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Key Points:
- Although the Radeon RX 6800 XT comes with a significantly higher VRAM capacity, the RTX 3080 stays competitive by offering superior technologies.
- With graphics technology offered by Nvidia such as DLSS, G-Sync, and super Ray Tracing capabilities, many games will run better on the RTX 3080.
- If you want the absolute best bang for your buck, the Geforce RTX 3080 has a slight lead over the Radeon RX 6800 XT.
Today, we are having a look at two of the best offerings from both Nvidia and AMD: The Geforce RTX 3080 vs Radeon RX 6800 XT. If you’ve had a look at the graphics card market recently, then you know things have been a little crazy, with most GPUs selling well over MSRP. With prices finally starting to come down, we thought now would be a better time than ever to check out what Nvidia and AMD have in the way of high-end gaming graphics cards.
Although similarly priced, the RTX 3080 and Radeon RX 6800 XT definitely have their differences, with various pros and cons for each card, and we most often see Nvidia pulling ahead of AMD in their GPU lineups. We are going to find out if that is any different with these two graphics cards, starting with full side-by-side comparisons and then going into detail about what makes each of these cards special. Finally, we’re going to find out which one is really better: the Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT?
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GeForce RTX 3080 vs Radeon RX 6800 XT: Side-By-Side Comparison
Looking at the specs on each card paints a very interesting picture. We can see significant differences in key areas such as core count, VRAM capacity, and clock speeds, all of which translate to significantly higher theoretical performance for the Radeon RX 6800 XT. Have a look at the table below to see for yourself.
| GeForce RTX 3080 | Radeon RX 6800 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics Processor: | GA102 | Navi 21 |
| Shader Cores: | 8704 | 4608 |
| TMUs: | 272 | 288 |
| ROPs: | 96 | 128 |
| VRAM Type: | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| VRAM Capacity: | 10 GB | 16 GB |
| Bus Width: | 320 bit | 256 bit |
| GPU Clock: | 1440 MHz | 1825 MHz |
| Boost Clock: | 1710 MHz | 2250 MHz |
| Memory Clock: | 1188 MHz | 2000 MHz |
| Texture Fill Rate: | 465.1 GTexel/s | 648 GTexel/s |
| Pixel Rate: | 164.2 GPixel/s | 288 GPixel/s |
Even though the Radeon RX 6800 XT appears to have better specs, does this mean it is a much better GPU for gaming, streaming, and editing? Not necessarily, as we’re about to find out: specs are not everything. It is all about benchmarks and real-world performance.
GeForce RTX 3080 vs Radeon RX 6800 XT: What’s the Difference?
- Compute Units: 72
- Ray Accelerators: 72
- Game Frequency: Up to 2015 MHz
- Infinity Cache: 128 MB
- Memory Type: GDDR6
Nvidia released the RTX 3080 in September 2020, designed as a step up from the RTX 3070 Ti. It was an upgrade from the previous generation, the RTX 2080, in almost every way, with hardware improvements all around. Although the previous generations had support for some key features such as DLSS, Ray Tracing, and G-Sync, the latest RTX 3080 brings with it improvements to all of these features, making it more competitive than ever.
AMD also brought their A-game when it comes to generational increases in performance. The RX 6800 XT is the successor to the RX 5700 XT, which came out about a year earlier. Many user reports claimed hardware stability and driver issues on the previous generation of GPUs, which seem to have been improved with the latest generation. Unfortunately, the Radeon RX 6800 XT lacks features found in similar Nvidia cards, such as RTX and DLSS.
Although the Radeon RX 6800 XT comes with a significantly higher VRAM capacity, the RTX 3080 stays competitive by offering superior technologies. AMD’s answer to G-Sync is reportedly not as good as Nvidia’s G-Sync refresh rate synchronization technology. AMD’s frame rate upscaling tech, FidelityFX Super Resolution, is also not as powerful as Nvidia’s DLSS. Short for Deep Learning Super Sampling, DLSS uses artificial intelligence to upscale image resolution without sacrificing frame rates.
When it comes to Ray Tracing, Nvidia has been at it longer and seems to have perfected the technology, whereas AMD is seriously lagging behind. Despite having higher specs on paper, Nvidia’s use of superior technology makes it look like a better choice for most gamers.
