72

RTX 3080 Graphics Card

Ampere · 10 GB GDDR6X

$699

MSRP

77

RTX 5070 Graphics Card

Blackwell · 12 GB GDDR7

$549

MSRP

Our verdict

The RTX 5070 Graphics Card takes the performance lead with a 7% higher overall score, driven by its 6,144 shader cores, 12 GB of memory, and 30.8 TFLOPS TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 21% more frames per second across demanding titles like Alan Wake 2 and Black Myth Wukong.

However, the RTX 5070 Graphics Card tells a compelling value story. At $549 versus the RTX 3080 Graphics Card's $699 price tag, it costs 27% less while delivering performance that's only 7% behind. Its 12 GB of memory is still more than enough for 1440p and even 4K gaming in most titles.

Our recommendation: for the majority of gamers targeting 1440p or even 4K with upscaling enabled, the RTX 5070 Graphics Card is the smarter purchase. The RTX 3080 Graphics Card only makes sense if you need the absolute maximum performance for native 4K ray tracing, professional 3D rendering, or AI workloads where the extra VRAM and compute power provide a tangible advantage.

Performance winner

RTX 5070 Graphics Card

7% faster overall

Best value for money

RTX 5070 Graphics Card

42% better value per dollar

RTX 3080 Graphics Card best for

Value for money

42% better value per dollar

Memory

Memory
10 GB
12 GB
Memory type
GDDR6X
GDDR7
Memory bus
320-bit
192-bit
Memory bandwidth
760 GB/s
672 GB/s

Performance

CUDA cores
8,704
6,144
Boost clock
1,710 MHz
2,512 MHz
Base clock
1,440 MHz
2,162 MHz
FP32 performance
29.8 TFLOPS
30.8 TFLOPS
RT cores
68
48
Tensor cores
272
192

Physical

Transistors
28.3 billion
26 billion
Process
8 nm
4 nm
PCIe
PCIe 4
PCIe 5
Card length
285 mm
267 mm

Power

TDP
320W
250W
Power connector
12-pin
16-pin

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1440p ultra)

Alan Wake 2
58 fps
71 fps
Black Myth Wukong
65 fps
80 fps
Counter-Strike 2
340 fps
400 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
72 fps
88 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
74 fps
91 fps
Spider-Man 2
77 fps
95 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Geekbench 6 Compute
142,000 points
165,000 points
3DMark Fire Strike
32,000 points
38,500 points
3DMark Time Spy
19,000 points
23,000 points

Frequently asked questions

Is the RTX 3080 Graphics Card worth $150 more than the RTX 5070 Graphics Card?

It depends on your needs. The RTX 3080 Graphics Card scores 77 overall vs 72 for the RTX 5070 Graphics Card. If you need the extra performance for demanding tasks, the premium is justified. For most users gaming at 1440p or below, the RTX 5070 Graphics Card offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the RTX 3080 Graphics Card or RTX 5070 Graphics Card?

The RTX 5070 Graphics Card delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The RTX 5070 Graphics Card provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the RTX 3080 Graphics Card still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the RTX 3080 Graphics Card handle 4K gaming?

The RTX 3080 Graphics Card can handle 4K gaming in less demanding titles and with upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR. For native 4K at ultra settings in demanding games, the RTX 5070 Graphics Card is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the RTX 3080 Graphics Card or RTX 5070 Graphics Card?

Choose the RTX 5070 Graphics Card if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the RTX 3080 Graphics Card if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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