GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
The GeForce RTX 3080 is a real step up in speed — leading the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB by roughly 13% in our performance index. It also comes out ahead on value, making it the straightforward pick if the price fits your budget.
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GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
The GeForce RTX 3080 is noticeably faster, around 13% ahead of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. 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 16GB.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $567 EUR for the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB versus $629 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3080. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3080 wins on performance-per-dollar. The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB still sits about $138 EUR above its $429 EUR MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3080 is trading below its $699 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB draws just 180W 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. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 16GB against 10GB, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 3080's 10GB can fall short. 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 16GB 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 16GB?
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 16GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 better than the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3080 or the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 worth the extra $62 EUR over the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 or GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 10 GB | 16 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 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
