When the gamers are upgrading their gaming PC they usually gets confused in the debate of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 vs 3080. This is because both the GPU provides amazing and fast performance but they are different from each other because of their architecture, power efficiency and price to performance ratio. In this blog we will guide the gamers and professional which GPU will be good for them.
We will compare both the GPUs on the basis of their performance, architectures & features, power & efficiency, gaming & workload and price & value.
Performance Comparison of RTX 4070 vs 3080
Both are very powerful and strong GPUs that is highly considered by gamers, content creators and Ai professionals. RTX 3080 is a flagship model in Ampere lineup, on the other hand RTX 4070 built on Ada Lovelace architecture that brings efficiency improvements and features.
Benchmark Comparison of RTX 4070 and 3080
Benchmarks offer an objective measure of GPU performance in gaming, supplying and computational workloads.
| Synthetic Benchmarks | RTX 4070 | RTX 3080 |
| 3DMark Time Spy (DX12, 1440p) | 13,000 | 15,000 |
| 3DMark Port Royal (Ray Tracing Performance) | 9,500 | 10,800 |
Ai Benchmarks
| Ai Benchmarks | RTX 4070 | RTX 3080 |
| Tensorflow ResNet50 Training | 2.1 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Stable Diffusion Image Generation | 5.2s per image | 6.8s per image |
According to above given table, the RTX 4070 results better in Ai efficiency and acceleration then RTX 3080.
VRAM & Memory Bandwidth
| Features | RTX 4070 | RTX 3080 |
| Memory | 12GB DDR6X | 10GB DDR6X |
| Bus Speed | 192-bit bus | 320-bit bus |
| Bandwidth | 504GB/s Bandwidth | 760GB/s Bandwidth |
According to the above given table, RTX 3080 has a higher memory bandwidth because of its wider bus. This is very useful in high resolution games. On the other hand RTX 4070 has more VRAM which is beneficial for long run, Ai task and high-texture workloads.
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Architecture and Feature difference between NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 and RTX 3080 give tough competition to each other in term of their architecture and features as well. Below we will compare the architecture and feature of both GPUs.
Architectural Difference between RTX 4070 and RTX 3080
Both the GPUs are based on different architectures. Their key differences include
| Features | RTX 4070 | RTX 3080 |
| Architecture | NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace | Previous Ampere Generation |
| Fabrication Process | Architecture GPU built on TSMC 4nm process | Architecture GPU built on Ampere’s 8nm Samsung node |
| L2 Cache | 36MB | 5MB |
| Power Consumption | 200W | 320W |
CUDA and Tensor Cores Difference between RTX 4070 and RTX 3080
CUDA cores are general purpose parallel processing unit inside NVIDIA GPUs. On the other hand Tensor Cores speed up Ai and Machine Learning task.
| Features | RTX 4070 | RTX 3080 |
| CUDA Cores | 5,888 CUDA Cores | 8,704 CUDA Cores |
| Tensor Cores | 4th-Gen Tensor Cores | 3rd-Gen Tensor Cores |
Ai-Powered Performance Comparison of RTX 4070 and RTX 3080
DLSS in NVIDIA’s Ai-powered upscaling technology that improves the gaming.
| Features | RTX 4070 | RTX 3080 |
| DLSS 2 | No | Yes |
| DLSS 3 | Yes | No |
Power & Efficiency Comparison of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 vs 3080
While comparing two different graphic cards, raw performance is not just a single factor to be considered. It is important to consider the power efficiency, thermal performance and cooling system of GPUs.
Power Consumption Analysis of RTX 4070 and RTX 3080
Power consumption is an important factor especially for gamers and content creators those who are looking for energy efficient system.
| GPU | Power Consumption |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | 200W |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 | 320W |
Thermal Performance & Cooling Comparison of 4070 and 3080
Thermal performance is also an important factor that can impact the performance. High thermal temperature can result in thermal choking and minimize GPU life.
| Temperature | RTX 4070 | RTX 3080 |
| Idle Temperature | 35-40o C | 40-45o C |
| Gaming Load Temperature | 60-70o C | 70-80o C |
| Max Temperature | 75o C | 85o C |
Efficiency in Idle & Load
Efficiency of a GPU tells how well a GPU balances performance and power draw.
| Power Draw | RTX 4070 | RTX 3080 |
| Idle Power Draw | 10W | 15W |
| Gaming Power Draw | 180-200W | 280-320W |
| Peak Power Draw | 210W | 350W |
Fan Noise and Thermal Comparison of RTX 4070 and RTX 3080
The levels of noise is another factor for people who love to work in quiet working environment.
| Noise | RTX 4070 | RTX 3080 |
| Idle Noise | 25dB | 30dB |
| Gaming Noise (avg) | 35-40dB | 40-48dB |
| Maximum Noise | 42dB | 52dB |
Gaming and Workload Comparison of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080
Gaming Benchmarks (Average FPS)
| Game | RTX 4070 (1440p) | RTX 3080 (1440p) | RTX 4070 (4K) | RTX 3080 (4K) |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra) | 85 | 92 | 55 | 60 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 (High) | 100 | 110 | 65 | 72 |
| Spider-Man Remastered (RT High) | 90 | 95 | 58 | 63 |
| Forza Horizon 5 (Ultra) | 120 | 128 | 75 | 82 |
According to the above given table RTX 3080 is slightly better than RTX 4070 in raw performance but RTX 4070’s efficiency result’s in low power consumption and better thermal.
Price and Value of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080
When deciding GPUs, several factors are important to consider. This include MSRP & market trends, price-to-performance ratio, used market & resale value, long-term upgrade viability, and availability & stock issues.
MSRP & Market Trend
The RTX 3080 was launched in September 2020 with an MSRP of $699. However, due to supply shortages and high demand, it often sold for well above its official price.
The RTX 4070, released in April 2023, debuted with an MSRP of $599. The RTX 4070 has seen relatively stable pricing with occasional discounts.
Used Market and Resale Value
As newer GPUs enter the market, resale value becomes an important consideration. The RTX 3080’s used market price is $450–$550. This makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers who want high performance at a lower cost.
On the other hand, the RTX 4070, being newer, holds its value better in the used market, typically selling near its MSRP. If you plan to upgrade in a few years and want a better resale value, the RTX 4070 is the safer choice.
Availability and Stock Issue
Stock availability was a major issue for the RTX 3080 at launch due to its high demand but the used market is flooded with RTX 3080 cards, making them easy to purchase.
The RTX 4070, being a newer release, has seen stable stock levels at major retailers. Unlike its predecessor, it hasn’t suffered from severe supply shortages, making it a more reliable purchase option.
Conclusion of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080
The RTX 4070 has the upper hand in terms of efficiency and memory size. The RTX 4070, built on a 4nm process, provide a great smaller die size and higher transistor density. This result in better power efficiency and thermal performance.
It also boasts a larger memory size of 12GB compared to the 3080’s 10GB. The RTX 3080 excels in memory bandwidth with a 320-bit bus and 760 GB/s bandwidth. Compared to the 4070’s 192-bit bus and 504 GB/s bandwidth, which may favor performance in memory-intensive tasks.
The choice depends on whether the user prioritizes efficiency and memory capacity (RTX 4070) or raw bandwidth and potentially higher performance in demanding scenarios (RTX 3080).
