How the GeForce GTX 1080 performs at 1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1080p the GeForce GTX 1080 averages about 63 fps on High across the 14 games people check most. Most games hold 60 fps, and the heaviest need a step down from High.
At 1440p the typical result drops to 49 fps. 1440p is playable, but expect to lower settings or use upscaling in newer games. At 4K it is about 28 fps. 4K is not what this card is for.
The heaviest game we checked is Black Myth: Wukong, at 36 fps on High at 1080p. The lightest is VALORANT, which the card handles at 300+ fps. If your own games are somewhere in between, the table above shows where.
Memory and power
Eight gigabytes covers 1080p and most 1440p play. A few recent games at Ultra textures want more, and that is the first thing that will date this card.
The GeForce GTX 1080 is rated at 180 W. With a mid-range processor, plan on a 550 W power supply (450 W is the minimum). That is a moderate load. Any case with a front intake fan will keep it cool.
Where it sits
Released in 2016, the GeForce GTX 1080 is 10 years old, and the newest games already treat it as an entry level card. The next card up in our list is the GeForce RTX 2060 Super, about 10% faster (launch price $399). The next card down is the Radeon RX 5600 XT, about 5% slower.
It launched at $599, which works out to 3.3 points of performance per $100. Prices on the used and discount market are different, so treat this as a way to compare cards, not as today's price.
Which processor to pair it with, and who it suits
To keep a processor from holding it back at 1080p, you want something like a Ryzen 3 2200G, and at 1440p a Ryzen 3 1200 or similar. Slower processors will still work, but you give up some of the card's speed. The best CPU list for this card shows the options for all three resolutions.
The GeForce GTX 1080 is a 1080p card. It plays almost everything at High, and a few heavy games need Medium. It is a sensible choice for a 1080p monitor at 60 or 144 Hz.