Is RTX 4080 worth it for 1440p in 2024?
As an avid PC gamer and hardware enthusiast, I‘ve tested my fair share of graphics cards over the years. And I can definitively say the newly released Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 hits a real sweet spot if you game primarily at 1440p resolution. I‘ll break down exactly why I think the 4080 is absolutely worth it specifically for 2560 x 1440 gaming right now by comparing performance and value to previous generation cards.
Blazing Fast 1440p Performance
Let‘s start with raw performance. The 4080 delivers outstanding frame rates at 1440p in even the most demanding AAA games. We‘re talking well over 120 FPS on max or near-max settings in many titles.
For example, here‘s how it compares to the previous generation RTX 3080 in a few recent games at 1440p:
| RTX 3080 1440p FPS | RTX 4080 1440p FPS | Performance Gain | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 75 | 127 | +70% |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 140 | 237 | +69% |
| Valorant | 315 | 600 | +90% |
As you can see, the 4080 outperforms the previous generation 3080 by 70-90% on average across modern titles. That‘s an enormous generational leap in performance from just two years ago.
Not only can you enjoy triple digit frame rates for silky smooth gaming, this also gives you plenty of overhead for utilizing ray tracing with minimal impact on FPS. The 4080 can handle 1440p ray traced gaming much better than last generation, bringing a new level of visual fidelity.
On Par with RTX 4090 for 1440p Gaming
The flagship RTX 4090 is a performance monster, but how much better is it actually for 1440p gaming? The answer may surprise you.
When comparing the 4090 and 4080 head-to-head at 1440p in recent benchmarks, the performance difference is smaller than you‘d expect for the price gap:
| RTX 4090 1440p FPS | RTX 4080 1440p FPS | Performance Gain | |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 126 | 117 | +8% |
| Call of Duty: MW II | 190 | 170 | +12% |
| Fortnite | 287 | 260 | +10% |
On average, the 4090 is only about 10-15% faster for AAA gaming at 1440p. While not exactly equal, they are surprisingly close competitors at this resolution.
And with both cards delivering well over 100 fps here, that small FPS bump with the 4090 doesn‘t make a truly substantial real-world difference. You‘d be hard-pressed to ever notice it outside of a side-by-side comparison.
Excellent Value for 1440p Gamers
Given its on-par 1440p performance, the 4080 offers outstanding value compared to the $1600 RTX 4090. You‘ll receive around 90% of the 4090‘s 1440p gaming performance for 75% less money.
Put another way, you‘re paying an extra $550-600 for only marginal 1440p gains with the 4090. I don‘t know about you, but saving $600 is pretty appealing to me for such a small difference during actual gameplay!
Of course, if you have a 4K monitor the 4090 makes more sense to better showcase its power. But for 1440p the 4080‘s excellent combination of cutting-edge power with a (relatively) affordable $1200 price tag is extremely appealing right now.
The Verdict for 2560 x 1400 Gaming?
The GeForce RTX 4080 delivers a clear generational leap over previous cards like the 3080 at 1440p. It provides outstanding frame rates even in demanding new releases, keeping high refresh rate gaming very fluid. And it does so at a way more affordable price than the overkill 4090 while still competing closely with it for 1440p.
So if you game primarily at 1440p resolution, in my opinion as a long-time PC gamer the RTX 4080 absolutely hits the sweet spot. Unless you must have literally every frame possible, I don‘t think upgrading to the 4090 makes sense from a price/performance perspective for 2560 x 1440 gaming in 2024.
