GeForce RTX 3080 12GB vs Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB comes out ahead: well ahead on speed, about 32% ahead of the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB. That said, the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is the smarter buy on value — $1,804 AUD less for the performance on offer.
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GeForce RTX 3080 12GB vs Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB vs Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is significantly faster, around 32% ahead of the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1440p.
Price & Value
The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB currently lists from $539 AUD, $1,804 AUD less than the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB at $2,343 AUD. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB offers the better performance-per-dollar (~229% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB still sits about $240 AUD above its $299 AUD MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB still sits about $1,544 AUD above its $799 AUD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 160W against 350W, the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern RDNA 4 architecture on a TSMC N4 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB at 12GB versus 8GB on the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB — that extra 4GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work.
Generation & Longevity
The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB (RDNA 4 vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Features & Ecosystem
Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB offers AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB or Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB better than the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB or the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB worth the extra $1,804 AUD over the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB or Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | RDNA 4 |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC N4 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors) | 8,960✓ | 2,048 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 32 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 64 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,440 MHz | 1,700 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,710 MHz | 3,130 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB✓ | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19 Gbps | 20 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 912 GB/s✓ | 322.3 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| TDP | 350 W | 160 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Jan 2022 | Jun 2025 |