GeForce RTX 3080 12GB vs Radeon RX 7900 XT
Performance-wise the Radeon RX 7900 XT is out front, significantly faster, roughly 35% up on the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
Radeon RX 7900 XT vs GeForce RTX 3080 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon RX 7900 XT vs GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
The Radeon RX 7900 XT is significantly faster, around 35% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Radeon RX 7900 XT is comfortable at 4K with upscaling and native 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is better matched to 1440p.
Price & Value
Right now the Radeon RX 7900 XT starts at $888 EUR against $1,447 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the Radeon RX 7900 XT wins on performance-per-dollar by about 120%. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB still sits about $648 EUR above its $799 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The Radeon RX 7900 XT sips power at 315W next to the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB's 350W, and still leads on performance-per-watt — quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The Radeon RX 7900 XT's 20GB (vs 12GB on the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads.
Features & Ecosystem
Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX 7900 XT offers AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB or Radeon RX 7900 XT?
The Radeon RX 7900 XT 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 3080 12GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Radeon RX 7900 XT better than the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB or the Radeon RX 7900 XT?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB worth the extra $559 EUR over the Radeon RX 7900 XT?
Does the Radeon RX 7900 XT have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB or Radeon RX 7900 XT?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 7900 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | RDNA 3 |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC N5 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors) | 8,960✓ | 5,376 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 84 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 168 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 7900 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,440 MHz | 1,500 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,710 MHz | 2,400 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 7900 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB | 20 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 320-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19 Gbps | 20 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 912 GB/s✓ | 800 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 7900 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 350 W | 315 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Jan 2022 | Nov 2022 |
Related Reading
RX 7900 XT in 2026: What 20GB Actually Buys You Now That FSR 4 Has Passed It By
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