense multi-card workstation, the review notes that a blower-style design may be preferable because it can move more exhaust out of the chassis. Partner RTX 2080 SUPER cards often change fan layout, heatsink thickness, length and exhaust behavior, so do not apply the Founders Edition’s dimensions or thermal characteristics to every model. ServeTheHome’s power, cooling and final-words section contains the review’s measurements and configuration guidance.
Pre-installation checklist
- Measure clearance for a 10.5-inch-long, 4.556-inch-tall, two-slot card—or the larger dimensions of your chosen partner board.
- Confirm that your power supply has compatible, dedicated 8-pin and 6-pin PCIe leads for the exact card.
- Check slot spacing if installing two cards; adjacent cards can restrict airflow.
- Verify display cables and monitor inputs against the card’s DisplayPort, HDMI and USB-C outputs.
How it compared in the 2019 buying decision
At launch, NVIDIA positioned the RTX 2080 SUPER at $699, with availability beginning July 23, 2019. ServeTheHome’s value discussion therefore belongs to that period. Used-card prices, warranties, condition and performance relative to GPUs released after 2019 are not established here, so the old launch price should not be treated as a 2026 recommendation.
Rank #4
- Powered by NVIDIA Turing with 3072 CUDA Cores and overclocked 8GB GDDR6 256-bit memory
- Supports up-to 4 Monitors with 3x DisplayPort 1. 4 and 1x HDMI 2. 0 ports
- Dual Axial-Tech 0db Fans increase airflow through the heatsink and boasts IP5X dust-resistance
- Protective Backplate features a durable aluminum construction to prevent PCB flex and trace damage
- GPU Tweak II makes monitoring performance and streaming in real time easier than ever, and includes additional software like Game Booster, XSplit Gamecaster, WTFast and QuantumCloud
Choose one RTX 2080 SUPER when
- Your software fits within 8 GB of VRAM and benefits from the review’s level of compute or viewport performance.
- You need the reviewed Founders Edition’s two-slot footprint and rear-directed exhaust, subject to case verification.
- You are evaluating a known used workstation configuration and can validate card condition, power connectors and cooling.
Consider an RTX 2080 Ti when
- Your scenes or datasets need more than 8 GB; its 11 GB capacity is the decisive specification.
- You accept the larger power, cost and physical considerations associated with the Ti-class board.
Consider two RTX 2080 SUPER cards only when
- Your application explicitly supports multi-GPU rendering or compute.
- The motherboard provides suitable slot spacing, the chassis can remove heat and the PSU has enough capacity and connectors.
- You have confirmed scaling for your exact software; unsupported workloads will not automatically gain a second-card speedup.
Verdict
ServeTheHome’s RTX 2080 SUPER review presents a clear 2019 result: it was a step above the RTX 2080, below the RTX 2080 Ti, and constrained by 8 GB of VRAM in memory-hungry workstation jobs. Its 250-watt measured load, 14-watt idle result and Founders Edition dimensions are useful compatibility references, but only for the tested configuration. For a purchase today, treat this review as historical performance and hardware documentation, then verify current used-market pricing, warranty, card condition, software support and comparisons with newer GPUs.
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