The Nvidia RTX 3080 and the AMD RX 6800 XT are two of the most well-liked choices if you’re in the market for a new graphics card. Both GPUs are top-of-the-line and provide excellent performance for gaming. However, each has distinct advantages and disadvantages, so which one should you buy? To assist you in making a smart decision, we’ll compare the two graphics cards in this article.
This is a GPU comparison. Read all our comparisons between popular graphics cards since 2016.
Overview
Nvidia RTX 3080 and AMD RX 6800 XT are a couple of high-end graphics cards designed for gaming and content creation.
The Nvidia RTX 3080 is based on Nvidia’s 2nd-gen RTX architecture and features 8704 CUDA cores, 3rd Gen Tensor cores, and 2nd Gen RT cores. It has a base clock speed of 1.44 GHz and a boost clock speed of 1.71 GHz. The card has 10 GB of GDDR6X memory with a memory bandwidth of 760 GB/s. It supports real-time ray tracing and DLSS technology, which enhances gaming performance while maintaining high image quality.
The AMD RX 6800 XT, on the other hand, is based on AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture and features 4,608 stream processors, 72 ray accelerators, and 288 texture units. It has a base clock speed of 2.015 GHz and a boost clock speed of 2.25 GHz. The card has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with a memory bandwidth of 512 GB/s. It also supports real-time ray tracing and AMD’s own Super Resolution technology, which enhances gaming performance while maintaining high image quality.
Both the Nvidia RTX 3080 and AMD RX 6800 XT are capable of delivering high-quality graphics performance and are suitable for demanding gaming and content creation tasks. However, there are some differences in their features and capabilities, and users should consider their specific needs and preferences when choosing between them.
Benchmarks
Nvidia RTX 3080 and AMD RX 6800 XT are high-end graphics cards that are designed for gaming, content creation, and other GPU-intensive tasks. Here are some benchmarks for these two cards:
Gaming performance
The Nvidia RTX 3080 is a high-end graphics card based on Nvidia’s Ampere architecture and is designed for gamers and content creators who require top-of-the-line performance.
Here are some detailed gaming performance benchmarks for the RTX 3080:
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: In this game, the RTX 3080 was able to run at an average of 140 FPS on ultra settings at 1440p resolution. At 4K resolution, the average FPS was around 85.
- Control: Control is a demanding game that features advanced ray-tracing effects. The RTX 3080 was able to run the game at an average of 83 FPS on ultra settings with ray tracing enabled at 1440p resolution. At 4K resolution, the average FPS was around 57.
- Cyberpunk 2077: This game has been notoriously demanding on hardware since its release. The RTX 3080 was able to run the game at an average of 72 FPS on ultra settings with ray tracing enabled at 1440p resolution. At 4K resolution, the average FPS was around 49.
- Metro Exodus: The RTX 3080 was able to run the game at an average of 97 FPS on ultra settings with ray tracing enabled at 1440p resolution. At 4K resolution, the average FPS was around 65.
- Red Dead Redemption 2: The RTX 3080 was able to run the game at an average of 97 FPS on ultra settings at 1440p resolution. At 4K resolution, the average FPS was around 63.
- Fortnite: In Fortnite, the RTX 3080 was able to run the game at an average of 248 FPS on epic settings at 1080p resolution. At 1440p resolution, the average FPS was around 202.
- Valorant: In this competitive shooter, the RTX 3080 was able to run the game at an average of 706 FPS on maximum settings at 1080p resolution. At 1440p resolution, the average FPS was around 450.
These are just a few examples of the gaming performance of the RTX 3080. Overall, this graphics card is capable of delivering incredibly smooth gameplay at high resolutions and settings in even the most demanding games.
The gaming performance of AMD RX 6800 XT is also excellent, and it can handle most games at 4K resolution with high graphics settings.
The average FPS of RX 6800 XT in some popular games are:
- Battlefield V: At 1440p with ultra settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 142 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 84 FPS.
- Call of Duty Warzone: At 1440p with high settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 141 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 96 FPS.
- Cyberpunk 2077: At 1440p with ultra settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 62 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 39 FPS.
- Doom Eternal: At 1440p with ultra settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 181 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 129 FPS.
- Fortnite: At 1440p with epic settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 166 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 108 FPS.
- Metro Exodus: At 1440p with ultra settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 68 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 46 FPS.
- Red Dead Redemption 2: At 1440p with ultra settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 87 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 50 FPS.
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: At 1440p with ultra settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 118 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 74 FPS.
- Resident Evil Village: At 1440p with max settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 130 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 79 FPS.
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: At 1440p with ultra settings, the RX 6800 XT delivers an average of 71 FPS. At 4K, it delivers an average of 42 FPS.
