Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti vs Nvidia RTX 3080: Which is the better gaming GPU?
Nvidia is set to launch the latest addition to its RTX 50-series lineup, the RTX 5060 Ti, on April 16, 2025. With numerous rumors and leaks making their rounds on the internet, the new GPU has garnered significant attention, particularly for its anticipated price-to-performance ratio. The card is rumored to feature advanced specifications at a relatively affordable price, making it a highly anticipated release that has already turned many heads in the gaming community.
The Nvidia RTX 3080 was launched in September 2020, making it almost five years old at this point. However, it is still a well-regarded card that has stood the test of time, offering pretty high framerates on the most demanding titles. Thus, it'd be interesting to see how the card holds up against the new 5060 Ti.
In this article, we'll look into the specs of the two GPUs and compare them based on features and performance to see which is the better graphics card to purchase in 2025.
Note: This article will be updated once more information is available.
Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti vs RTX 3080: What are their differences?
The new Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti and the RTX 3080 are both excellent 1440p GPUs. The 3080 was released back in 2020, but despite being the older card, it features high-end specs, which make it very comparable to even the newer cards released today.
Specs comparison
Looking at the on-paper specs, it is easy to see why the RTX 3080 was such a fan favorite. The new RTX 5060 Ti comes with Nvidia's latest Blackwell 2.0 architecture, featuring two VRAM variants, one with 8GB and another with 16 GB GDDR7 VRAM. The 3080 has two variants as well, one with 10 GB and another with 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM.
While the 5060 Ti does hold the advantage here, the difference isn't all that much when it comes to handling large workloads and gaming. However, the 5060 Ti does come with a significantly higher base and boost clock speed, helping it deliver a pretty good gaming performance.
Although the 5060 Ti is newer, the RTX 3080 does have twice as many shading units. It also features a greater number of TMUs, RT cores, Tensor cores, and twice as many ROPs, making it a much better option for graphics-intensive workloads.
The RTX 5060 Ti is more power-efficient, consuming only 180W compared to the RTX 3080's 320W. This makes it ideal for gamers or professionals seeking lower energy costs or quieter systems with less heat output. However, the 3080 should be the better option if you prioritize raw performance for high-resolution gaming.
Performance comparison
The RTX 3080 is still an incredible GPU to have for high-end gaming. Despite being almost five years old, it could perform just as well or, in some cases, better than the new RTX 5060 Ti.
However, thanks to the sheer number of shading units and RT cores, the RTX 3080 puts up over 60 fps on most AAA titles, even with the maximum settings enabled. While it does not support frame generation, it does support DLSS. So you can expect more framerates with it turned on.
Both GPUs are perfect for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The RTX 3080 comfortably delivers smooth performance, even at 4 K. Older, less demanding titles can be run at high settings, without any performance-related issues. The RTX 5060 Ti also does well at 4K, but it is primarily a 1440p card. Nevertheless, with DLSS and Frame Generation enabled, you would enjoy high-resolution gaming.
Pricing
The RTX 5060 Ti will be available in two VRAM variants. The 8 GB VRAM variant is said to cost around $379, while the more powerful 16 GB GPU will be priced at around $429. However, expect retail prices to be significantly higher, as most models come with additional fans and RGB lighting.
The RTX 3080, despite being an older GPU, has always been an expensive option. Moreover, like the 5060 Ti, the RTX 3080 also comes in two VRAM variants. You can find them online selling for around $999. However, you can find used or refurbished models at around $500-$600. Thus, both GPUs are quite far apart when it comes to pricing.
Also read: 8 GB vs 12 GB: How much VRAM should RTX 5060 get?
Final Verdict
Based on the comparison, we see that both GPUs are solid options for mid-range or 1440p gaming. The retail prices of the RTX 5060 Ti are yet to be released, so it's hard to tell how it'd compare to the RTX 3080.
While the Nvidia RTX 3080 remains a powerhouse with superior performance for high-resolution gaming, its steep price of around $999 makes it a significant investment. On the other hand, the newer RTX 5060 Ti, priced at almost half the price, offers excellent value with solid performance for 1080p to 1440p gaming.
Thus, for most gamers and creators looking for a balanced combination of performance, efficiency, and affordability, the RTX 5060 Ti is the smarter choice.
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