G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design

2017

Why buy it

✅21.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs Unknown).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Radeon Pro Vega 48: it remains the more sensible modern option while Radeon Pro Vega 48 is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 25.0 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
❌400% higher power demand at 150W vs 30W.

Radeon Pro Vega 48

2019

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 25.0 vs 0 G3D/$ ($450 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 150W, a 120W reduction.
✅More future proof: GCN 5.0 (2017−2020) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2019-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.

GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design

2017

Radeon Pro Vega 48

2019

Why buy it

✅21.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs Unknown).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Radeon Pro Vega 48: it remains the more sensible modern option while Radeon Pro Vega 48 is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 25.0 vs 0 G3D/$ ($450 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 150W, a 120W reduction.
✅More future proof: GCN 5.0 (2017−2020) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 25.0 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
❌400% higher power demand at 150W vs 30W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2019-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design better than Radeon Pro Vega 48?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 21.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data, 2.6% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 8 GB vs Unknown of VRAM. It also comes from 2017 instead of 2019, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more VRAM at 8 GB instead of Unknown and the stronger feature stack with no meaningful modern upscaling stack instead of FSR upscaling. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus $450 MSRP, and you are getting 21.1% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 2.6% higher G3D Mark. Radeon Pro Vega 48 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

When does Radeon Pro Vega 48 make more sense than GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design?

Yes. Radeon Pro Vega 48 is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still fine for 1080p, but 1440p and especially 4K require more compromise. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (30W vs 150W), and staying closer to $450 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design currently gives you 2.6% higher G3D Mark and 21.1% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. Radeon Pro Vega 48 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design Benchmark Check

Radeon Pro Vega 48 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
1080p
low	142 FPS	94 FPS
medium	127 FPS	82 FPS
high	109 FPS	70 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	48 FPS
1440p
low	122 FPS	78 FPS
medium	100 FPS	68 FPS
high	84 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	36 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	31 FPS
medium	58 FPS	28 FPS
high	43 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	19 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design Open Radeon Pro Vega 48

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
1080p
low	241 FPS	226 FPS
medium	205 FPS	192 FPS
high	160 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	130 FPS	122 FPS
1440p
low	170 FPS	162 FPS
medium	144 FPS	138 FPS
high	118 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	90 FPS
4K
low	98 FPS	96 FPS
medium	82 FPS	79 FPS
high	70 FPS	67 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	51 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design Open Radeon Pro Vega 48

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
1080p
low	520 FPS	453 FPS
medium	416 FPS	392 FPS
high	347 FPS	331 FPS
ultra	260 FPS	254 FPS
1440p
low	390 FPS	323 FPS
medium	312 FPS	281 FPS
high	260 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	190 FPS
4K
low	260 FPS	217 FPS
medium	208 FPS	181 FPS
high	173 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	130 FPS	104 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design Open Radeon Pro Vega 48

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
1080p
low	316 FPS	176 FPS
medium	276 FPS	142 FPS
high	228 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	189 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	258 FPS	126 FPS
medium	222 FPS	105 FPS
high	171 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	139 FPS	72 FPS
medium	109 FPS	60 FPS
high	94 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	37 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design Open Radeon Pro Vega 48

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design and Radeon Pro Vega 48

GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design

The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 27 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1290 MHz to 1468 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,566 points.

Radeon Pro Vega 48

The Radeon Pro Vega 48 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 19 2019. It features the GCN 5.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1200 MHz to 1300 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,270 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design scores 11,566 and the Radeon Pro Vega 48 reaches 11,270 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is built on Pascal while the Radeon Pro Vega 48 uses GCN 5.0, both on 16 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design) vs 3,072 (Radeon Pro Vega 48). Raw compute: 7.516 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design) vs 7.987 TFLOPS (Radeon Pro Vega 48). Boost clocks: 1468 MHz vs 1300 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
G3D Mark Score	11,566+3%	11,270
Architecture	Pascal	GCN 5.0
Process Node	16 nm	14 nm
Shading Units	2560	3072+20%
Compute (TFLOPS)	7.516 TFLOPS	7.987 TFLOPS+6%
Boost Clock	1468 MHz+13%	1300 MHz
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160	192+20%
L1 Cache	960 KB+25%	768 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon Pro Vega 48 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon Pro Vega 48 has 0 MB. The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 256-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design) vs 4 MB (Radeon Pro Vega 48) — the Radeon Pro Vega 48 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR5X	GDDR6
Bus Width	256-bit+100%	128-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design) vs 12.1 (Radeon Pro Vega 48). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
DirectX	12.1	12.1
Vulkan	1.1	1.3+18%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 4.0 (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design) vs VCE 4.0 (Radeon Pro Vega 48). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs UVD 7.0. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Radeon Pro Vega 48).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
Encoder	NVENC 4.0	VCE 4.0
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP6	UVD 7.0
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design draws 150W versus the Radeon Pro Vega 48's 30W — a 133.3% difference. The Radeon Pro Vega 48 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design) vs 1W (Radeon Pro Vega 48). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Integrated. Card length: 0mm vs 0mm, occupying 0 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design	Radeon Pro Vega 48
TDP	150W	30W-80%
Recommended PSU	500W	1W-100%
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	Integrated
Length	0mm	0mm
Height	0mm	0mm
Slots	0	0
Temp (Load)	80°C-6%	85°C
Perf/Watt	77.1	375.7+387%