GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB comes out ahead: meaningfully ahead, about 10% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. That said, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is the smarter buy on value — $15 USD less for the performance on offer.
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GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is noticeably faster, around 10% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti currently lists from $125 USD, $15 USD less than the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB at $140 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar, so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is trading below its $649 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is trading below its $249 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 130W against 250W, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB 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
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB at 8GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti — that extra 2GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti's memory is also faster — 337 GB/s versus 224 GB/s (384-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is roughly 7 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti (Ampere vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 Ti or GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB better than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB worth the extra $15 USD over the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Does the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 Ti or GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,816✓ | 2,560 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 20 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 80 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,000 MHz | 1,552 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,075 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 8 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 14 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 336.5 GB/s✓ | 224 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 250 W | 130 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Jun 2015 | Jan 2022 |