Playing VR games requires a strong graphics card to create the game look and feel real. The NVIDIA GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 are two really popular graphics cards that people use for VR gaming. These cards are really good, but they have different technical specs, costs, and performance levels.
In this blog, Lucidcam will discuss GTX 1070 vs GTX 1080 to help you decide which one is right for you.
Table of Contents
GTX 1070 vs 1080 VR
Nvidia GeForce 1070 vs 1080 – Specs and Technology
Although they share the same architecture, the GTX cards are designed for different situations. The GTX1080, the flagship GTX card, is designed for VR, 4K, and multimonitor gaming. Although the GTX1070 is powerful enough to handle VR and 1440 playback, it’s not quite strong enough for smooth 4K gaming.
The architecture of Th Pascal, upon which the cards are built, is an amazing piece of design. Nvidia has reduced its manufacturing process from 28nm down to 16nm. This shrinkage has allowed Nvidia to fit more transistors in smaller spaces and have them deployed on fins rather than just horizontal planes.
Nvidia’s new cards have millions more transistors and use a smaller amount of silicon.
This smoother flow of electricity results in better GPU performance and surprisingly low power consumption. These cards have 7.2 billion transistors, and a 314mm2 size die.
Peak power consumption is 150W to 180W. Their predecessors had 5.2 billion transistors and a 398mm2 den. They drew peak power consumption of 145W and 160W from mains.
The GTX 1080 is the top-ranked card with 2,560 CUDA Cores, and the GTX1070 comes in at 1,920. Both cards are superior to their predecessors. The GTX980 had 2,048, and the GTX 970 had 1,664.
Also, the clock speeds have been given a significant boost. The GTX1080 is a fast GTX1080 at 1,607MHz, while the GTX1070 is only 101MHz slower – both numbers are hundreds of megahertz faster than last year’s cards.
Nvidia’s latest software features are shared by the cards because they have a common architecture. Pre-emption is a key feature that allows Nvidia’s card the ability to choose between computing and graphics workloads simultaneously.
Lens Matched Shading is also available on both cards. This saves resources and doesn’t render pixels that aren’t visible to the user. The GPU can simultaneously project a scene from up to 16 viewpoints, making it a great tool for VR.
While many of these features will not be utilized to their full potential, future games development will undoubtedly benefit from them, especially when APIs like Vulkan and DirectX 12 is better supported.
In the memory department, the two cards differ. The GTX 1080 comes with 8GB of GDDR5X RAM, while the GTX1070 comes with 8GB of bog-standard GDDR5 RAM.
The GTX1080 has a clock speed of 10,000MHz, while the GTX1070 has a clock speed of 8,000MHz. The GDDR5X memory features a 320-bit bus, which is wider than the 256 on the GTX1070.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Vs 1080 – Testing Methodology
On TrustedReviews’ test rig which was designed to meet the requirements of a standard enthusiast gaming computer, I benchmarked both the GTX 1070 vs 1080. These are the components of it:
- Motherboard: Asus Z170-Deluxe
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6600K, not overclocked
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2666MHz, 16GB DDR4
- Cooler: Corsair H60 liquid cooler
- PSU: Corsair CX750M
- SSD: Samsung 850 EVO
- OS: Windows 10 Pro-64-bit
These cards are powerful, and I have tested them with five games. Each title is tested at the highest settings. I have tried each game at 1,920×1,080, 2,560×1,440, and 3,840×2,160 – 4K.
I also used a variety of synthetic benchmarks. 3DMark’s rigorous Fire Strike test was one example. Other benchmarks were used to measure peak temperature and power consumption.
DiRT Rally
- Ultra at 1,920 x 1,080 average
- GTX1070: 134.7
- GTX 1080: 15.4.8
- Ultra at 2,560 x 1,440, average
- GTX1070: 97.4
- GTX1080: 122.07
- Ultra at 3,840 x 2,160, average
- GTX1070: 52.5
- GTX1080: 63.2
Even though the GTX 1080 is quicker than the GTX 1070, both GPUs can run DiRT Rally at any resolution.
It’s not surprising, however: it is the easiest benchmark among the list of test games. This benchmark is fully representative of gameplay and tests a GPU that has complex lighting and rapid texture movements.
Both cards dominated the benchmark at 1080p, with frame rates of 134.7fps & 154.8fps, respectively. The GTX 1080 maintained a three-figure average result at 1440p, with 122.07fps. The GTX 1070 also did not disappoint, hitting 97.4fps during the same run.
With ease, the two Nvidia cards can handle 3,840×2,160. The GTX1070 average speed of 52.5fps was excellent. The GTX 1080 was nearly 11 frames faster. The pricier card was able to surpass the 60fps threshold, which is crucial for smooth gameplay.
Shadow of Mordor: Middle-earth
- Ultra at 1,920 x 1,080 average
- GTX1070: 131.3
- GTX1080: 160.3
- Ultra at 2,560 x 1,440, average
- GTX1070: 89.8
- GTX 1080: 112.3
- Ultra at 3,840 x 2,160, average
- GTX1070: 46.7
- GTX 1080: 54.9
The game is more difficult because of a variety of environmental effects, including fire, weather, and explosions.
