Radeon RX 6800 XT vs GeForce RTX 3080
Radeon RX 6800 XT
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GeForce RTX 3080
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon RX 6800 XT
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3080
Why is GeForce RTX 3080 better than Radeon RX 6800 XT?
The Radeon RX 6800 XT and GeForce RTX 3080 are the "old guard" of the high-end gaming market, and both remain excellent choices for 4K gaming today. The RX 6800 XT features a massive 16GB of VRAM, giving it a distinct advantage in memory-hungry titles and longevity. In traditional rasterization, it trades blows with the 3080, often winning in games optimized for AMD architecture.
The GeForce RTX 3080, however, is the superior card for ray tracing and professional workloads. Its GDDR6X memory provides higher bandwidth, and NVIDIA’s DLSS 2 is still the gold standard for image upscaling on older hardware. While the 3080 is a technical powerhouse, it is much more power-demanding and can run quite hot. If you can find a used RX 6800 XT for a good price, its 16GB of VRAM makes it a very compelling option for a long-term build. For the absolute best lighting features, the RTX 3080 remains the enthusiast favorite.
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3080 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.3% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon RX 6800 XT offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.3%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.3%) |
| Longevity | 🔮Strong Longevity (RDNA 2.0 (2020−2025) / 7nm) | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere (2020−2025) / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling |
| VRAM | 🎮 High Capacity (16 GB) | 🎮 High Capacity (10 GB) |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | Standard Size (285mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce RTX 3080 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $400 versus $743 for the Radeon RX 6800 XT, it costs 46% less. While it maintains competitive performance, this results in a 86.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+86.3%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($743) | ✅More affordable ($400) |
Performance Check
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 7800X3D 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Radeon RX 6800 XT and GeForce RTX 3080
Radeon RX 6800 XT
The Radeon RX 6800 XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 28 2020. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1825 MHz to 2250 MHz. It has 4608 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. It features 72 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 24,995 points. Launch price was $649.
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.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon RX 6800 XT scores 24,995 and the GeForce RTX 3080 reaches 25,071 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon RX 6800 XT is built on RDNA 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 3080 uses Ampere, both on 7 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 4,608 (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs 8,704 (GeForce RTX 3080). Raw compute: 20.74 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs 29.77 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080). Boost clocks: 2250 MHz vs 1710 MHz. Ray tracing: 72 RT cores (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs 68 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 272.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 24,995 | 25,071 |
| Architecture | RDNA 2.0 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 7 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 4608 | 8704+89% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 20.74 TFLOPS | 29.77 TFLOPS+44% |
| Boost Clock | 2250 MHz+32% | 1710 MHz |
| ROPs | 128+33% | 96 |
| TMUs | 288+6% | 272 |
| L1 Cache | 1 MB | 8.5 MB+750% |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB | 5 MB+25% |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 72+6% | 68 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 6800 XT is support for FSR 3 / AFMF. 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 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 3 (Native) | DLSS 2.0 |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 / AFMF (Driver) | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon RX 6800 XT comes with 16 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3080 has 10 GB. The Radeon RX 6800 XT offers 60% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 512 GB/s (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs 760 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080) — a 48.4% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080. Bus width: 256-bit vs 320-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs 5 MB (GeForce RTX 3080) — the GeForce RTX 3080 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 16 GB+60% | 10 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bandwidth | 512 GB/s | 760 GB/s+48% |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | 320-bit+25% |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB | 5 MB+25% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3080). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| 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: VCN 3.0 (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3080). Decoder: VCN 3.0 vs NVDEC (Ampere). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080).
| Feature | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCN 3.0 | NVENC (Ampere) |
| Decoder | VCN 3.0 | NVDEC (Ampere) |
| Codecs | H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 | H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon RX 6800 XT draws 300W versus the GeForce RTX 3080's 320W — a 6.5% difference. The Radeon RX 6800 XT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 3080). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 285mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 300W-6% | 320W |
| Recommended PSU | 750W | 750W |
| Power Connector | 2x 8-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Length | 267mm | 285mm |
| Height | 120mm | 112mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 75 | 75 |
| Perf/Watt | 83.3+6% | 78.3 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon RX 6800 XT launched at $649 MSRP and currently averages $743, while the GeForce RTX 3080 launched at $699 and now averages $400. The GeForce RTX 3080 costs 46.2% less ($343 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 33.6 (Radeon RX 6800 XT) vs 62.7 (GeForce RTX 3080) — the GeForce RTX 3080 offers 86.6% better value.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6800 XT | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $649-7% | $699 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $743 | $400-46% |
| Performance per Dollar | 33.6 | 62.7+87% |
| Codename | Navi 21 | GA102 |
| Release | October 28 2020 | September 1 2020 |
| Ranking | #42 | #41 |
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