GeForce RTX 3070 vs GeForce RTX 3080
The GeForce RTX 3080 is significantly faster than the GeForce RTX 3070, leading by roughly 30% in our performance index. The GeForce RTX 3070, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $273 EUR cheaper.
Market Value Leader
GeForce RTX 3070 is the clear winner, offering 17.6% better value than GeForce RTX 3080.
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GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 3070: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 3070
The GeForce RTX 3080 is significantly faster, around 30% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3070. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 3080 packs 8,704 CUDA cores versus 5,888 on the GeForce RTX 3070. The GeForce RTX 3080 also has more RT cores (68 vs 46) and more AI cores (272 vs 184), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 3070 starts at $522 EUR against $795 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3080. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 3070 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~18% better value), 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 3070 draws just 220W versus 320W for the GeForce RTX 3080, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom.
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 3070's 8GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 3080's memory is also faster — 760 GB/s versus 448 GB/s (320-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3070 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 3070 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 better than the GeForce RTX 3070?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3070 or the GeForce RTX 3080?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 worth the extra $273 EUR over the GeForce RTX 3070?
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 3070?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3070 or GeForce RTX 3080?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3070 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ampere |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 5,888 | 8,704✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 46 | 68✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 184 | 272✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3070 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,500 MHz✓ | 1,440 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,725 MHz✓ | 1,710 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3070 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 10 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 320-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 19 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 760 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3070 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 220 W✓ | 320 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Released | Sep 2020 | Sep 2020 |