Nvidia’s new cards blew away my 1080p benchmark despite the more difficult game. Both cards averaged 130fps in the 1080p benchmark. The GTX 1080 maintained its excellent form at 2,560×1,440, where it averaged 1112.32fps. With an average speed of 89.8fps, the GeForce card was also impressive.
Both cards performed well at 4K. Although the GTX1080’s 54.9fps average is nearly ten frames faster than its cheaper stablemate GTX 1080.
Grand Theft Auto V
- Ultra at 1,920 x 1,080 average
- GTX1070: 104.2
- GTX 1080: 113.4
- Ultra at 2,560 x 1,440, average
- GTX1070: 74.9
- GTX 1080: 89.3.
- Ultra at 3,840 x 2,160, average
- GTX1070: 39.3
- GTX 1080: 47.3
GTA V’s benchmark test is extremely demanding. It has many scenes that cover flying, driving, and many other scenarios. It’s very demanding graphically. I tested it with all options running at maximum.
Another game in which both cards dealt with every resolution. However, this title is more difficult, and one card fell below a 40fps standard.
The average speed of the GTX1070 was 39.3fps at 4K in GTA V, which is nearly ten frames slower than the GTX1080. This is still a very good score but still a substantial gap between the cards.
At 1440p, there wasn’t enough space between GPUs. The GTX1070 recorded a sterling 74.9fps average, while the GTX1080 produced an 89.3fps result. Both cards performed well at 1080p with speeds exceeding 100 fps.
It is worth looking beyond frame rates to see the GTX1080’s extra CUDA core muscle. At 1080p, the GTX1070 is just 8.1% behind the GTX1080. However, that gap grows to 16.13% at 1440p and 16.91% when 4K.
Hitman
- Max Settings at 1,920 x 1,080, average
- GTX 1070: 81.7
- GTX 1080: 81.5
- Max Settings at 2,560 x 1,440, average
- GTX1070: 69.8
- GTX1080: 84
- Max Settings at 3,840 x 2,160, average
- GTX1070: 29.8
- GTX1080: 47.7
This benchmark tests the processor and graphics cards of a PC with a powerful mix of objects, NPCs, and lighting effects. It’s then run at maximum settings.
In GTA V, I noticed a widening gap between the GTX 1080 and GTX 1080 at different resolutions. This pattern is even more evident in Hitman. The GTX1080 is faster at 1080p than the GTX 1080 at 1440p and 37.53% faster at 3,840 x 2,160.
The GTX 1070 is not the only thing that’s bad. The GTX 1070 passed Hitman’s 1080p, 1440p, and 69.8fps tests with good results. However, it failed to perform at 4K with an average of 29.8fps. This is below the 30fps threshold, and the minimum frame rate will be even lower, which will mean that the game will struggle to meet this demanding resolution.
These problems were not encountered by the GTX1080. It passed the 1080p, 1440p, and 84.03fps tests with flying colors – the increase in speed is a clear sign that the card is working hard; it also handled 4K at 47.7fps.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Max Settings: 1,920 x 1,080 Average
- GTX1070: 97.3
- GTX1080: 13.5.8
- Max Settings at 2,560×1,440, average
- GTX1070: 65.6
- GTX 1080: 92.5
- Max Settings at 3,840×2,160, average
- GTX1070: 34
- GTX1080: 48.3
This benchmark’s intense weather and lighting effects will test even the most powerful graphics card. I have tested the game with all options turned to maximum.
These tests showed that the GTX 1080 performed admirably, with an average 4K speed of 48.3fps and a close to 100fps when the resolution was set to 2,560×1,440.
The GTX1070 also performed well – definitely better than its Hitman frame rates. Its average 4K speed of 34fps is right on the side of 30fps, and it clocked 60fps at 1440p. It was close to 100fps at 1080p.
The GTX 1070 performed consistently slower than the GTX1080 in this test. However, the difference between the cards was just below 30% in all tests. This is a much better score than the GTX 1080’s scores in the previous games. The GTX 1080 used its faster memory and more powerful stream processors to create a wider gap with each resolution increase.
Synthetic Benchmarks, Heat, and Power
3D Mark Fire Strike Ultra
- GTX1070: 3,953
- GTX1080: 4,884
- Peak power:
- GTX1070: 229W
- GTX1080: 286W
- Maximum temperature
- GTX1070: 74degC
- GTX1080: 75degC
The 3DMark Fire Strike test shows the difference in power between these two outstanding cards. The GTX 1070 scored 3953, while the GTX1080 scored 4,884. The GTX 1070 scored 3,953, while the GTX1080 managed 4,884.
Fire Strike also shows how much Nvidia hardware has improved over older cards. This test scored the GTX 970 just 2,767, while it managed 3,286.
My test rig used 229W when the GTX1070 was installed and 286W when the GTX1080 was on-board. These figures are amazing, considering the power available from these cards.
The GTX 1070’s power draw actually is lower than that of the GTX951, and the GTX1080 draws only 16W more power than my GTX 980 rig.
These numbers will be even higher when compared with older GPUs. There are many benefits to installing a more efficient GPU: less electricity consumption, less heat generation, and a quieter PC.
