GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the clear winner, offering 255.7% better value than GeForce GTX 980 Ti.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB comes out noticeably faster — about 10% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is noticeably faster, around 10% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB currently lists from $265 EUR, $592 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti at $857 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB wins on performance-per-dollar by about 256%. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti still sits about $208 EUR above its $649 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 130W against 250W, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB carries 8GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti's memory is also faster — 337 GB/s versus 224 GB/s (384-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is roughly 7 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti (Ampere vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 Ti or GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB 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 GTX 980 Ti if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB better than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Is the GeForce GTX 980 Ti worth the extra $592 EUR over the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,816✓ | 2,560 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 20 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 80 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,000 MHz | 1,552 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,075 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 8 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 14 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 336.5 GB/s✓ | 224 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 250 W | 130 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Jun 2015 | Jan 2022 |