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AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080: Comparison
AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080: the memory bandwidth difference
Start with memory bandwidth, because it is the widest measured gap between them: AMD Instinct MI100 1200 GB/s against NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 320 GB/s, 73% in favour of AMD Instinct MI100. Tdp runs the same way, 300 W on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 180 W on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080, another win for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080. Memory bus width runs the same way, 4096 bit on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 256 bit on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080, another win for AMD Instinct MI100.
AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080: which one fits your build
Buy the AMD Instinct MI100 for buyers comparing AMD's official reference specifications and researching a chip before choosing a board-partner card, though it is not the pick for overclocking-focused enthusiasts (reference clocks only). It is the wrong buy for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 suits secondhand budget builds where the GPU is nearly free and 1080p gaming on older titles without ray tracing demands, though it is not built for modern AAA titles at 1440p or higher and anyone wanting ray tracing, DLSS, or frame generation. It also earns its place with upgrading a pre-built PC that still has a weaker GPU than this. It is not the one for new GPU purchases in 2026 - budget RTX 30-series cards outperform it for similar used pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Instinct MI100 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 differ on boost clock?
Yes. Boost Clock reads 1502 MHz on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 1733 MHz on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080.
Is the Card Length the same on the AMD Instinct MI100 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080?
It is. Both are listed at 267 mm, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
GPU Brand
- AMD Instinct MI100
- AMD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- NVIDIA
Series
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Instinct
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- GeForce GTX 10
Board Partner
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Reference
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- NVIDIA Founders Edition
Tier
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Datacenter
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- High-End (2016, legacy)
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- HBM2
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- GDDR5XBest
Boost Clock
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1502 MHz-13%
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- 1733 MHzBest
TDP
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 300 W-67%
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- 180 WBest
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI100
- CDNA
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- Pascal
Card Length
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 267 mm
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- 267 mm
Slot Width
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 2
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- 2
Shader Units
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 7680
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- 2560
Memory Bus Width
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 4096 bitBest
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- 256 bit-94%
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1200 GB/sBest
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- 320 GB/s-73%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI100
- PCIe 4.0
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- PCIe 3.0 x16
Launch Date
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 11/16/2020
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
- 2016-05
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI100 if you want the lower card length (267 mm vs 267 mm), the lower slot width (2 vs 2) and the higher memory bus width (4096 bit vs 256 bit).
Choose NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 if you want the higher boost clock (1733 MHz vs 1502 MHz) and the lower TDP (180 W vs 300 W).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Instinct MI100 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $599.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
4.6 / 10 Expert Rating
A legacy budget card at this point - reliable and still functional, but well behind anything you'd want to buy new today.