GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is significantly faster than the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, leading by roughly 26% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
Market Value Leader
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the clear winner, offering 20.4% better value than GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB.
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GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is significantly faster, around 26% ahead of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti packs 10,240 CUDA cores versus 4,608 on the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB starts at $8,561 SEK against $8,948 SEK for the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar by about 20%. The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB still sits about $8,132 SEK above its $429 SEK MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti still sits about $7,749 SEK above its $1,199 SEK MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB draws just 180W versus 350W for the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, 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 12GB, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's 12GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's memory is also faster — 912 GB/s versus 448 GB/s (384-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 4 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (Blackwell vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 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 Ti better than the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti worth the extra $386 SEK 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 Ti or GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 10,240✓ | 4,608 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 80✓ | 36 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 320✓ | 144 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,365 MHz | 2,407 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,665 MHz | 2,572 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB | 16 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19 Gbps | 28 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 912 GB/s✓ | 448 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| TDP | 350 W | 180 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | May 2021 | Apr 2025 |