GeForce RTX 3090 vs GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 44% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3090. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.
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GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER vs GeForce RTX 3090: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER vs GeForce RTX 3090
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is dramatically faster, around 44% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3090. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is comfortable at 4K with upscaling and native 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3090 is better matched to 1440p.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER currently lists from $1,690 EUR, $159 EUR less than the GeForce RTX 3090 at $1,849 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER wins on performance-per-dollar by about 57%. The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER still sits about $691 EUR above its $999 EUR MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3090 still sits about $350 EUR above its $1,499 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 320W against 350W, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Ada Lovelace architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 3090 at 24GB versus 16GB on the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER — that extra 8GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce RTX 3090's memory is also faster — 936 GB/s versus 736 GB/s (384-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3090 (Ada Lovelace vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER?
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce RTX 3090 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER better than the GeForce RTX 3090?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3090 or the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER?
Is the GeForce RTX 3090 worth the extra $159 EUR over the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER?
Does the GeForce RTX 3090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 10,496✓ | 10,240 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 82✓ | 80 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 328✓ | 320 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,395 MHz | 2,295 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,695 MHz | 2,550 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 24 GB✓ | 16 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19.5 Gbps | 23 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 936 GB/s✓ | 736 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 350 W | 320 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Sep 2020 | Jan 2024 |
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