GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce RTX 4080
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
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GeForce RTX 4080
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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 GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 4080
Why is GeForce RTX 4080 better than GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Comparing the flagship GeForce RTX 4080 to the budget-friendly GeForce RTX 3050 8GB reveals a monumental divide in performance tiers. The RTX 4080 is a 4K powerhouse that delivers roughly 300-400% more rendering speed than the entry-level Ampere card. This is the difference between a high-end enthusiast machine and a basic 1080p budget build.
Technically, the two cards represent different worlds. The RTX 4080 features a much larger 16GB GDDR6X buffer and specialized Ada Lovelace hardware for Frame Generation and professional-grade path-tracing. The RTX 3050 8GB is optimized for high-value 1080p gaming and lacks the core count or bandwidth to handle high resolutions with any stability. Moving from a 3050 to a 4080 is a transformative upgrade, turning playable settings into silk-smooth cinematic experiences in any modern AAA title.
The GeForce RTX 4080 is the undisputed winner in every category except price. It represents the height of current hardware performance and provides the level of immersion needed for high-fidelity gaming in 2026. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the winner for ultra-budget builders who need a reliable and affordable entry into PC gaming. For any enthusiast looking for a world-class digital experience, the 4080 is the clear and superior winner by an overwhelming margin.
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 4080 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 174.8% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (16 GB vs 8 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB.
| Insight | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-174.8%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+174.8%) |
| Longevity | 🏆Elite Architecture (Ampere (2020−2025) / 8nm) | 🏆Elite Architecture (Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) / 5nm) |
| Ecosystem | ✨ DLSS 3/4 + Frame Gen Support | ✨ DLSS 3/4 + Frame Gen Support |
| VRAM | 🎮 High Capacity (8 GB) | 🎮 High Capacity (16 GB) |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | Standard Size (310mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $209 versus $800 for the GeForce RTX 4080, it costs 74% less. While it maintains significantly lower raw performance, this results in a 39.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+39.3%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($209) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($800) |
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 GeForce RTX 3050 8GB and GeForce RTX 4080
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1552 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 130W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 20 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,535 points. Launch price was $249.
GeForce RTX 4080
The GeForce RTX 4080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 20 2022. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2205 MHz to 2505 MHz. It has 9728 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 320W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 76 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 34,445 points. Launch price was $1,199.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB scores 12,535 versus the GeForce RTX 4080's 34,445 — the GeForce RTX 4080 leads by 174.8%. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4080 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 9,728 (GeForce RTX 4080). Raw compute: 9.098 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 48.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4080). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2505 MHz. Ray tracing: 20 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 76 (GeForce RTX 4080) with 80 Tensor cores vs 304.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 12,535 | 34,445+175% |
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | 8 nm | 5 nm |
| Shading Units | 2560 | 9728+280% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 9.098 TFLOPS | 48.74 TFLOPS+436% |
| Boost Clock | 1777 MHz | 2505 MHz+41% |
| ROPs | 32 | 112+250% |
| TMUs | 80 | 304+280% |
| L1 Cache | 2.5 MB | 9.5 MB+280% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 64 MB+3100% |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 20 | 76+280% |
| Tensor Cores | 80 | 304+280% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4080 is support for DLSS 3 Frame Gen. 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 3050 8GB lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | DLSS 2.0 | DLSS 3.5 |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) | DLSS 3.0 (Native) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | Yes (DLSS 3.5) |
| Low Latency | NVIDIA Reflex | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4080 has 16 GB. The GeForce RTX 4080 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 736 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4080) — a 228.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4080. Bus width: 128-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 64 MB (GeForce RTX 4080) — the GeForce RTX 4080 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 736 GB/s+229% |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 256-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 64 MB+3100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4080). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 Ultimate | 12 Ultimate |
| Vulkan | 1.4+8% | 1.3 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4080). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4080).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 7th gen | NVENC 8th gen |
| Decoder | NVDEC 5th gen | NVDEC 5th gen |
| Codecs | H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 | H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB draws 130W versus the GeForce RTX 4080's 320W — a 84.4% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 4080). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 16-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 310mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 66°C vs 70°C.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 130W-59% | 320W |
| Recommended PSU | 450W-40% | 750W |
| Power Connector | 8-pin | 16-pin |
| Length | 242mm | 310mm |
| Height | 112mm | 140mm |
| Slots | 2-33% | 3 |
| Temp (Load) | 66°C-6% | 70°C |
| Perf/Watt | 96.4 | 107.6+12% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB launched at $249 MSRP and currently averages $209, while the GeForce RTX 4080 launched at $1199 and now averages $800. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB costs 73.9% less ($591 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 60.0 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 43.1 (GeForce RTX 4080) — the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB offers 39.2% better value.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $249-79% | $1199 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $209-74% | $800 |
| Performance per Dollar | 60.0+39% | 43.1 |
| Codename | GA106 | AD103 |
| Release | January 4 2022 | September 20 2022 |
| Ranking | #211 | #7 |
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