The AMD RX 6800 XT is a powerful graphics card that delivers excellent gaming performance at both 1440p and 4K resolutions. It can handle most modern games at ultra settings and supports features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. The RX 6800 XT is a great choice for gamers who want to experience the latest games with high frame rates and high-quality graphics.
Ray-tracing performance
Nvidia RTX 3080 is known for its excellent ray tracing performance, and it can handle ray tracing at high graphics settings without much performance loss. The ray tracing performance of RTX 3080 in some popular games is:
- Cyberpunk 2077: 49 FPS
- Watch Dogs: Legion: 63 FPS
- Battlefield V: 85 FPS
AMD RX 6800 XT also supports ray tracing, but its performance is not as good as the RTX 3080. The ray tracing performance of RX 6800 XT in some popular games is:
- Cyberpunk 2077: 39 FPS
- Watch Dogs: Legion: 47 FPS
- Battlefield V: 84 FPS
Content creation performance
Both Nvidia RTX 3080 and AMD RX 6800 XT are excellent for content creation tasks such as video editing, 3D modeling, and rendering. The performance of these cards in some popular content creation software is:
- Blender: RTX 3080 is 43% faster than RX 6800 XT
- Adobe Premiere Pro: RTX 3080 is 20% faster than RX 6800 XT
- V-Ray: RTX 3080 is 35% faster than RX 6800 XT
Overall, Nvidia RTX 3080 is a slightly better performer than AMD RX 6800 XT in most benchmarks, but the difference is not significant. The choice between these two cards depends on your budget, preferences, and the specific tasks you need the card for.
The RTX 3080 scored an impressive 14,702 points in 3DMark Time Spy, which is a benchmark that tests the card’s DirectX 12 performance.
MSRP, market price, and availability of RTX 3080 and AMD RX 6800 XT:
If you’re in the market for a new graphics card, you may be considering the Nvidia RTX 3080 and the AMD RX 6800 XT. Both of these cards offer high-end performance for gaming and other GPU-intensive tasks, but there are some key differences to consider when it comes to their MSRP, market price, and availability.
MSRP
The MSRP is the price that the manufacturer recommends for their product. For the RTX 3080, Nvidia’s suggested retail price is $699. In comparison, the RX 6800 XT has a slightly lower MSRP of $649.
Market price
The market price is the actual price that the card is selling for in the market. Due to various factors such as demand, supply, and availability, the market price can fluctuate significantly from the MSRP. As of March 2023, the market price for the RTX 3080 is around $1,200, while the RX 6800 XT is retailing at around $1,000. It’s important to note that these prices can vary depending on where you look and may continue to fluctuate in the future.
Availability
Both the RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT have had issues with availability since their release, largely due to high demand and supply chain challenges. While some retailers may have occasional stock available, it can be difficult to find either card in stock at the MSRP. Additionally, the availability of these cards may vary depending on your location and the retailer you’re looking at.
Conclusion
Overall, both the RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT offer high-end performance for gaming. However, the market price and availability of these cards can vary significantly from their MSRP, making it important to consider your budget and priorities before making a purchase decision. Keep in mind that while the current market prices for these cards may be higher than their MSRP, they may continue to fluctuate in the future, so it’s important to keep an eye on the market before making a purchase.
RTX 3080 vs. RX 6800 XT: Which high-end GPU is better?
When comparing the two, it depends on the specific use case and individual preferences.
In terms of raw performance, the RTX 3080 generally outperforms the RX 6800 XT in most games and benchmarks, particularly at higher resolutions like 4K. However, the RX 6800 XT does offer better performance in certain games and benchmarks, especially at lower resolutions.
In addition to gaming performance, there are other factors to consider as well. For example, the ray tracing of the RTX 3080 is better than that of the RX 6800 XT, which can provide more realistic lighting and reflections in games that support it.
The two cards also differ in terms of power consumption and pricing. The RTX 3080 consumes more power than the RX 6800 XT and tends to be more expensive, but it also offers better performance overall.
Ultimately, whether the RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT is better for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you prioritize raw gaming performance and have the budget for it, the RTX 3080 is generally the better choice. However, if you’re looking for a more affordable option that still offers excellent gaming performance and other features, the RX 6800 XT may be a better fit.
What is the RTX 3080 equivalent AMD card?
The closest equivalent to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 from AMD is the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT. Both the RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT are top-of-the-line graphics cards that offer excellent gaming performance and support for real-time ray tracing. However, Nvidia RTX 3080 with DLSS3 offers a better gaming performance than AMD with FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution).
Ultimately, the choice between these two cards will depend on your specific needs and preferences, as well as factors such as availability and pricing.
