RTX 3080 vs RTX 3090 • TechImperatives.net (2024)

• Gaming, Troubleshooting

Nvidia recently launched it’s latest and greatest GPU generation, the RTX 3000 series, including the RTX 3070, RTX 3080 and RTX 3090, boasting with a metric ton of power for gaming, applications, content creation and video/photo design.

While the Geforce RTX 3070 alone offers a great value for pc gamers, we are more interested in the comparison of the two high-end GPUs.

How well does the Geforce RTX 3080 hold up against the 24GB beast that is the RTX 3090 in the everlasting battle of the fastest GPUs on the market.

Let’s find out.

We’llstart with a quick breakdown of the specs.

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RTX 3080

Specs

• Cuda Cores: 8704
• Base Clock: 1440 MHZ
• Boost Clock: 1710 MHZ
• Memory: 10GB GDDR6X
• Memory Bus: 320 bit
• Memory Clock: 19 Gbps
• PCIe: 16x 4.0
• Outputs: HDMI 2.1 and 3x Displayports 1.4
• TDP: 320 Watts
• Size: 12.7 x 2.2 x 5.1 inches

Price MSI 3080

Price ZOTAC 3080 Trinity

RTX 3090

Specs

• Cuda Cores: 10496
• Base Clock: 1400 MHZ
• Boost Clock: 1700 MHZ
• Memory: 24GB GDDR6X
• Memory Bus: 384 bit
• Memory Clock: 19.5 Gbps
• PCIe: 16x 4.0
• Outputs: HDMI 2.1 and 3x Displayports 1.4
• TDP: 350 Watts
• Size: 12 x 2.2 x 4.7 inches

Price MSI 3090

Price ZOTAC 3090 Trinity

It becomes quite clear, that the RTX 3090 is an absolute powerhouse. The raw performance alone is insane. More cuda cores, 14GB more of VRAM and a higher memory clock leave the RTX 3080 trailing in the dust.

There are some GPU benchmarks available already: LINK

The question is: Do you as a gamer REALLY need that much power from a graphics card? Also does it fit on your motherboard? Because this thing is huge.

The answer: Not really.

Let us explain why, by breaking down the speed differences between the RTX 3090 vs 3080 for you.

RTX 3090 vs 3080: 4k Gaming

If you compare the RTX 3090 vs RTX 3080 for 4k gaming, the 3090 GPU is clearly the winner between these graphics cards.

There’s a great video by Jarrod’s Tech, where he tested the 3080 and 3090 in several different games and it shoes that the RTX 3090 is definitely a step ahead when it comes to 4k gaming:

Watch it here (timestamped):

According to his test, the Nvidia RTX 3090 performs around 17.83% faster for games running in 4k in comparison to the Nvidia RTX 3080.

That’s a huge difference, especially for graphic heavy titles like Modern Warfare or Battlefield V. The RTX 3090 can run any game you throw at it at high fps with ultra high settings.HOWEVER (!), the RTX 3080 graphics card still competes incredibly well is definitely capable to run some games at 4k and 60+ fps. So take that into consideration.

Still, if you are keen to play your games at 4k and have the budget for the 3090, then definitely go for it.

Winner 4k: RTX 3090!

RTX 3090 vs 3080: 1440p Gaming

When it comes to 1440p gaming, the difference between the RTX 3080 vs 3090 isn’t that significant. According to Jarrod’s awesome review, the RTX 3090 is around 13.74% faster than the RTX 3080. But both cards perfom incredibly well at 1440p.

Watch it here (timestamped):

According to Jarrod’s awesome review, the Nvidia RTX 3090 is around 13.74% faster than the Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080. But both cards perfom incredibly well at 1440p.

It’s hard to justify the $700+ price hike for the Nvidia RTX 3090 when you only play in 1440p (as most of us still do). Both cards can hit almost 144 fps in titles like Battlefield V or Modern Warfare. Which makes the Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080 a pretty decent choice here.

Winner 1440p: RTX 3080!

RTX 3090 vs 3080: 1080p Gaming

For those of you that play at 1080p (240hz+) the Nvidia RTX 3080 is a no brainer. According to Jarrod, the Nvidia RTX 3090 is only 7.85% faster than the Nvidia RTX 3080 at 1080p.

Watch it here (timestamped):

Even titles like RDR2 with high settings easily hit 144+ frames at 1080 with both cards.

It becomes abundantly clear, that the Nvidia RTX 3080 is the only rational choice when you only play titles at 1080p and don’t do any GPU heavy tasks, like content creation, rendering or video production. Even the RTX 3070* is enough to play most titles at high settings without any problems.

Winner 1080p: RTX 3080!

While the Nvidia Geforce RTX 3090 is an absolute beast, it’s hard to justify the price tag if all you do is casual gaming at 1080p or 1440p. If you play at 4k or do some GPU heavy tasks (photo editing, rendering, videography) then the Nvidia Geforce RTX 3090 is probably a better choice for you and it may earn a spot in your case. Just be cautios, the 3090 is HUGE and doesn’t fit into all computer cases.

Overall, we would recommend all gamers to go with the Nvidia RTX 3080. It just has a better value at the moment and is powerful enough to run most (if not all) games at 1440p or even 4k. The gaming performance is excellent and it’s our graphics card of choice that fits all needs or casual and high-fps gaming at 1440p+.

Right now the 3070, 3080 and 3090 are pretty hard to get, as gamers all around the world tried to grab them at release. But who knows, maybe black friday will have some sweet deals to grab one of those beautiful and powerful GPU beasts.

Hope this article shines some light into the question: RTX 3080 vs RTX 3090 for gamers.

If you enjoyed this article, check out our post on the RTX 3070 vs 3080.

FAQ

Is the RTX3090 overkill?

There’s no simple answer to this question. It depends on what you want to use it for.

The RTX3090 is the most powerful GPU on the market. It’s designed for 4k gaming and can handle even the most demanding games at that resolution. It’s also great for creative work, such as video editing and 3D rendering.

So, if you need a GPU that can handle anything you throw at it, the RTX3090 is a great choice. However, if you’re not planning on gaming or doing creative work at 4k, you might be better off with a less powerful GPU.

There are a few things to consider when deciding whether the RTX3090 is overkill for your needs.

First, what resolution are you planning on gaming at? If you’re not planning on gaming at 4k, you might be better off with a less powerful GPU. The RTX3090 is overkill for 1080p gaming.

Second, what games are you planning on playing? If you’re only planning on playing less demanding games, such as Rocket League or Minecraft, you don’t need the RTX3090. However, if you’re planning on playing more demanding games, such as Cyberpunk 2077 or The Witcher 3, you’ll need the RTX3090.

Third, what settings are you planning on playing at? If you’re planning on playing at lower settings, you don’t need the RTX3090. However, if you’re planning on playing at higher settings, you’ll need the RTX3090.

Fourth, what frame rate are you hoping to achieve? If you’re only hoping to achieve 30 FPS, you don’t need the RTX3090. However, if you’re hoping to achieve 60 FPS or higher, you’ll need the RTX3090.

Finally, what is your budget? The RTX3090 is the most expensive GPU on the market. If you’re not willing to spend that much money, you might be better off with a less powerful GPU.

In conclusion, there is no simple answer to the question, “Is the RTX3090 overkill?” It depends on what you want to use it for.