GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 5060
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 50% ahead of the GeForce RTX 5060. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.
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GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 5060: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 5060
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is dramatically faster, around 50% ahead of the GeForce RTX 5060. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti packs 10,240 CUDA cores versus 3,840 on the GeForce RTX 5060.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 5060 currently lists from $590 CAD, $80 CAD less than the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti at $670 CAD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar by about 32%. The GeForce RTX 5060 still sits about $291 CAD above its $299 CAD MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is trading below its $1,199 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 145W against 350W, the GeForce RTX 5060 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti at 12GB versus 8GB on the GeForce RTX 5060 — that extra 4GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's memory is also faster — 912 GB/s versus 448 GB/s (384-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 5060 is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (Blackwell vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or GeForce RTX 5060?
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 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 5060 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti better than the GeForce RTX 5060?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or the GeForce RTX 5060?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti worth the extra $80 CAD over the GeForce RTX 5060?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or GeForce RTX 5060?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 10,240✓ | 3,840 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 80✓ | 30 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 320✓ | 120 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,365 MHz | 2,280 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,665 MHz | 2,497 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB✓ | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19 Gbps | 28 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 912 GB/s✓ | 448 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| TDP | 350 W | 145 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | May 2021 | May 2025 |