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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£1,050
  • Avg. price in US: ~$960
  • VRAM: 12 GB
  • Memory bus width: 384 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 350 W

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

7.2

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

7.2

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Very good
7.2

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

6.7

Performance

24.0%

6.5

Memory

12.0%

7.2

Power & Cooling

11.0%

9.4

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.9

Design

4.0%

9.0

Connectivity & Media

Very good
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 6.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    6.1

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    8.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.2
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    6.1

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.0
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    6.1

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    8.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.9
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    6.1

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    8.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.9
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    6.1

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    8.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £1,050

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is an enthusiast-class graphics card built on the 8nm Ampere architecture, featuring 8,960 CUDA cores and 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM on a wide 384-bit memory interface. With a 912 GB/s memory bandwidth and a 350W TDP, it delivers exceptional 4K gaming performance and professional-grade AI capabilities through its 70 Ray Tracing and 280 Tensor cores. Its main pros include significant performance gains over the original 10GB model—effectively bridging the gap to the 3080 Ti—and improved future-proofing due to the increased memory capacity. However, it is constrained by a high power requirement and higher launch pricing compared to the base model, while frequently lacking a standard MSRP which led to varied market pricing.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

?

Performance

24.0%

?

Memory

12.0%

?

Power & Cooling

11.0%

?

Platform & Features

5.0%

?

Design

4.0%

?

Connectivity & Media

7.2
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a technical score of 7.21 points, which is higher than that of 65.3% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
1.0
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 55.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

7.2

Overall score

40.0%

5.0

Price

6.5
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.5 points, which is lower than 61.8% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

?
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

30.64 TFLOPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB delivers 30.64 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is higher than that of 58.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

12 GB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has 12 GB of VRAM, which is more than 45.4% of graphics cards and equal to 15.9% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR6X
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR6X
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB uses GDDR6X memory, which is newer than on 55.8% of graphics cards and equal to 22.6% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

384 bit
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB uses a 384 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 89.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 7.3% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

912 GB/s
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB reaches 912 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is higher than that of 86.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.9% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

4.0
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB supports PCIe 4.0, which is newer than on 22.5% of graphics cards and equal to 52% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

?
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.4
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB supports Vulkan 1.4, which is more advanced than on 26.6% of graphics cards and equal to 73.4% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

4
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 7.8% of graphics cards and equal to 89.2% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

7680x4320
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320, which is higher than that of 44.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 55.6% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

3
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB offers 3 DisplayPort outputs, which is more than 20.9% of graphics cards and equal to 77.3% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.4a
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB supports DisplayPort 1.4a, which is more advanced than on 22.7% of graphics cards and equal to 44.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

8.1 Gbps
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB supports DisplayPort link rates up to 8.1 Gbps, which is slower than on 50.4% of graphics cards and equal to 40.5% of graphics cards.
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

350 W
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a TDP of 350 W, which is higher than that of 86% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.6% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

350 W
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB draws 350 W under peak load, which is higher than 85.3% of graphics cards and equal to 0.9% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

750 W
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB recommends a 750 W PSU, which is higher than that of 62.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 17.5% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

350 W
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a board power limit of 350 W, which is higher than that of 81.9% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.1% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

350 W
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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

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Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

285 mm
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is 285 mm long, which is shorter than 50.1% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.4% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

112 mm
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is 112 mm tall, which is shorter than 84.4% of graphics cards and equal in height to 2.8% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB vs the average graphics card

  • 2.04x higher memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (912 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
    What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
    When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (912 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.912 GB/s vs 448 GB/s
  • 30 more compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more compute units than the average graphics card (70 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more compute units than the average graphics card (70 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.70 vs 40
  • 22 more ray tracing cores
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (70 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.
    What it is: Number of dedicated ray tracing processing cores or units
    When it matters: When you care about ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows in newer games.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (70 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.70 vs 48
  • 96 more TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more TMUs than the average graphics card (280 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more TMUs than the average graphics card (280 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.280 vs 184
  • 32 more ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more ROPs than the average graphics card (96 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
    What it is: Total number of render output units on the GPU
    When it matters: When you want more context on pixel output capacity, especially for high-resolution play and older raster-heavy engines.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more ROPs than the average graphics card (96 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.96 vs 64
  • 128 bit wider memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (384 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (384 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.384 bit vs 256 bit
  • Includes dual BIOS
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Includes dual BIOS for redundancy or overclocking profiles
    When it matters: When you want a safer recovery path after tweaking fan curves or overclock settings, or you need separate quiet and performance profiles.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 88 more AI cores
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more AI cores than the average graphics card (280 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.
    What it is: Number of tensor or AI processing cores
    When it matters: When AI features, frame generation, or creator tools use dedicated matrix hardware.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more AI cores than the average graphics card (280 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.280 vs 192
  • 30 more compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more compute units than the average graphics card (70 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 22 more ray tracing cores
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (70 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.
  • 96 more TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more TMUs than the average graphics card (280 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 32 more ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more ROPs than the average graphics card (96 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 88 more AI cores
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has more AI cores than the average graphics card (280 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.
  • 27.1% higher texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher texture rate than the average graphics card (478.8 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 34% higher FP32 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher FP32 performance than the average graphics card (30.6 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 2.04x higher memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (912 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 128 bit wider memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (384 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 15 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is shorter than the average graphics card (112 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.

