RTX 4080 & 3090 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the RTX 4080 rather than the RTX 3090.
Why Do I Recommend The Nvidia RTX 4080?
- The RTX 4080 is built on the Advance Ada Lovelace architecture, which improves power efficiency and overall performance compared to the Ampere architecture of the RTX 3090.
- Its 3rd-gen ray tracing cores & 4th-gen tensor cores offer substantial improvements in ray-traced gaming & DLSS 3. The RTX 3090 uses older 2nd-gen ray tracing & 3rd-gen tensor cores.
- The RTX 4080’s DLSS 3 introduces frame generation, which boosts gaming performance significantly in supported titles, especially in demanding 4K & 8K gaming, but the RTX 3090’s DLSS 2 doesn’t have frame generation.
- Nvidia RTX 4080 consumes less power (320W) & offers better overall performance due to the 4nm process and architectural efficiency improvements, while the RTX 3090 consumes more power (350W).
- Although the RTX 3090 has more CUDA cores, the more advanced architecture of the RTX 4080 allows it to compensate for the lower core count with higher clock speeds.
Maybe the RTX 3090 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the RTX 4080. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
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Side By Side Comparison
Feature | Nvidia RTX 4080 | Nvidia RTX 3090 |
Architecture | Ada Lovelace (4th Gen) | Ampere (2nd Gen) |
CUDA Cores | 9,728 | 10,496 |
Boost Clock Speed | 2.51 GHz | 1.7 GHz |
Base Clock Speed | 2.21 GHz | 1.4 GHz |
Shader Units | 9,728 CUDA cores, 76 RT cores | 10,496 CUDA cores, 82 RT cores |
Memory Configuration | 16 GB GDDR6X | 24 GB GDDR6X |
Memory Bus Width | 256-bit | 384-bit |
Memory Bandwidth | 716.8 GB/s | 936.2 GB/s |
Total Graphics Power (TGP) | 320W | 350W |
Tensor Cores Generation | 4th Gen | 3rd Gen |
Ray Tracing Cores Generation | 3rd Gen | 2nd Gen |
Process Node | 4nm TSMC | 8nm Samsung |
Transistor Count | 45.9 billion | 28.3 billion |
PCIe Slot | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
DisplayPort Version | DisplayPort 1.4a | DisplayPort 1.4a |
HDMI Version | HDMI 2.1 | HDMI 2.1 |
NVLink Support | No | Yes |
Max Digital Resolution | 7680 x 4320 | 7680 x 4320 |
DLSS Version | DLSS 3 | DLSS 2 |
OpenCL Support | 3.0 | 2.0 |
Vulkan API Support | Vulkan 1.3 | Vulkan 1.2 |
SLI Support | No | Yes |
Price | Check 4080 Price | Check 3090 Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- Memory Type (GDDR6X): Both the RTX 4080 and RTX 3090 utilize GDDR6X memory, which provides extremely fast data transfer speeds. GDDR6X enables both cards to handle memory-intensive workloads such as 4K gaming, 8K video editing, and 3D rendering. This common memory type helps in ensuring smooth performance across various tasks, especially high-resolution gaming and professional content creation.
- Ray Tracing Support: Both GPUs support ray tracing through dedicated RT cores, which handle complex light and shadow simulations in real time. While the RTX 4080 has more advanced ray tracing capabilities due to its newer generation, both cards deliver stunning visual fidelity in ray-traced games and applications, making them ideal for gamers looking for realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections.
- PCIe 4.0 Interface: Both GPUs use the PCIe 4.0 standard, ensuring fast data transfer rates between the GPU and the rest of the system. This is essential for eliminating bottlenecks in high-performance systems, enabling both cards to achieve their full potential in terms of gaming and compute workloads.
- DLSS Technology: Both cards support Nvidia DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), though in different versions. DLSS 2 (RTX 3090) and DLSS 3 (RTX 4080) both offer AI-powered upscaling, allowing for higher frame rates at high resolutions without compromising image quality. While DLSS 3 brings frame generation for even smoother gameplay, both cards can handle high-fidelity gaming at 4K or higher.
- DirectX 12 Ultimate Support: DirectX 12 Ultimate support on both cards ensures they are ready for modern and future gaming technologies, including ray tracing, mesh shading, and variable-rate shading. This feature ensures that both cards are future-proof for the next generation of games, providing cutting-edge performance for immersive experiences.
- VR Compatibility: Both GPUs are VR-ready, with enough power to run the most demanding virtual reality applications. The high performance of these GPUs ensures smooth frame rates and immersive VR experiences, making them suitable for VR gaming and professional VR development.
- HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a: Both GPUs are equipped with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a, enabling them to support 8K resolution at 60 Hz and 4K at 120 Hz. This is important for users who want to game or work on high-resolution displays or multi-monitor setups. These ports also ensure compatibility with the latest high-end gaming monitors and TVs.
- RTX IO and DirectStorage Support: Both cards support RTX IO and DirectStorage, which accelerate asset loading times by directly handling game decompression through the GPU. This technology is particularly important for gamers who use NVMe SSDs and want to experience faster game loading and seamless open-world gaming environments.
- NVENC Encoder: The NVENC (Nvidia Encoder) on both cards allows for high-quality video encoding with minimal performance overhead, making both GPUs great for streamers and content creators. Whether you’re streaming on platforms like Twitch or encoding high-resolution video, both GPUs offer industry-leading performance in video encoding tasks.
Common Features
Feature | Nvidia RTX 4080 | Nvidia RTX 3090 |
Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6X |
Ray Tracing Support | Yes | Yes |
PCIe Interface | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) | Yes (DLSS 3) | Yes (DLSS 2) |
DirectX 12 Ultimate Support | Yes | Yes |
OpenGL and Vulkan Support | OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.3 | OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.2 |
HDMI Version | HDMI 2.1 | HDMI 2.1 |
DisplayPort Version | DisplayPort 1.4a | DisplayPort 1.4a |
Max Digital Resolution | 7680 x 4320 | 7680 x 4320 |
RTX IO | Yes | Yes |
DirectStorage Support | Yes | Yes |
VR Ready | Yes | Yes |
CUDA, Tensor, and Ray Tracing Core Support | Yes (CUDA, Tensor, Ray Tracing cores) | Yes (CUDA, Tensor, Ray Tracing cores) |
SLI (Scalable Link Interface) | No | No |
VRAM Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6X |
Cooling Solutions | Dual or Triple-Fan (OEM dependent) | Dual or Triple-Fan (OEM dependent) |
Price | Check 4080 Price | Check 3090 Price |
FAQ
Q1: Do both the RTX 4080 and RTX 3090 use the same type of memory? Q2: Do both cards support ray tracing? Q3: What PCIe version do both GPUs use? Q4: Do both the RTX 4080 and RTX 3090 support DLSS? Q5: Are the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 3090 future-proof for modern gaming? Q6: Can both GPUs handle 8K gaming and content creation? Q7: Do both GPUs support HDMI 2.1 for high-resolution displays? Q8: Do both GPUs offer VR compatibility? Q9: Are both GPUs equipped with NVENC for video encoding? Q10: Do both GPUs support the RTX IO technology for faster loading times? Q11: Do both cards support DirectStorage for faster game load times? |