It’s hard to decide between peak temperatures – which is not surprising considering I tested Nvidia Founders Edition hardware. This hardware is identical across both chips. The GTX 1080’s 75degC peak temperature was one degree higher than that of the GTX 1070.
Performance
It’s clear: Nvidia’s two most recent GPU releases have secured its top position in the graphics market, at least until AMD announces more powerful cards based upon its Polaris architecture.
GTX 1070 (and GTX 1080) are extremely powerful. They can withstand benchmarks of 1080p or 1440p without a problem and also have enough power for VR.
The GTX 1080’s higher-end counterpart starts to be worth the extra cost. The GTX1070 slowed to below 30fps during a 4K test. It also had lower averages in some benchmarks, which means its minimums are slower. This can lead to juddering gameplay. The GTX 1080 performed far better in 4K and had no such issues.
As resolutions got more difficult, I noticed the GTX1080 opening up wider leads than its stablemate. This is a testament to the GTX 1080’s superior specification. It means that the GTX1080 is a better choice for 4K and multimonitor setups – as well as VR, where its additional power adds a layer of future-proofing.
Both cards outperformed their predecessors with remarkable noise and power consumption figures.
Nvidia has done an excellent job with Pascal architecture. Both cards are worth looking at. The GTX 1070 is a great choice for 1080p or 1440p gaming. While the GTX 1080 is great for smooth VR and 4K multimonitor setups, the GTX 1080 is a fantastic choice.
Overclocking and SLI
Nvidia believes there is ample headroom to overclock both cards because of GPU Boost 3.0. This allows for more precise control over memory frequencies and voltages.
Both cards were capable of delivering decent gains. The GTX 1070’s memory and core clocks were increased by 220MHz, 260MHz, and 6%, respectively. This resulted in an average increase of 6 frames per second in my game’s testing.
The GTX 1080’s core and memory clocks were able to rise by 200MHz, 189MHz, respectively. This enabled me to deliver about five frames more in my test games.
SLI is more complicated. Nvidia allows gamers to use two cards with SLI. However, if you want to go even further, you will need to register with Nvidia in order to get an unlock code.
Although this is a new approach to gaming, I don’t think it will be detrimental. The performance of these cards means that you only need two GPUs. I also can’t recommend SLI for drivers or diminishing returns with SLI for three and four-card SLI because of driver issues.
Cost
When making a purchase decision, pricing is an important factor. The Nvidia GeForce GTX1080 is a good option if you don’t mind spending a little more. It costs around 550 dollars. It should be able to handle almost any job, including movie editing and 4K gaming.
You can save money by opting for the GTX1070. It will cost approximately 40 dollars, but it is not available on Nvidia’s website. It can be purchased from a variety of Nvidia partners.
These two cards offer exceptional versions of the GTX1080 Ti or GTX 1070 Ti graphics cards, which are 150 to 100 dollars more than their single counterparts. If you have a lot of money and need the highest performance, these solutions are accessible.
There Are Other Things To Consider
Nvidia launched these GPUs with its Founders Edition hardware. This was far more costly than board partner cards but offered very little. You got the honor of being the first to queue, alongside Nvidia’s admittedly great metallic card design. But nothing else.
Thankfully, you don’t have to spend extra money on the Founders Edition cards – the board partners have created their own versions.
There is a wide range of products on the market. Air-cooled cards are available at prices ranging from PS380 to PS500. Cards with water blocks that can be fitted for liquid cooling are also available.
Even the most expensive cards have modest overclocks. A card costing around PS420 can get a GPU running at 1,620MHz or 1,670MHz with memory up to 8,500MHz.
Nvidia’s solid reference design is used by many GTX 1070s, but others use more fans and heatsinks. A mini-ITX version is also available, as well as a card that has a pre-built water cooling unit.
The GTX 1080 does not have smaller versions, unlike the GTX1070. However, there are plenty of third-party and reference designs on the market. Overclocked models and prices range from PS590 to PS750. These cores are often tuned to run at speeds exceeding 1,700MHz and memory up to 10,500MHz.
FAQs
1. Is GTX 1070 enough for VR?
A GTX 1070 will work well for VR games using a Rift/Vive. I recommend that you check your Cpu if frame rates are not stable. An I7 7700k, for example, can struggle in VR applications more than you might think.
2. Can a 1080 VR run?
ASW didn’t kick in for GTX 1080, which resulted in a poor VR gaming experience. About half of the frames were lost. If you have poor framerate delivery, we recommend that you go into the Oculus Rift Diagnostics and enable the DeBug Tool.
3. Can a GTX1070 run Half-Life Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx running on a GeForce GTX1070. You can see that it could return a reliable 63 FPS. … It can get strong 1080p Ultra at 45 FPS. However, if you want it to go up to 1440p on Half-Life: Alyx, then the Low setting can get 91 FPS, and the Medium returns 71 FPS.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both NVIDIA GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 provide high performance capbilities for VR gaming. But, each cards have pros and cons that are important to consider when making a decision. So, you should carefully considering the factors in this guide to choose suitable graphic card to take your VR gaming experience.
