GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3090

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

2021Core: 1365 MHzBoost: 1665 MHz
RTX family
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VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3090

2020Core: 1395 MHzBoost: 1695 MHz
RTX family
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GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3090 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

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.

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3090 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3090: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

2021

Why buy it

  • Costs $300 less on MSRP ($1,199 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
  • Delivers 26.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 22.4 vs 17.7 G3D/$ ($1,199 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
  • Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3090 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 24 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (320 vs 328), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 3090

2020

Why buy it

  • 15.2% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • 2.5% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (328 vs 320).
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 GB vs 12 GB).

Trade-offs

  • GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
  • 25% HIGHER MSRP
    $1,499 MSRPvs$1,199 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 17.7 vs 22.4 G3D/$ ($1,499 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 3090 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 15.2% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward GeForce RTX 3080 Ti instead at 26,861 vs 26,594, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a newer 2021 generation instead of 2020. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti makes the most sense to buy today. It is $300 cheaper on MSRP at $1,199 vs $1,499, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 26.3% (22.4 vs 17.7), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. GeForce RTX 3090 still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3090 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 31 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1365 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 10240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 80 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,861 points. Launch price was $1,199.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3090

The GeForce RTX 3090 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1395 MHz to 1695 MHz. It has 10496 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 82 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,594 points. Launch price was $1,499.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti scores 26,861 and the GeForce RTX 3090 reaches 26,594 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3090 uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 10,240 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 10,496 (GeForce RTX 3090). Raw compute: 34.1 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 35.58 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3090). Boost clocks: 1665 MHz vs 1695 MHz. Ray tracing: 80 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 82 (GeForce RTX 3090) with 320 Tensor cores vs 328.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080 TiGeForce RTX 3090
G3D Mark Score
26,861+1%
26,594
Architecture
Ampere
Ampere
Process Node
8 nm
8 nm
Shading Units
10240
10496+3%
Compute (TFLOPS)
34.1 TFLOPS
35.58 TFLOPS+4%
Boost Clock
1665 MHz
1695 MHz+2%
ROPs
112
112
TMUs
320
328+3%
L1 Cache
10 MB
10.3 MB+3%
L2 Cache
6 MB
6 MB
Ray Tracing Cores
80
82+3%
Tensor Cores
320
328+3%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080 TiGeForce RTX 3090
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3090 carries 24 GB. GeForce RTX 3090 gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 936 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3090) — a 2.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3090. Memory bus width is 384-bit on the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti and 384-bit on the GeForce RTX 3090.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080 TiGeForce RTX 3090
VRAM Capacity
12 GB
24 GB+100%
Memory Type
GDDR6X
GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth
912 GB/s
936 GB/s+3%
Bus Width
384-bit
384-bit
L2 Cache
6 MB
6 MB
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3090). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080 TiGeForce RTX 3090
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12 Ultimate
Vulkan
1.4
1.4
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3090). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3090).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080 TiGeForce RTX 3090
Encoder
NVENC 7th gen
NVENC 7th gen
Decoder
NVDEC 5th gen
NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti draws 350W versus the GeForce RTX 3090's 350W — a 0% difference. The GeForce RTX 3090 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 3090). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 285mm vs 312mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 85°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080 TiGeForce RTX 3090
TDP
350W
350W
Recommended PSU
750W
750W
Power Connector
2x 8-pin
2x 8-pin
Length
285mm
312mm
Height
112mm
140mm
Slots
2-33%
3
Temp (Load)
85°C
85°C
Perf/Watt
76.7
76.0
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti came in at $1199, while the GeForce RTX 3090 launched at $1499. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti was 20% cheaper ($300 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 22.4 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 17.7 (GeForce RTX 3090) — the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti offers 26.6% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (2021 vs 2020).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080 TiGeForce RTX 3090
MSRP
$1199-20%
$1499
Performance per Dollar
22.4+27%
17.7
Codename
GA102
GA102
Release
May 31 2021
September 1 2020
Ranking
#33
#37

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