GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3080

2020Core: 1440 MHzBoost: 1710 MHz
RTX family
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VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

2023Core: 1290 MHzBoost: 2010 MHz
RTX family
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GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 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 vs GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 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 vs GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile: 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

2020

Why buy it

  • 3.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Costs $431 less on MSRP ($699 MSRP vs $1,130 MSRP).
  • Delivers 63.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 35.9 vs 22.0 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $1,130 MSRP).
  • 17.2% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 232).

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 10 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
  • 113.3% higher power demand at 320W vs 150W.

GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

2023

Why buy it

  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • 20% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 10 GB).
  • Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 4nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
  • Draws 150W instead of 320W, a 170W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (232 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
  • 61.7% HIGHER MSRP
    $1,130 MSRPvs$699 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.0 vs 35.9 G3D/$ ($1,130 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 3080 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 3.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 1.1% in PassMark G3D (25,071 vs 24,805), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 10 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce RTX 3080 is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 4nm process instead of 8nm, and a newer 2023 generation instead of 2020. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce RTX 3080 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $431 cheaper on MSRP at $699 vs $1,130, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 63.4% (35.9 vs 22.0), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and strong 1440p, GeForce RTX 3080 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and strong 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3080

The GeForce RTX 3080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1440 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8704 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 320W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 68 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 25,071 points. Launch price was $699.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

The GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 3 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1290 MHz to 2010 MHz. It has 7424 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 58 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 24,805 points.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce RTX 3080 scores 25,071 and the GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile reaches 24,805 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 3080 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 8,704 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 7,424 (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile). Raw compute: 29.77 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 24.72 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2010 MHz. Ray tracing: 68 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 58 (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile) with 272 Tensor cores vs 232.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile
G3D Mark Score
25,071+1%
24,805
Architecture
Ampere
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
8 nm
4 nm
Shading Units
8704+17%
7424
Compute (TFLOPS)
29.77 TFLOPS+20%
24.72 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1710 MHz
2010 MHz+18%
ROPs
96+20%
80
TMUs
272+17%
232
L1 Cache
8.5 MB+16%
7.3 MB
L2 Cache
5 MB
48 MB+860%
Ray Tracing Cores
68+17%
58
Tensor Cores
272+17%
232

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3080 does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3080 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile
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)

The GeForce RTX 3080 has 10 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile gives you 20% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 760 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 432 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile) — a 75.9% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080. Memory bus width is 320-bit on the GeForce RTX 3080 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile. L2 Cache: 5 MB (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 48 MB (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile) — the GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile
VRAM Capacity
10 GB
12 GB+20%
Memory Type
GDDR6X
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
760 GB/s+76%
432 GB/s
Bus Width
320-bit+67%
192-bit
L2 Cache
5 MB
48 MB+860%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 1.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile
DirectX
12 Ultimate (12_2)
12.2+2%
Vulkan
1.3
1.3
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4+300%
1
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile). Decoder: NVDEC (Ampere) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile
Encoder
NVENC (Ampere)
8th Gen NVENC
Decoder
NVDEC (Ampere)
5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs
H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3080 draws 320W versus the GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile's 150W — a 72.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs Mobile. Card length: 285mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile
TDP
320W
150W-53%
Recommended PSU
750W
650W-13%
Power Connector
2x 8-pin
Mobile
Length
285mm
0mm
Height
112mm
0mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
75-6%
80°C
Perf/Watt
78.3
165.4+111%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3080 came in at $699, while the GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile launched at $1130. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3080 was 38.1% cheaper ($431 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 35.9 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 22.0 (GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile) — the GeForce RTX 3080 offers 63.2% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (2023 vs 2020).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3080GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile
MSRP
$699-38%
$1130
Performance per Dollar
35.9+63%
22.0
Codename
GA102
AD104
Release
September 1 2020
January 3 2023
Ranking
#41
#43

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