RTX 3070 vs RTX 5080
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | RTX 3070 | RTX 5080 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 8,759 | 22,512 | -61.1% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 78 | 170 | -54.1% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 48 | 107 | -55.1% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 26 | 61 | -57.4% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 20.4 | 56.3 | -63.8% |
| VRAM | 8 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR7 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 448 | 896 | -50.0% |
| TDP (W) | 220 | 400 | — |
| Stable Diffusion (it/s) | 8.1 | 22.5 | -64.0% |
| LLM inference (tokens/s) | 22 | 71 | -69.0% |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $499 | $999 | -50.1% |
- RTX 5080 averages 107 fps at 1440p versus 48 fps — about 55% faster.
- RTX 3070 draws less power (220W vs 400W).
Verdict: RTX 3070 or RTX 5080?
RTX 3070 advantages
- Power efficiency (+45%)
- Affordability (+50%)
RTX 5080 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+55%)
- 4K gaming (+57%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+61%)
- Video memory (+50%)
- Memory bandwidth (+50%)
- AI image generation (+64%)
- Local LLM inference (+69%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the RTX 3070 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the RTX 5080 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the RTX 3070 if you want the better price for the performance.
Value for money
RTX 5080 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
RTX 3070 vs RTX 5080: which should you choose?
RTX 3070 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2020, Ampere) with 8 GB of GDDR6, averaging 48 fps at 1440p; launched at $499.
RTX 5080 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2025, Blackwell) with 16 GB of GDDR7, averaging 107 fps at 1440p; launched at $999.
RTX 3070 vs RTX 5080: RTX 5080 is faster for gaming. RTX 5080 averages 107 fps at 1440p versus 48 fps — about 55% faster. RTX 3070 draws less power (220W vs 400W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RTX 5080 averages 107 fps against 48. At 4K (26 vs 61 fps) VRAM (8GB vs 16GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
AI and creator workloads
Beyond gaming, the RTX 5080 is quicker for AI image generation (22.5 vs 8.1 it/s in Stable Diffusion) and local LLM inference (71 vs 22 tokens/s), which increasingly matters for creators and developers.
Power and value
Board power is 220 W versus 400 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $499 vs $999, weigh the frame-rate lead against price and power draw for your target resolution.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 3070 better than the RTX 5080?
RTX 5080 takes the overall edge, though RTX 3070 wins in specific areas worth weighing. RTX 5080 averages 107 fps at 1440p versus 48 fps — about 55% faster.
What is the main difference between the RTX 3070 and the RTX 5080?
RTX 5080 averages 107 fps at 1440p versus 48 fps — about 55% faster. RTX 3070 draws less power (220W vs 400W).
Which is better value?
RTX 5080 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the RTX 3070 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise. Choose the RTX 5080 if you game at 1440p.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.