Geforce GTX is a dedicated GPU series built for desktop and laptop gaming. The GTX 260 was the first card in the range when it debuted in 2008.
Assume you want to build a computer or replace the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) of your existing PC since it has become obsolete.
You go to the market in search of a new one and are presented with two options: GTX and RTX. You have no idea what any of this means and make the wrong decision.
I will help you with a basic understanding of the differences between these phrases.
While there are numerous competitors in the GPU market (mostly Nvidia and AMD), i will only discuss Nvidia processors because they are the most common, and the terms GTX and RTX refer to them.
What exactly is GTX?
GTX stands for Giga Texel Shader eXtreme and is a version of Nvidia’s GeForce trademark. They were initially launched in 2008 with the Tesla series 200.
The GTX 260 and GTX 280 were the initial products in this series. The debut of these cards also had an impact on the naming scheme and starting with the release of these cards, Nvidia GPUs utilized a naming scheme that included GTX/GT as a prefix followed by the model number.
Nvidia updated the microarchitecture on which its cards are based with each major release in the series, for example, series 200 and 300 were based on Tesla architecture, series 400 and 500 were based on Fermi architecture, and so on.
The latest GTX series 16 includes the GTX 1650, GTX 1660, GTX 1660Ti, and Super variants. These were introduced in 2019 and are based on Turing architecture.
What exactly is RTX?
RTX is an abbreviation for Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme and is also a GeForce version. The RTX cards were expressly built to support real-time ray tracing, which improved the video quality.
They were initially unveiled in 2018 and are based on the Turing architecture. These RTX cards include the RTX 2060, RTX 2070, RTX 2080, RTX 2080Ti, and Super 2060 and 2070 equivalents. These GPUs support Microsoft’s DirectX12 DXR extension as well as DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling).
The distinction between GTX and RTX
GeForce is a brand of GPUs designed by Nvidia that includes variants such as GTX and RTX. Before the terms GTX and RTX were used or existed, terms such as GT and GS were popular among GPUs, but nowadays they only provide entry-level graphics processing capability and for using more graphics-intensive applications such as games, graphic engines, and much more, you should possess the GTX or RTX cards.
The 16XX series is the most recent addition to the GTX series, although, for the sake of clarity and comparability, we would consider the differences between a GTX 1080Ti (released in 2016) and an RTX 2080 (announced in 2019) as they are very similar with a small variation.
GTX is an abbreviation for Gigabyte. Texel Shader eXtreme and RTX stand for Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme are not simple technologies to grasp, but the most fundamental distinction between the two is that the RTX is specifically built for doing Real-Time Ray Tracing.
In simpler terms, it is used in video games to map the course of light as it interacts (reflects or refracts) with its environment in real time. It results in more visually appealing locations, textures, and materials in the game.
As seen in the table, RTX cards provide very accurate lighting effects and rendering. However, higher looks do not always imply better frame rates.
Furthermore, few games on the market enable ray tracing. Let’s have a look at the differences between the GTX 1080Ti and the RTX 2080.
GTX 1080Ti vs RTX 2080
| GTX 1080Ti | RTX 2080 | |
| GPU architecture | Pascal | Turing |
| Frame Buffer | 11 GB GDDR5X | 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 11 Gbps | 14 Gbps |
| Boost Clock | 1582 MHz | 1710 MHz |
| Ray Tracing | Not Supported | Supported |
| DLSS | Not Supported | Supported |
| Price | $1000 | $700 |
These are the primary distinctions between the two cards. In 4K gaming, the RTX 2080 can outperform the GTX 1080Ti. 2080 employs quicker GDDR6 memory, resulting in higher resolutions.
It also provides further rendering advantages as a Turing architecture card and supports Real-Time Ray Tracing and DLSS, and it is less expensive than its predecessor.
While these features sound fantastic, there is no compelling reason to use the RTX card if you don’t care about graphics. Because 4K monitors are highly expensive and enabling ray tracing may impact your frame rates, the GTX 1080Ti outperforms the RTX 2080 in some titles.
Final thought
Nvidia’s GTX 1080Ti will provide better performance in some games, but it is not worth the additional cost, and since RTX cards include additional features such as Ray tracing and DLSS, it is a good choice for mid to high-end PCs, and since more and more games support ray tracing, it is a good choice for the present as well as the future.
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