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 4000 Ada Generation 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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation: 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

✅42.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $1,300 less on MSRP ($699 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 198.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 35.9 vs 12.0 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅41.7% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 192).
✅400% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (10 GB vs 2 GB).

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌RTX 4000 Ada Generation is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌357.1% higher power demand at 320W vs 70W.

RTX 4000 Ada Generation

2023

Why buy it

✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 70W instead of 320W, a 250W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 10 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (192 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌
186% HIGHER MSRP
$1,999 MSRPvs$699 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 12.0 vs 35.9 G3D/$ ($1,999 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 42.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 4.3% in PassMark G3D (25,071 vs 24,046), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

RTX 4000 Ada Generation is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 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 5nm process instead of 8nm, and a newer 2023 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 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $1,300 cheaper on MSRP at $699 vs $1,999, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 198.2% (35.9 vs 12.0), 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, RTX 4000 Ada Generation has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3080 vs RTX 4000 Ada Generation 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 4000 Ada Generation

The RTX 4000 Ada Generation is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 9 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1560 MHz. It has 6144 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 70W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 48 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 24,046 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce RTX 3080 scores 25,071 and the RTX 4000 Ada Generation reaches 24,046 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 4.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 3080 is built on Ampere while the RTX 4000 Ada Generation uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 8,704 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 6,144 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Raw compute: 29.77 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 26.73 TFLOPS (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 1560 MHz. Ray tracing: 68 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 48 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) with 272 Tensor cores vs 192.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
G3D Mark Score	25,071+4%	24,046
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	8704+42%	6144
Compute (TFLOPS)	29.77 TFLOPS+11%	26.73 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1710 MHz+10%	1560 MHz
ROPs	96+50%	64
TMUs	272+42%	192
L1 Cache	8.5 MB+42%	6 MB
L2 Cache	5 MB	48 MB+860%
Ray Tracing Cores	68+42%	48
Tensor Cores	272+42%	192

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the RTX 4000 Ada Generation 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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3080 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation carries 2 GB. GeForce RTX 3080 gives you 400% 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 360 GB/s (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) — a 111.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080. Memory bus width is 320-bit on the GeForce RTX 3080 and 160-bit on the RTX 4000 Ada Generation. L2 Cache: 5 MB (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 48 MB (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) — the RTX 4000 Ada Generation has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
VRAM Capacity	10 GB+400%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6 ECC
Memory Bandwidth	760 GB/s+111%	360 GB/s
Bus Width	320-bit+100%	160-bit
L2 Cache	5 MB	48 MB+860%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 12.2 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
DirectX	12 Ultimate (12_2)	12.2+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 8th Gen NVENC (3x) (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). 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 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
Encoder	NVENC (Ampere)	8th Gen NVENC (3x)
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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 70W — a 128.2% difference. The RTX 4000 Ada Generation is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 750W (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 1x 8-pin. Card length: 285mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
TDP	320W	70W-78%
Recommended PSU	750W	750W
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	1x 8-pin
Length	285mm	267mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	78.3	343.5+339%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3080 came in at $699, while the RTX 4000 Ada Generation launched at $1999. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3080 was 65% cheaper ($1300 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 35.9 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 12.0 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) — the GeForce RTX 3080 offers 199.2% better value. The newer card here is RTX 4000 Ada Generation (2023 vs 2020).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
MSRP	$699-65%	$1999
Performance per Dollar	35.9+199%	12.0
Codename	GA102	AD104
Release	September 1 2020	August 9 2023
Ranking	#41	#47

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