GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3080 comes out ahead: meaningfully ahead, about 13% ahead of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.
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GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB
The GeForce RTX 3080 is noticeably faster, around 13% ahead of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 3080 packs 8,704 CUDA cores versus 4,608 on the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3080 currently lists from $569 CAD, $110 CAD less than the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB at $679 CAD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3080 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 35%. The GeForce RTX 3080 is trading below its $699 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB still sits about $300 CAD above its $379 CAD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 180W against 320W, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB 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 at 10GB versus 8GB on the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB — that extra 2GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce RTX 3080's memory is also faster — 760 GB/s versus 448 GB/s (320-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3080 (Blackwell vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 or GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB?
The GeForce RTX 3080 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 Ti 8GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 better than the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3080 or the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB worth the extra $110 CAD over the GeForce RTX 3080?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 or GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 8,704✓ | 4,608 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 68✓ | 36 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 272✓ | 144 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,440 MHz | 2,407 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,710 MHz | 2,572 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 10 GB✓ | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 320-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19 Gbps | 28 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 760 GB/s✓ | 448 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| TDP | 320 W | 180 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Sep 2020 | Apr 2025 |