GeForce RTX 3080 12GB vs Radeon RX 6950 XT
Performance-wise the Radeon RX 6950 XT is out front, noticeably faster, roughly 14% up on the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Value tips toward the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB, though: $379 GBP cheaper for what you get.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
Radeon RX 6950 XT vs GeForce RTX 3080 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon RX 6950 XT vs GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
The Radeon RX 6950 XT is noticeably faster, around 14% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Radeon RX 6950 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 GeForce RTX 3080 12GB starts at $1,070 GBP against $1,449 GBP for the Radeon RX 6950 XT. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB offers the better performance-per-dollar (~19% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB still sits about $271 GBP above its $799 GBP MSRP. The Radeon RX 6950 XT still sits about $350 GBP above its $1,099 GBP MSRP.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The Radeon RX 6950 XT's 16GB (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 6950 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 6950 XT?
Choose the Radeon RX 6950 XT if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Radeon RX 6950 XT better than the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB or the Radeon RX 6950 XT?
Is the Radeon RX 6950 XT worth the extra $379 GBP over the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB?
Does the Radeon RX 6950 XT have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB or Radeon RX 6950 XT?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 6950 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | RDNA 2 |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC N7 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors) | 8,960✓ | 5,120 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 80 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 6950 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,440 MHz | 1,860 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,710 MHz | 2,310 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 6950 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB | 16 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19 Gbps✓ | 18 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 912 GB/s✓ | 576 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | Radeon RX 6950 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 350 W | 335 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Jan 2022 | May 2022 |