Total
Performance
Memory
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 31.6% lower boost clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,710 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 34.4% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,260 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 32.1% slower VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,188 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 81.3% smaller L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (6 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 60% larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher process node than the average graphics card (8 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • 2.06x larger GPU die
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher GPU die size than the average graphics card (628 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
  • 1 older
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,022 vs 2,023).
  • Older encoder generation
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (7 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • No AV1 encoding
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • 62.8% higher TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher TDP than the average graphics card (350 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 15.4% higher PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher PSU requirement than the average graphics card (750 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 59.1% higher board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher board power limit than the average graphics card (350 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
  • 8 °C higher load temperature
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher load temperature than the average graphics card (75 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • 59.1% higher peak power draw
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher peak power draw than the average graphics card (350 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a peak power draw of 220 W.
  • 31.6% lower boost clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,710 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,710 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1710 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 34.4% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,260 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,260 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1260 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 1 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 60% larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher process node than the average graphics card (8 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher process node than the average graphics card (8 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.8 nm vs 5 nm
  • 62.8% higher TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher TDP than the average graphics card (350 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a higher TDP than the average graphics card (350 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.350 W vs 215 W
  • No AV1 encoding
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
    What it is: Supports hardware encoding of AV1 video codec
    When it matters: When you stream or export video and want efficient AV1 encoding on the GPU.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 32.1% slower VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,188 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
    What it is: Speed at which the GPU memory operates
    When it matters: When you want more context on how quickly the card's VRAM can move data.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,188 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.1188 MHz vs 1750 MHz
  • 81.3% smaller L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (6 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
    What it is: Total size of the GPU’s L2 cache memory
    When it matters: When cache size can help the GPU feed data faster in demanding scenes.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (6 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.6 MB vs 32 MB
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB and

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB?

  • High-end 4K performance, often bridging the gap between the original 3080 and the 3080 Ti
  • Increased VRAM (12GB) and wider memory bus (384-bit) provide better future-proofing for memory-intensive titles compared to the 10GB model
  • Excellent ray tracing and DLSS support, making demanding cinematic settings playable at high resolutions
  • Generally quiet operation and effective cooling on many partner models (e.g., MSI Suprim X and ASUS Strix)
  • Significant productivity boost in CUDA-accelerated applications like Blender

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB?

  • High power consumption, typically requiring at least a 750W-850W power supply due to a 350W TDP
  • Questionable value proposition at launch due to lack of an official MSRP and high 'street' prices compared to the 10GB version
  • Marginal performance gains (approx. 3-6%) over the original 10GB 3080 in many gaming scenarios
  • Limited overclocking headroom, with many cards already pushed near their limits out of the box
  • Lack of support for newer features like DLSS 3.0 Frame Generation, which is exclusive to the 40-series cards

Expert reviews

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techpowerup.com
18/02/2022
ASUS GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB STRIX OC Review

The ASUS GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB STRIX OC, analyzed by TechPowerUp, is a premium, high-performance card optimized for 4K gaming by featuring 12 GB of GDDR6X, a 384-bit memory bus, and 8,960 CUDA cores. The card offers impressive, quiet cooling through a triple-slot DirectCU III design, while providing, extensive features like high-end 18 phase VRMs, dual BIOS, and extra chassis fan...Read more

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techpowerup.com
23/02/2022
MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Suprim X 12 GB Review - TechPowerUp

The MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Suprim X 12 GB is a premium, factory-overclocked card featuring 8,960 CUDA cores, a 384-bit memory bus, and an advanced TRI FROZR 2S cooler that ensures exceptional performance and quiet operation. It offers top-tier build quality, a dual BIOS, and an idle-fan-stop feature, making it a robust, high-end option. However, the card is physically massive (33.5 x...Read more

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lesnumeriques.com
23/02/2022
Test Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 12 Go : plus de mémoire pour faire passer la pilule du prix ?

This review evaluates the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB, a graphic card update positioned between the original 10 GB RTX 3080 and the RTX 3080 Ti. Built on the GA102 Ampere architecture, this model features a modest core increase to 8960 CUDA cores, a lower base clock of 1260 MHz, and an average boost frequency of 1710 MHz. The most significant upgrade is its memory configuration,...Read more

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cowcotland.com
28/03/2022
Test carte graphique MSI RTX 3080 12 Go SUPRIM X : une carte qui se prend pour une RTX 3080 Ti

The Cowcotland review of the MSI GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Suprim X highlights elite, high-end performance that bridges the gap between the standard 10GB variant and the RTX 3080 Ti, featuring robust build quality, a premium brushed-aluminium design, and an excellent 12GB VRAM buffer on a 384-bit memory bus. Utilizing the efficient Tri Frozr 2S triple-fan cooler, the card runs cool and...Read more

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overclocking.com
17/01/2022
Test : MSI RTX 3080 12 GB Suprim XGo to product viewer dialogue for this item.

The Overclocking.com review evaluates the MSI RTX 3080 12 GB Suprim X, a premium graphics card built on NVIDIA's Ampere architecture using a Samsung 8nm GA102-220 chip. Tested on a system featuring an Intel Core i7-12700KF, 32 GB of DDR5 memory, and Windows 11, the card coexists alongside the older 10 GB model rather than replacing it. The review thoroughly examines the hardware...Read more

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hwupgrade.it
25/01/2022
GeForce RTX 3080 12 GBGo to product viewer dialog for this item. vs RTX 3080 10 GB e RTX 3080 TiGo to product viewer dialog for this item.: come cambi...

The GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB is an updated version of NVIDIA's GA102 Ampere GPU architecture, functioning as a mid-generation bridge between the original RTX 3080 10 GB and the high-end RTX 3080 Ti. It is not just a simple VRAM expansion; it features a wider 384-bit memory bus (up from 320-bit) and a 3% increase in active processing clusters, bringing the total to 8960 CUDA cores, 70...Read more

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