Which GPU to Choose Among: RTX 3070 and RTX 3080?

| Updated on March 1, 2024
RTX graphic card 1

The graphic processing unit (GPU) improves the gaming performance of a normal gamers PC into far excellence with the help of multiple frames, ray tracing, effective resolution, and much more. Nvidia assures its gaming audience with capable GPUs that are advanced with every new launch, for example, Nvidia’s best graphic card RTX 4090 Vs. RTX 3090

We might get tired of knowing each and every gaming peripheral launched by Nvidia, but the new gaming graphic models will never stop surprising us with their evolving functions to beat the old graphics. Currently, we will discuss two modern powerful GPU RTX 3070 and 3080, which are distinct in their functions and capabilities but ensure a powerful aura in modern gaming titles. 

We will get to know their frame churning capabilities, strength, weakness, availability in the market, and much more. Without any further ado, let’s study both the GPU and find which does the most value for money. You can also explore Which One to Buy, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti.

 

Key Takeaway: Among the two most powerful graphic cards, Nvidia RTX 3070 and RTX 3080, the latter is much more efficient with memory speed, cores, and ray tracing. It is in the most demanding GPU list currently, while the former is also a decent budget-friendly gaming GPU. 

Evolution Nvidia RTX 3080 Model Had From Previous Model RTX 3070

RTX 3070 and RTX 3080

You might be expecting the least differences in both the GPUs as their model name is quite similar, and they were launched in the same year. Well, there is a lot that has changed in these Nvidia’s 30 series graphic cards individually. Launched in September 2020, RTX 3080 has a much-developed GPU with strong memory power and core strength. 

Nvidia’s RTX 3080 with GPU GA104 drives with commendable 5,888 CUDA cores and 184 Tensor cores to help gamers handle modern gaming titles. The other master GPU RTX 3070 has a far different configuration with up to 90 fewer Tensor cores and 2000 fewer CUDA cores than RT 3080, which can be ignored. Still, the memory speed of 14GT/s is comparatively less, leading to the triumph of the latter in gaming performance.

Interestingly, both GPUs have an equal number of RT cores and stream multiprocessors and are capable of playing games at max settings in 1440p gaming benchmarks also. They are the best graphic card options available in the market with a pocket-friendly price in comparison to AMD Radeon RX 550X, which is a multiplayer gaming graphic card. 

Comparison Chart of GPU Model RTX 3070 and RTX 3080

The chart below gives a brief description of GPU Models RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 through a comparison table. 

FeaturesNvidia RTX 3070Nvidia RTX 3080
GPU Model NameGA104GA102
CUDA Cores 5,8888,704
Tensor Cores184272
Memory8GB GDDR612GB GDDR6
Memory Speed14GT/s19GT/s
Clock Speed1.5GHz / 1.73.GHz1.44GHz / 1.71GHz
TDP220W320W

From the table above, it is quite evident that the most powerful GPU among Nvidia’s prominent GPU models is Nvidia RTX 3080. The features configuration shows that the parallel processing held by the CUDA cores is handled much more confidently by Nvidia RTX 3080 in comparison to the other graphic card. Even the tensor cores and memory, which are approximately 33% more in Nvidia RTX 3080, result in handling modern titles like Total War: Three Kingdoms, Final Fantasy XV, Monster Hunter: World, and many more.

The power charges of the Nvidia RTX 3080 are also too high, up to 100W more than RTX 3070. Gamers who do not want to invest in a high power consumption graphic card should definitely choose Nvidia RTX 3080.

GPU Availability

As we know, worldwide GPU shortage news has become prominent across the headlines, and this surely makes the two graphic cards highly expensive than their real price in the market. Nvidia GPU RTX 3080 is available at $200 more price due to its powerful GPU strength, which is ready to withstand modern extensive game titles at a higher framing rate at 4k gaming resolution. 

The MSRP of the RTX 3080 is $699, while the other GPU RTX 3070 is quite budget-friendly at $499 price. Due to the worldwide GPU shortage, the retailing price of RTX 3080 and RTX 3070 might extend to $570-650 & $760-900, respectively. Meanwhile, Nvidia has also shared that its customers won’t face the GPU shortage problem, so if you have got luck on your side, the GPU shortage reason won’t disrupt your budget to buy your next Nvidia GPU.

Price Drop in GPU RTX 3080 and RTX 3070

With the tail end of worldwide GPU Shortage, the Nvidia RTX 3080 is easily available in stock. It is sold out at the same price of $699 across the market, removing the exception where $719 is the maximum price revolving due to shortage in some online stores. You can consider buying it from Amazon(the world’s biggest online retailer). Due to the downward trend, other stores can end up with an expensive deal with you. Consider waiting for the virtual shelves(online stores) to get filled with the desired GPU or some special festival hours to get a pocket-friendly price. 

In the case of RTX 3070, the MSRP of $499 is already quite cheap, but still, if you are looking for a deal much closer to $300, you must wait for the festival weeks or the online stores to get stuffed in order to earn the profit. 

Shipping Details of Nvidia’s RTX 3080 and RTX 3070 (In the US)

If you are heading to buy one of the mid-series Nvidia cards, RTX 3080 and RTX 3070, from the online store, it is quite simple. Ample retailing sites like Amazon, Best BUY, eBay, Alexander PC, and many more provide online services to buy cards with various offers. 

For example, Amazon asks basic credentials like Address, phone number, and E-mail ID to contact the other person. Shipping and importing fees might also cross $200 if you are thinking of selling it in some other country. Alexander PC is currently known to place the orders within 24 business hours. The rate might get harsh depending on the availability of the GPU in the online store.

