GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce RTX 3080
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster than the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB, leading by roughly 218% in our performance index. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $550 EUR cheaper.
Market Value Leader
It's a tight race! Both the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB and the GeForce RTX 3080 offer nearly identical market value.
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GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster, around 218% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3080 is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3080 packs 8,704 CUDA cores versus 2,560 on the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB. The GeForce RTX 3080 also has more RT cores (68 vs 20) and more AI cores (272 vs 80), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB starts at $245 EUR against $795 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3080. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB offers the better performance-per-dollar, so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 3080 still sits about $96 EUR above its $699 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB pulls less power (130W vs 320W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 3080 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 10GB against 8GB, the GeForce RTX 3080 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's 8GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 3080's memory is also faster — 760 GB/s versus 224 GB/s (320-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3080, so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3050 8GB or GeForce RTX 3080?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3080 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 better than the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB or the GeForce RTX 3080?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 worth the extra $550 EUR over the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which is better for ray tracing, the GeForce RTX 3080 or the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3050 8GB or GeForce RTX 3080?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ampere |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,560 | 8,704✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 20 | 68✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 80 | 272✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,552 MHz✓ | 1,440 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz✓ | 1,710 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 10 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 320-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 19 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 760 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 130 W✓ | 320 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Released | Jan 2022 | Sep 2020 |