G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅16.7% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 240).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 Ti across 46 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
56.4% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$799 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 39.5 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $799 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

2023

Why buy it

✅11.6% more average FPS across 46 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $451 less on MSRP ($799 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 85.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 39.5 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($799 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (240 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

2023

Why buy it

✅16.7% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 240).

Why buy it

✅11.6% more average FPS across 46 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $451 less on MSRP ($799 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 85.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 39.5 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($799 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 Ti across 46 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
56.4% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$799 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 39.5 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $799 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (240 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4070 Ti better than GeForce RTX 3080 12GB?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 11.6% more average FPS across 46 tracked games in our benchmark data and 18.9% higher PassMark G3D performance. It also comes from 2023 instead of 2022, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2022, 18.9% more raw performance headroom, better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 4nm process instead of 8nm. That broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is about $451 cheaper on MSRP at $799 MSRP versus $1,250 MSRP, and you are getting 11.6% more estimated average FPS across 46 tracked games in our benchmark data and 18.9% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 85.9%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce RTX 3080 12GB still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $1,250 MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
1080p
low	165 FPS	188 FPS
medium	150 FPS	171 FPS
high	132 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	135 FPS
1440p
low	139 FPS	151 FPS
medium	115 FPS	125 FPS
high	98 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	102 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	92 FPS
medium	67 FPS	79 FPS
high	51 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	59 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
1080p
low	553 FPS	664 FPS
medium	473 FPS	539 FPS
high	383 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	345 FPS	366 FPS
1440p
low	415 FPS	496 FPS
medium	344 FPS	400 FPS
high	273 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	269 FPS
4K
low	198 FPS	250 FPS
medium	168 FPS	211 FPS
high	144 FPS	187 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	159 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
1080p
low	892 FPS	921 FPS
medium	724 FPS	742 FPS
high	631 FPS	652 FPS
ultra	551 FPS	569 FPS
1440p
low	705 FPS	720 FPS
medium	567 FPS	578 FPS
high	484 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	427 FPS
4K
low	485 FPS	498 FPS
medium	394 FPS	403 FPS
high	331 FPS	352 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	296 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
1080p
low	456 FPS	879 FPS
medium	413 FPS	731 FPS
high	339 FPS	664 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	600 FPS
1440p
low	366 FPS	706 FPS
medium	334 FPS	585 FPS
high	273 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	460 FPS
4K
low	245 FPS	477 FPS
medium	226 FPS	408 FPS
high	191 FPS	366 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	324 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3080 12GB and GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,569 points. Launch price was $799.

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 3 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2610 MHz. It has 7680 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 285W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 60 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 31,578 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB scores 26,569 versus the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti's 31,578 — the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti leads by 18.9%. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 7,680 (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 40.09 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2610 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 60 (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti) with 280 Tensor cores vs 240.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
G3D Mark Score	26,569	31,578+19%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	8960+17%	7680
Compute (TFLOPS)	30.64 TFLOPS	40.09 TFLOPS+31%
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	2610 MHz+53%
ROPs	96+20%	80
TMUs	280+17%	240
L1 Cache	8.8 MB+17%	7.5 MB
L2 Cache	6 MB	48 MB+700%
Ray Tracing Cores	70+17%	60
Tensor Cores	280+17%	240

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

Both cards feature 12 GB of GDDR6X. Memory bandwidth: 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti) — a 81% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Bus width: 384-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 48 MB (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	12 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	912 GB/s+81%	504 GB/s
Bus Width	384-bit+100%	192-bit
L2 Cache	6 MB	48 MB+700%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs AV1,H.264,H.265,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	NVENC (8th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1	AV1,H.264,H.265,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB draws 350W versus the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti's 285W — a 20.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 700W (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 285mm vs 285mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 70°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
TDP	350W	285W-19%
Recommended PSU	750W	700W-7%
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	8-pin
Length	285mm	285mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	80°C	70°C-13%
Perf/Watt	75.9	110.8+46%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB launched at $1250 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti launched at $799. The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti costs 36.1% less ($451 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 21.3 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 39.5 (GeForce RTX 4070 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti offers 85.4% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2022).