GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 1080 comes out significantly faster — about 30% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX 1080 is the clear winner, offering 585.3% better value than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
The GeForce GTX 1080 is significantly faster, around 30% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 1080 currently lists from $434 SEK, $1,856 SEK less than the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB at $2,290 SEK. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1080 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 585%. The GeForce GTX 1080 is trading below its $599 SEK MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB still sits about $2,121 SEK above its $169 SEK MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 130W against 180W, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB 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 GTX 1080 carries 8GB versus 6GB on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. 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 1080's memory is also faster — 320 GB/s versus 224 GB/s (256-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is roughly 6 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1080 (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?
The GeForce GTX 1080 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 3050 6GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1080 better than the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 or the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB worth the extra $1,856 SEK over the GeForce GTX 1080?
Does the GeForce GTX 1080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,560 | 2,560 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 20 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 80 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,607 MHz✓ | 1,552 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,733 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB✓ | 6 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5X | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 10 Gbps | 14 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 320 GB/s✓ | 224 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 180 W | 130 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | May 2016 | Jan 2022 |