Nearly ten images per minute from a single GPU. The RTX 5080 pushes Stable Diffusion XL into territory where batch processing becomes genuinely fast, generating a 1024×1024 image every 6.25 seconds. We measured the full picture on GigaGPU dedicated infrastructure.
Throughput Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Iterations/sec | 4.8 it/s |
| Seconds per image | 6.25 sec (30 steps) |
| Images per minute | 9.6 |
| Resolution | 1024×1024 |
| Sampler | Euler a / DPM++ 2M Karras |
| Performance rating | Excellent |
30-step, 1024×1024, FP16, batch size 1. The 5080 delivers 50% more throughput than the RTX 3090 and 2.5x the 4060 Ti — Blackwell’s architectural improvements hit hard for diffusion workloads.
Memory Configuration
| Component | VRAM |
|---|---|
| Model weights | 6.5 GB |
| Sampling buffer | ~1.3 GB |
| Total RTX 5080 VRAM | 16 GB |
| Free headroom | ~9.5 GB |
9.5 GB of headroom is identical to the 4060 Ti but on much faster silicon. The surplus supports higher resolutions, multi-LoRA stacking, and base+refiner pipelines. For truly expansive VRAM needs (high-res batches, simultaneous model loading), the 3090 or 5090 still lead on raw capacity.
Economics
| Cost Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Server cost | £0.95/hr (£189/mo) |
| Cost per 1K images | £1.65 |
| Images per £1 | 606 |
£1.65 per thousand images is the lowest per-image cost in our benchmark suite at standard resolution. The 5080 beats the 3090 (£1.95/K) on cost efficiency because its higher throughput spreads the monthly fee across more images. At continuous generation, you are looking at nearly 14,000 images per day. Check the best GPU for Stable Diffusion guide for a full breakdown.
Where It Shines
The RTX 5080 is the top pick for SDXL when you prioritise images-per-pound. Production pipelines, e-commerce automation, social media content factories, and any application that needs volume at speed will benefit from this card. The only reason to look at the 5090 instead is if you need the extra VRAM for very large batches or hi-res generation beyond 1024×1024.
Quick start:
docker run --gpus all -p 7860:7860 ghcr.io/ai-dock/stable-diffusion-webui:latest
Resources: SDXL hosting guide, best GPU for SD, all benchmarks, Flux.1 hosting.
9.6 Images/Min SDXL — RTX 5080 Servers
Lowest per-image cost in the range. UK datacentre, dedicated hardware, flat rate.
Order RTX 5080