The 1080Ti is still worth it, considering the current GPU prices and demand. Performance-wise, the 1080Ti is still compatible for 1080p or 1440p gaming. Getting a second-hand 1080Ti for around $350 or less should be the best deal.
GeForce GTX 1080Ti Is It Worth It – The Right Choice
Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1080Ti is an iconic Pascal graphics card that has managed to gather traction since its release in 2017. For nearly 18 months, as the high-end flagship GPU, the 1080Ti enabled its users to achieve a level of performance never seen before.
Performance-Wise
With the emergence of the RTX 2000 series and the latest 3000 series, the GTX 1080Ti has somewhat lost its spark. The production of the 1080Ti has been stopped since 2018.
Although, if it is the question of whether to buy this card in 2021 second-hand, then yes, it is still a decent card. If we compare its performance with its closest rival RTX 2070 super, the 1080Ti is more or less better, but just without raytracing.
Also, with the scarcity of the latest Ampere technology-based 3000 series GPUs, it is still a relevant question whether to opt for a 1080Ti or not. The 1080Ti has 11GB of memory instead of 8GB from 2070 super and 3060Ti. The user can easily play AAA tier games such as RDR2, Cyberpunk 2077, etc, with no issues in 4k while getting around 30-60 fps.
Price-Wise
The Turing architecture-based 2000 series being more pricey, people in 2018 and early 2019 leaned towards the 1080Ti more, resulting in a GPU shortage. Consequently, the second-hand business boomed. The 1080Ti is still the most looked-for graphics card in the second-hand market despite being a discontinued GPU.
Although in late 2020, the long-awaited announcement from NVIDIA of their Ampere technology-based 3000 series has changed all the equations. With the announced price of 3060Ti being only $399, gamers suspected that getting a 1080Ti for anything more than $350 would be a plain loss. Getting a 3060Ti at that price has proved to be extremely difficult though, as the current rate is almost three times the MSRP.
Should I Get a 1080Ti
If you can get a 1080Ti card for around $300 or lower, it is practically a steal. This is because performance-wise, the 1080Ti is still a beast. But if you have had yours for a long time, you have no reason to be disheartened either.
You can go for better GPUs when the stock and price are stabilized. But if you are raring to complete your build, you should go for a cheap second-hand 1080Ti given the current GPU shortage.
Conclusion
This is the age of GPU draught and a very tough time for gamers. Even buying a GPU for the original price is regarded as a real feat. After almost four years, the performance of 1080Ti is still strong as ever. Even the current owners are in no hurry to replace their 1080Ti for an RTX series card. Therefore, if you can get it for a reasonable price, that would be the best deal.
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