GeForce RTX 5080 vs Radeon RX 7800 XT
Performance-wise the GeForce RTX 5080 is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 81% up on the Radeon RX 7800 XT. Value tips toward the Radeon RX 7800 XT, though: $930 USD cheaper for what you get.
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GeForce RTX 5080 vs Radeon RX 7800 XT: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 5080 vs Radeon RX 7800 XT
The GeForce RTX 5080 is dramatically faster, around 81% ahead of the Radeon RX 7800 XT. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 5080 is comfortable at 4K and high-refresh 1440p, while the Radeon RX 7800 XT is better matched to 1440p.
Price & Value
Right now the Radeon RX 7800 XT starts at $520 USD against $1,450 USD for the GeForce RTX 5080. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 7800 XT offers the better performance-per-dollar (~54% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 5080 still sits about $451 USD above its $999 USD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The Radeon RX 7800 XT is the lighter draw at 263W against the GeForce RTX 5080's 360W, making it the easier card to power and cool. The GeForce RTX 5080 draws more in absolute terms but squeezes out more performance per watt, so budget for a beefier PSU if you go that route. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 5080 is roughly 2 years newer than the Radeon RX 7800 XT (Blackwell vs RDNA 3), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Features & Ecosystem
Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce RTX 5080 brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX 7800 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 5080 or Radeon RX 7800 XT?
Choose the GeForce RTX 5080 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX 7800 XT stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 5080 better than the Radeon RX 7800 XT?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 5080 or the Radeon RX 7800 XT?
Is the GeForce RTX 5080 worth the extra $930 USD over the Radeon RX 7800 XT?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 5080 or Radeon RX 7800 XT?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 5080 | Radeon RX 7800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Blackwell | RDNA 3 |
| Process Node | TSMC 4N | TSMC N5 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors) | 10,752✓ | 3,840 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 84✓ | 60 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 336✓ | 120 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 5080 | Radeon RX 7800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 2,295 MHz✓ | 1,800 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2,617 MHz✓ | 2,430 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 5080 | Radeon RX 7800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR7 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 30 Gbps✓ | 19.5 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 960 GB/s✓ | 624 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 5080 | Radeon RX 7800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 360 W | 263 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 16-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Jan 2025 | Aug 2023 |
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