GeForce RTX 3080
RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
GeForce RTX 3080 vs RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU 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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
GeForce RTX 3080 vs RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU: 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
2020Why buy it
- ✅22.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
- ✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 35.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
- ✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
Trade-offs
- ❌Less VRAM, with 10 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
- ❌RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
- ❌178.3% higher power demand at 320W vs 115W.
- ❌171.4% longer card at 285mm vs 105mm.
RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
2023Why buy it
- ✅20% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 10 GB).
- ✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
- ✅Draws 115W instead of 320W, a 205W reduction.
- ✅Measures 105mm instead of 285mm, a 180mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
- ❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
- ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 35.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
Quick Answers
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Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
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GeForce RTX 3080 vs RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
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.
RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 21 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 975 MHz to 1500 MHz. It has 5120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 25,267 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce RTX 3080 scores 25,071 and the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU reaches 25,267 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 3080 is built on Ampere while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 8,704 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 5,120 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). Raw compute: 29.77 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 15.82 TFLOPS (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 1500 MHz. Ray tracing: 68 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 40 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU) with 272 Tensor cores vs 160.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3080 | RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 25,071 | 25,267 |
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | 8 nm | 5 nm |
| Shading Units | 8704+70% | 5120 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 29.77 TFLOPS+88% | 15.82 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 1710 MHz+14% | 1500 MHz |
| ROPs | 96+50% | 64 |
| TMUs | 272+70% | 160 |
| L1 Cache | 8.5 MB+70% | 5 MB |
| L2 Cache | 5 MB | 48 MB+860% |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 68+70% | 40 |
| Tensor Cores | 272+70% | 160 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3080 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3080 | RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | DLSS 2 Super Resolution | Upscaling support |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | NVIDIA Reflex | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce RTX 3080 has 10 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU carries 12 GB. RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU 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 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU) — 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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU. L2 Cache: 5 MB (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 48 MB (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU) — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3080 | RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Ultimate (12_2) (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3080 | RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |
| Vulkan | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3080) vs NVENC 8th Gen (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). Decoder: NVDEC (Ampere) vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs H.264,H.265,AV1 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3080 | RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC (Ampere) | NVENC 8th Gen |
| Decoder | NVDEC (Ampere) | NVDEC 5th Gen |
| Codecs | H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 | H.264,H.265,AV1 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce RTX 3080 draws 320W versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU's 115W — a 94.3% difference. The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 650W (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 285mm vs 105mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 85.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3080 | RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 320W | 115W-64% |
| Recommended PSU | 750W | 650W-13% |
| Power Connector | 2x 8-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 285mm | 105mm |
| Height | 112mm | 82mm |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 75-12% | 85 |
| Perf/Watt | 78.3 | 219.7+181% |
Value Analysis
The newer card here is RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU (2023 vs 2020).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3080 | RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $699 | — |
| Codename | GA102 | AD104 |
| Release | September 1 2020 | March 21 2023 |
| Ranking | #41 | #81 |
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