RTX 3080 vs RTX 4070
Picking between two members of one lineup is less about brand and more about the specs that differ. For the RTX 3080 and the RTX 4070, those differences are what this page maps out. The data doesn’t leave much room for doubt: 2 of 3 areas go to the RTX 3080, and the gap is widest in gpu & performance.
At a glance
- GPU & Performance RTX 3080 wins
- Memory RTX 3080 wins
- Power & Thermals RTX 4070 wins
- Price RTX 4070 wins
- GPU & Performance6.4
- Memory5.1
- Power & Thermals0.0
- GPU & Performance4.6
- Memory3.6
- Power & Thermals7.0
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The RTX 4070 has 120 W lower board power
Here the RTX 4070 pulls well ahead of the RTX 3080, with 200 W compared to 320 W. Lower board power means less heat, quieter cooling and a smaller impact on your electricity bill.
-
The RTX 3080 has 48% more shader units
The RTX 3080 doesn’t just edge this one; 8,704 against 5,888 is a lead you’ll feel. Shader units do most of the heavy lifting in games, so more of them usually means more frames per second within the same architecture.
-
The RTX 3080 has 51% more memory bandwidth
Big gap, real consequences. The RTX 3080’s 760 GB/s versus the RTX 4070’s 504 GB/s changes how the two compare in daily use. The RTX 3080 has more bandwidth to work with, helping it hold up in memory-heavy games.
-
The RTX 4070 has 2 GB more VRAM
Slight advantage to the RTX 4070: 12 GB compared with 10 GB. More VRAM lets the card hold higher-resolution textures and bigger scenes without stutter.
-
The RTX 3080 has 48% more ray tracing units
The RTX 4070 is clearly behind on ray tracing units (46 against 68), and that’s one of its biggest weak spots in this matchup. If you enable ray tracing, the RTX 3080’s extra RT hardware should take less of a hit.
Design & Size
- RTX 3080 11.22 in × 2 slots
- RTX 4070 9.61 in × 2 slots
By the manufacturer’s measurements, the RTX 4070 is the more compact card, and the RTX 3080 the larger one.
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | RTX 3080 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | 11.22 in | 9.61 in |
| Slot width | 2 slots | 2 slots |
| Display outputs | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
GPU & Performance
RTX 3080 leads
In the gpu & performance category, the RTX 3080 isn’t just ahead; it’s clearly ahead. Here the RTX 3080 offers 48% more shader units. The RTX 3080’s extra shaders give it more raw muscle, although comparisons across different architectures aren’t one-to-one. The RTX 4070 wins here with a 45% higher boost clock. The takeaway: on gpu & performance, the RTX 3080 is the stronger card.
Shader units
RTX 3080: 8,704 RTX 4070: 5,888 Treat shader count as a strong hint about performance tier, then check benchmarks for the games you actually play.
Ray tracing units
RTX 3080: 68 RTX 4070: 46 Ray tracing units differ between generations and brands, so the count matters most within the same family.
Memory
RTX 3080 leads
No contest in memory: the RTX 3080 is the stronger of the two. The RTX 3080 answers with 51% more memory bandwidth. Memory bandwidth decides how quickly the GPU can feed itself with data, which matters most at 1440p and 4K. The RTX 4070 brings 2 GB more VRAM. On memory alone, the RTX 3080 gets the nod.
Memory bandwidth
RTX 3080: 760 GB/s RTX 4070: 504 GB/s Bandwidth needs vary by architecture, so compare it alongside VRAM and cache rather than on its own.
VRAM
RTX 3080: 10 GB RTX 4070: 12 GB At high resolutions or with texture packs, running out of VRAM can hurt more than a small speed gap.
Features
This section is descriptive. The RTX 3080 and the RTX 4070 list different components for features, and the table spells them out.
Power & Thermals
RTX 4070 leads
The RTX 4070 is the clear pick if power & thermals is what you care about most. The RTX 4070 takes this one with 120 W lower board power. The RTX 4070 draws less power, which makes it easier to cool in compact cases. So if power & thermals tops your list, lean toward the RTX 4070.
Total board power
RTX 3080: 320 W RTX 4070: 200 W Higher board power often comes with higher performance, so the RTX 3080’s appetite may be part of the price of its speed.