One thing that could sway you towards the RX 6800 XT instead of the RTX 3080 is the price. AMD has always been known for providing more inexpensive graphics cards, and the RX 6800 XT is no different. With an MSRP of $699 for the RTX 3080 and $649 for the RX 6800 XT, the AMD card is the clear winner here. The current graphics card market is still showing us prices well over MSRP though, so it all depends on which one is the better deal at the time.
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Power Consumption and Size
- Delivers true 4K 60+ fps gaming
- Major design updates for future gaming
- Capable of meeting demanding games
- 10GB GDDR6X (320-bit) video memory
- Flexible connectivity via HDMI & Display Port outputs
You won’t be able to run either one of these graphics cards if you don’t have a hefty power supply. Both the RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT require a lot of power, so knowing which one is more energy efficient may help you decide which GPU is right for you.
Under full load, the RTX 3080 will draw about 320 watts. As long as you have a 700-watt or higher power supply with two 6-pin PCI-e connectors you’ll be able to power this graphics card. The Radeon RX 6800 XT comes in with a slightly lower TDP rating of just 300 watts. Although you could get by with a smaller power supply, at least a 700-watt model is recommended for optimal performance. The difference with the RX 6800 XT however, is that you will need two 8-pin power connectors to provide it with power.
Both graphics cards are fairly large in size, with dimensions measuring about 10.5 inches for the AMD, and about 11 inches for the Nvidia. This is to be expected with high-performance graphics cards like this, and a large GPU can even be desirable to show off in your PC case. Just make sure you have the space available for it.
GeForce RTX 3080 vs Radeon RX 6800 XT: Which One Is Better For Gaming?
- Compute Units: 72
- Ray Accelerators: 72
- Game Frequency: Up to 2015 MHz
- Infinity Cache: 128 MB
- Memory Type: GDDR6
With graphics cards being used for all sorts of purposes from video editing and cryptocurrency mining to complex 3D modeling, the most common benchmark for performance is how well they play games. Luckily, both the RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT are fantastic gaming GPUs.
Both of these graphics cards are complete overkill if all you plan to do is game at 1080p. With high-end GPUs such as these, you can push performance to the absolute max, even at 4K Ultra HD resolutions.
We compiled benchmarks from some of the most popular games out there to find out which one is really the better gaming graphics card. As you can see from the benchmarks, both GPUs offer stunning levels of performance:
| GeForce RTX 3080 | Radeon RX 6800 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Exodus | 43+ FPS | 41+ FPS |
| Final Fantasy XIV | 57+ FPS | 45+ FPS |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 62+ FPS | 61+ FPS |
| Assassins Creed: Valhalla | 42+ FPS | 46+ FPS |
| Borderlands 3 | 57+ FPS | 64+ FPS |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 69+ FPS | 69+ FPS |
| Watch Dogs Legion | 45+ FPS | 44+ FPS |
Even on ultra settings at 4K resolution, the results are impressive for every game tested. At lower resolutions and settings, you can expect an average FPS of at least 25% more.
No matter which card you pick, you’ll enjoy a truly immersive gaming experience. If you want the absolute best bang for your buck, however, the Geforce RTX 3080 has a slight lead over the Radeon RX 6800 XT. Games that don’t use Ray Tracing or DLSS may actually run better on the RX 6800 XT, so keep that in mind if you enjoy games like Assassins Creed: Valhalla or Borderlands 3.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Delivers true 4K 60+ fps gaming
- Major design updates for future gaming
- Capable of meeting demanding games
- 10GB GDDR6X (320-bit) video memory
- Flexible connectivity via HDMI & Display Port outputs
For your typical gamer, both the RTX 3080 and the RX 6800 XT are extremely powerful graphics cards and probably overkill for most 1080p gaming. However, if you consider yourself a hardcore gaming enthusiast, the question of which GPU is really better becomes a bit harder to answer.
There are a lot of factors that make up which card is better, but it all comes down to your specific needs. If having a graphics card with lower power consumption and a smaller footprint is important to you, then you may be inclined to go with the Radeon RX 6800 XT. For most gamers, these are relatively unimportant factors, and the real deciding factor is gaming performance.
With graphics technology offered by Nvidia such as DLSS, G-Sync, and super Ray Tracing capabilities, many games will run better on the RTX 3080. There are certain games that have a preference for the RX 6800 XT, so keep that in mind when making your selection. To sum it up though, we think the RTX 3080 beats the RX 6800 XT, even if only by a small margin.
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