Hey there! If you‘re like me, an avid gamer and hardware enthusiast, Nvidia‘s new RTX 3000 series likely has you incredibly excited. These graphics cards truly represent a huge generational leap, ushering in advanced technologies for ray tracing, AI rendering, high refresh rates, and even 8K gaming!
In this guide, we‘ll be comparing Nvidia‘s two headline offerings – the 3080 aimed at enthusiasts and the ultra-premium 3090. I‘ll be breaking things down spec-by-spec and benchmark-by-benchmark to highlight their capabilities and differences. My goal is to help determine which of these powerhouse GPUs best fits your needs and budget!
Ampere Architecture – Building a Better GPU
As we dive into the comparison, it‘s important to understand what sets these cards apart on a hardware level. Nvidia designed the Ampere architecture that underpins the 3000 series to deliver massive gains in energy efficiency and raw horsepower.
It does this through…
- New 7nm Samsung manufacturing process – previously 12nm
- Drastically more CUDA cores for calculations
- More RT cores for ray traced lighting/reflections
- 3rd-gen tensor cores that power AI super sampling tech like DLSS
Combined, these enhancements allow these GPUs to power games in 4K and even 8K resolutions while maxing out settings! Now let‘s see how the 3080 and 3090 compare.
RTX 3080 – A "Budget" Powerhouse
The RTX 3080 immediately impressed gamers as a higher-end model with an affordable $699 price tag. After using one myself extensively, I can safely say it lives up to the hype! Here are the key specs powering this beast:
Nvidia RTX 3080 Specs:
- 10GB GDDR6X VRAM
- 320-bit Interface
- 58 2nd-gen RT Cores
- 272 3rd-gen Tensor Cores
- 8704 CUDA Cores
- 1.71Ghz Boost Clock
With considerably faster speeds than the previous 2080 Ti, the 3080 can comfortably handle any AAA singleplayer game in 4K 60+ fps. In titles like Horizon Zero Dawn, it averages around 82 fps! It even surpasses 120+ fps for high refresh 1440p gaming. And with HDMI 2.1, it fully supports 4K 120 Hz monitors.
RTX 3090 – The "Money‘s No Object" Choice
If the 3080 seems powerful, the RTX 3090 truly pushes Nvidia‘s Ampere architecture to its utmost limit. Positioned as a successor to the Titan RTX, it pulls no punches…and costs an incredible $1499. Here are the specs behind this absolute monster of a GPU:
Nvidia RTX 3090 Specs:
- 24GB GDDR6X VRAM
- 384-bit Interface
- 82 2nd-gen RT Cores
- 328 3rd-gen Tensor Cores
- 10496 CUDA Cores
- 1.70Ghz Boost Clock
With nearly 25% higher core and memory counts plus a widened bus, the 3090 dominates gaming performance. It averages over 90 fps in 4K on demanding titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 with max settings. And with HDMI 2.1, it can fully harness bleeding-edge 8K 60 Hz monitors and TVs.
Performance Breakdown Across Resolutions
Now that we understand what these GPUs are packing under the hood, let‘s analyze some gaming benchmarks across resolutions…
1080p Performance
| GPU Model | Average FPS |
| RTX 3080 | 130-180 fps |
| RTX 3090 | 140-200 fps |
At 1080p, both cards essentially hit the limits of what this resolution can fully take advantage of. You‘ll be limited by your monitor‘s refresh rate before seeing major FPS differences.
1440p Performance
| GPU Model | Average FPS |
| RTX 3080 | 90-130 fps |
| RTX 3090 | 100-150 fps |
At 1440p, the 3090 still has a lead but the experience is still superb on both cards. Great for high refresh rate gaming!
4K Performance
| GPU Model | Average FPS |
| RTX 3080 | 60-85 fps |
| RTX 3090 | 75-100 fps |
Now at 4K, the 3090 shows its strength, consistently averaging over 60 fps even in the most demanding AAA singleplayer titles. Still, both deliver stellar results!
8K Performance
| GPU Model | Average FPS |
| RTX 3080 | 25-35 fps |
| RTX 3090 | 35-50 fps |
While 8K gaming is still extremely new, the 3090 actually makes it possible, running games surprisingly smoothly even at this resolution! Meanwhile the 3080 falls a bit short.
Ray Tracing and DLSS Capabilities
Thanks to Nvidia‘s dedicated RT cores and Tensor cores, both cards also showcase great ray tracing performance and DLSS rendering.
In Control with full RTX effects at 1440p, the 3080 hits 60 fps or higher with DLSS enabled. And the 3090 takes things further with over 80 fps in these cinematic settings! So they are very well future-proofed.
Power and Thermal Considerations
The one area where the RTX 3090 loses points compared to the 3080 is with its substantially higher 350 watt power consumption. This produces considerably more heat, so ample case cooling is a must for the 3090. It can reach 83°C or higher under full load.
Meanwhile, the RTX 3080 is far more manageable at 320 watts. It too runs hot, but levels out just below 80°C in well-ventilated cases. Just be sure your power supply has enough headroom!
To 4000 Series or Not to 4000 Series?
As amazing as these GPUs are, it‘s worth noting Nvidia plans to launch their 4000 RTX refresh later in 2022. Rumors point to September availability. So if waiting is an option, these next-gen cards could bring even better performance and value. Just something to consider!
The Verdict?
Hopefully breaking things down in detail has helped weigh your own needs and budget. In my experience the RTX 3080 is the clear choice for 1440p and 4K gaming. It brings down the premium 3090 cost drastically while still delivering outstanding AAA experiences.
Meanwhile, for pioneers wanting to unlock 8K, take full advantage of GPU compute applications, or simply enjoy knowing you have the ultimate GPU power, then the RTX 3090 is peerless!
Let me know if you have any other questions around performance comparisons or buying considerations! I‘m always happy to chat PC hardware. Enjoy your eventual Ampere upgrade 🙂