Recommended PSU
RTX 3080: 750 W RTX 4070: 650 W The recommended power supply tells you whether your current PSU can handle the card without an upgrade.
Full Specifications
GPU & Performance
| Spec | RTX 3080 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| GPU die | GA102 | AD104 |
| Process | Samsung 8N | TSMC 4N |
| Shader units | 8,704 (winner) | 5,888 |
| Ray tracing units | 68 (winner) | 46 |
| Base clock | 1,440 MHz Lowest base clock | 1,920 MHz (winner) |
| Boost clock | 1,710 MHz | 2,475 MHz (winner) |
| FP32 computeTheoretical peak; AMD counts dual-issue, so compare within a brand only | 29.8 TFLOPS | 29.1 TFLOPS |
Memory
| Spec | RTX 3080 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 10 GB | 12 GB (winner) |
| Memory type | GDDR6X | GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 320-bit (winner) | 192-bit |
| Memory bandwidth | 760 GB/s (winner) | 504 GB/s |
Features
| Spec | RTX 3080 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling | DLSS Super Resolution | DLSS Super Resolution |
| Frame generation | No DLSS Frame Generation | DLSS Frame Generation (2x) |
| PCIe interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
Power & Thermals
| Spec | RTX 3080 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Total board power | 320 W Most power-hungry in class | 200 W (winner) |
| Recommended PSU | 750 W | 650 W (winner) |
| Power connector | 1x 12-pin | 1x 16-pin (12VHPWR) |
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | RTX 3080 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | 11.22 in | 9.61 in |
| Slot width | 2 slots | 2 slots |
| Display outputs | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
Price
| Spec | RTX 3080 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price (MSRP) | $699 | $599 (winner) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
Only $100 separated these two at launch, in favor of the RTX 4070. If $100 isn’t a stretch, the RTX 3080 gives you 48% more shader units and 51% more memory bandwidth.
These are US launch prices, recorded April 2023; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the RTX 3080 if…
- you want more shader units working on every frame (8,704 vs 5,888)
- you game at high resolutions where bandwidth matters (760 GB/s vs 504 GB/s)
- you play with ray tracing switched on (68 vs 46 RT units)
- you push high resolutions where memory width helps (320-bit vs 192-bit bus)
Choose the RTX 4070 if…
- you care about your power bill and a quieter case (200 W vs 320 W)
- you play at high resolutions with high-quality textures (12 GB vs 10 GB VRAM)
- you care about peak clock speed (2,475 MHz vs 1,710 MHz boost)
- you want to keep your current power supply (650 W vs 750 W recommended PSU)
- you’re working to a firm budget and $100 matters
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the RTX 3080 or the RTX 4070?
For most people, the RTX 3080 is the stronger choice, unless you specifically want 120 W lower board power, where the RTX 4070 has the edge.
Is the RTX 4070 worth it over the RTX 3080?
The RTX 4070 makes a solid case for upgrading, with 120 W lower board power, 2 GB more VRAM and a 45% higher boost clock over the RTX 3080.
Is the RTX 3080 bigger than the RTX 4070?
The larger model here is the RTX 3080 (11.22 in); the RTX 4070 is more compact at 9.61 in.
Which is faster, the RTX 3080 or the RTX 4070?
The RTX 3080 should be the quicker of the two, with 48% more shader units and 48% more ray tracing units on its side.
Is the RTX 3080 cheaper than the RTX 4070?
The RTX 4070 is the cheaper option, launching at $100 less than the RTX 3080 (launch prices as of April 2023).
Executive Summary
When a brand offers the RTX 3080 and the RTX 4070 side by side, I always ask what you give up by picking one over the other. The biggest reason I lean toward the RTX 3080 is simple: it has 48% more shader units. Plus, the RTX 3080 gets 51% more memory bandwidth, which I wouldn’t overlook. Still, if you care most about 120 W lower board power, the RTX 4070 deserves a look.
Match the strength to your habits (gpu & performance for the RTX 3080, power & thermals for the RTX 4070), and you won’t go far wrong.
My pick: the RTX 3080, though the RTX 4070 makes sense if you’d trade the rest for 120 W lower board power.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.