RTX 4090 Laptop vs RTX 5080 Laptop: Which Is the Better GPU?

RTX 4090 Laptop GPU stacked against an RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. Find out which one is the better option for you.

The RTX 4090 mobile GPU goes head-to-head with the newer RTX 5080 mobile. Both are super high-end solutions, offering 16GB of VRAM and built on the same TSMC 5nm node, despite the naming discrepancy. The specs, as always, do not tell the whole story.

But when it comes to real-world usage, especially under a limited power budget, these GPUs behave very differently. If you’re chasing ultra-high FPS in AAA titles, planning to play competitive esports, or tuning for better performance, such as undervolting for thermals and battery life, you’ll find this helpful. Below is a comparison of what you can expect as a starting point between the two.

Also Read: Best Premium Laptops To Play The Alters

RTX 4090 Laptop vs RTX 5080 Laptop: Detailed Comparison

Specs Comparison

Here are the specs of RTX 4090 Mobile and the RTX 5080 Mobile:

Specifications	RTX 4090 Mobile	RTX 5080 Mobile
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Blackwell
Lithography	TSMC 5N	TSMC 4N FinFET
Shading Units	9728	10240
TMUs	304	320
SM Count:	76	80
Tensor Cores:	304	320
RT Cores:	76	80
L1 Cache:	128 KB per SM	128 KB per SM
L2 Cache:	64 MB	64 MB
Memory Size	16 GB	16 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR7
Memory Width	256-bit	256-bit
Memory Bandwidth	576 GB/s	896 GB/s
TDP (Configurable)	80-175W	100-175W

On paper, the RTX 5080 looks significantly faster, as it has nearly double the memory bandwidth, more CUDA cores, more tensor cores, and more overall. But in reality, the performance tells a different story. This is because laptop GPUs are heavily constrained by power and thermal limits.

Although the RTX 4090 laptop is significantly less potent than its desktop counterpart, it still holds its own in mobile form. As for the 5080, it comes very close to the desktop-class 5080 but runs at a lower TDP due to the same thermal limitations.

Gaming Performance Comparison

The data is sourced from Jarrod’s Tech YouTube channel, where the person tested two laptops with RTX 4090 and RTX 5080 mobile GPUs with near-dentical specs.

Games	RTX 4090 Mobile	RTX 5080 Mobile
Cyberpunk: 2077	155 FPS	150 FPS
Alan Wake 2	121 FPS	107 FPS
Warhammer 40000 Space Marine 2	86 FPS	82 FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2	149 FPS	107 FPS
Apex Legends	299 FPS	299 FPS
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2	85 FPS	86 FPS

Although the 5080 boasts superior specs, it is much more efficient. The RTX 4090 can still outperform it, technically, due to more mature driver support, better voltage-frequency curves, and potentially better silicon binning. That said, both GPUs are built on similar 5nm-class TSMC nodes, and Blackwell is a newer architecture, making it more efficient.

At a given power budget, say 175W, the 4090 may require less voltage to hit higher clock speeds, which is why it’s a strong contender. If you are considering undervolting, then things get even better, as you reduce voltage, lower temps, and maximize thermal headroom.

Tuning magic can also be done with the 5080, and depending on the silicon lottery, you may end up surpassing the 4090. Get this: both are powerhouses for what they do. Selecting either one works, as both have plenty of VRAM and won’t run out in AAA games, at least for now.

Final Verdict on RTX 4090 Laptop vs RTX 5080 Laptop

When factoring in high-end laptop GPUs, gaming performance will be excellent. That said, you can opt for a better alternative if gaming-specific requirements are your only concern: consider the last-gen option, a used model, or a refurbished one. As for who wins, the RTX 4090 mobile excels in gaming, while the RTX 5080 mobile takes the lead in newer features, such as DLSS MFG.

Also Read: Best 5 AMD Laptops

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