Gaming Performance at Various Resolution Benchmarks: 1080p, 1440p, and 4k

The prior reason to buy a GPU is to ensure an amazing gaming experience at various resolution benchmarks. It is quite essential to figure out the frame-churning capabilities of the GPUs.

1080p

Nvidia’s GPU fps at 1080p

The above graph demonstrates the average frame rate quality of both graphic cards at the 1920×1080 ultra setting. Well, it is quite clear that in various games under 1080p resolution settings, both the graphic card, Nvidia RTX 3070 and RTX 3080, are performing quite the same. There is no noticeable difference in the frame churning capabilities of the GPUs. If you are a beginner, then investing in RTX investing $200 more on RTX 3080 won’t be a worthwhile deal. The 10% raised performance in the frame rates of RTX 3080 results is not much perceptible. I would suggest choosing Nvidia RTX 3070, but if you want to extend the resolution quality, then consider buying RTX 3080 for gaming effectiveness.

1440p

Nvidia’s GPU fps at 1440p

There are no complaints to be made about the gaming performance of both GPUs in the resolution 1440p. It is quite evident that the processor of the Nvidia RTX 3080 is much more evolved and can easily pull 20fps more in the 2560x1440p ultra settings. While building your PC, if you are worried about the options between RTX 3070 and RTX 3080, you should definitely choose Nvidia RTX 3080 as it provides perfectly smooth frame rates. 

4k

Nvidia’s GPU fps at 4k

Arguing for the 4k ultra settings for both the GPU won’t be much fruitful because the epic graphic companion Nvidia RTX 3080 beats Nvidia RTX 3070. RTX 3080 is found to be more enhanced in its gaming capabilities, with 30% more performance than the other video card. In modern Triple-A titles, the frame churning capabilities of the Nvidia RTX 3080 will extend up to 70-100 fps while the other graphic card would reach up to 60-80fps.

Customer Reviews

The reviews provide us with authentic experiences of people and are necessary before buying any electronic item. Here are some customer reviews on Nvidia RTX 3070 and Nvidia RTX 3080.

  • “This card, the Nvidia RTX 3070, is perfect for 1440p 144hz AND is at MSRP, which is a huge plus in these times with GPU shortages and such. The card is sleek and simple with the metal around the sides and built extremely rigid and is heavier than you’d think when you first pick it up.” ~ Hailey
  • “ Nvidia RTX 3080 is a great GPU for 4K gaming. There is a little bit of coil whine on mine in very high fps situations (300+), but it’s not noticeable in most cases. HDMI 2.1 has allowed my LG B9 OLED to use GSYNC and 4K @ 120hz. This has been great. In most games that I’ve played, I’ve been able to get 120fps after tuning the settings a bit.” ~ Bryan
  • “I had to wait quite a long time to get the RTX 3070, but I’m very happy with the performance. Boosted my overall 3D Mark score from 7K to 12K, and even on a 21:9 1080p monitor, the improvement was evident — not so much frames as lighting and effects. I waited to play Cyberpunk 2077 until I got the new card, and I am duly impressed with all the neon and shadows.” ~ DanAmrich
  • “I feel truly lucky to have been able to snag one of these cards, the Nvidia RTX 3080. For $700, it is truly a remarkable value. There is a bit of coil whine under load on my unit, but not too terrible. I can’t hear it with the headphones I use anyways. Also, the 12-pin adapter is ugly; no way around it. It was longer, so it could have been hidden behind the motherboard. All that said, I’m getting fantastic performance with the card. It was a huge upgrade from my 980ti. 100+fps at 1440hz with settings maxed is no issue for almost all AAA games. 60+fps for 4k.” ~ ChuckE

Get Assist Verdict: Which GPU Is Worth Value for Its Price?

Nvidia RTX 3080 is a powerful GPU with an applaudable memory speed of 19 GT/s. This mid-series launch came with the surprise of holding graphics of extensive games with smooth fps. If you are okay with spending $600 to $700 for a smooth 4k gaming experience, it would be an appropriate choice. Nonetheless, if you are a beginner and want to spend major time playing at 1080p gaming settings, Nvidia RTX 3070 is a more pocket-friendly option. You will save up to $200. 

FAQ

Is the graphic card RTX 3080 much better than RTX 3070?

Yes, RTX 3080 is a much better graphic card due to its excellent performance at various resolution ultra settings in modern gaming titles. The only drawback is the price which is exaggerated to $715 in the virtual market due to the global graphic card shortage reason.

Which graphic card is much faster, the RTX 3080 or the RTX 3070?

With a memory speed of 19GT/s and a clock speed of 1.44GHz / 1.71GHz, RTX 3080 runs much faster than the Nvidia RTX 3070 with a 25% faster range of speed. Hence the Nvidia RTX 3080 is a faster card.

What does TDP in the graphic card feature explain?

TDP stands for Thermal Design Power. It is the maximum amount of energy dissipated by its cooling system in the environment.

How many FPS can RTX 3080 and 3070 graphic cards pull in the 1080p ultra settings?

Both the GPUs are equally capable in 1080p ultra gaming settings. They are equally capable of pulling up to 100fps in extensive modern titles like Cyberpunk.

Sources

Lori Grunin, Nvidia launches GeForce RTX 3090, 3080, and 3070 with Ampere, CNET, September 1, 2020,

Jonna Nelius, The Nvidia RTX 3070 Has No Business Being This Good,Gizmodo, October 27, 2020


Khushboo Chhibber

Senior Web Writer and Video Creator


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