GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 5080 comes out dramatically faster — about 91% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3080. But the GeForce RTX 3080 is the better value, undercutting it by $757 GBP for the performance you get.
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GeForce RTX 5080 vs GeForce RTX 3080: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 5080 vs GeForce RTX 3080
The GeForce RTX 5080 is dramatically faster, around 91% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3080. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 5080 is comfortable at 4K and high-refresh 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3080 is better matched to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 5080 packs 10,752 CUDA cores versus 8,704 on the GeForce RTX 3080.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3080 currently lists from $393 GBP, $757 GBP less than the GeForce RTX 5080 at $1,150 GBP. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 3080 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~53% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 3080 is trading below its $699 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 5080 still sits about $151 GBP above its $999 GBP MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
On power, the GeForce RTX 3080 is the gentler choice at 320W versus 360W. The GeForce RTX 5080 is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 360W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 5080 carries 16GB versus 10GB on the GeForce RTX 3080. The extra 6GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce RTX 5080's memory is also faster — 960 GB/s versus 760 GB/s (256-bit vs 320-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 5080 is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3080 (Blackwell vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3080 or GeForce RTX 5080?
Choose the GeForce RTX 5080 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 3080 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.