G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon RX 6800 XT across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌
92.6% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$649 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 38.5 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).

Radeon RX 6800 XT

2020

Why buy it

✅3.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $601 less on MSRP ($649 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 81.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 38.5 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($649 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 12 GB).

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Radeon RX 6800 XT

2020

Why buy it

✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅3.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $601 less on MSRP ($649 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 81.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 38.5 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($649 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 12 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon RX 6800 XT across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌
92.6% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$649 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 38.5 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3080 12GB better than Radeon RX 6800 XT?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. Radeon RX 6800 XT averages 3.6% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 26,569 vs 24,995 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, DLSS Super Resolution.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2020 and the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR 3 + AFMF. That broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

Radeon RX 6800 XT can still make sense if you find it at the right price, especially around $649 MSRP. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is still the smarter buy for most people, though, because the raw performance is close while the overall package is cleaner. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is about 92.6% more expensive on MSRP at $1,250 MSRP versus $649 MSRP, and you are getting lower estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 6.3% higher G3D Mark. Moving to $1,250 MSRP gets you newer hardware, and DLSS Super Resolution.

Is Radeon RX 6800 XT still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. Radeon RX 6800 XT is still a strong gaming card in 2026: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. Price is really the swing factor here. If you find it at or below $649 MSRP, it remains a very sensible buy. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is still the safer recommendation for most fresh builds because it offers a cleaner overall package with newer hardware and DLSS Super Resolution.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Benchmark Check

Radeon RX 6800 XT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
1080p
low	165 FPS	221 FPS
medium	150 FPS	203 FPS
high	132 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	161 FPS
1440p
low	139 FPS	200 FPS
medium	115 FPS	167 FPS
high	98 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	129 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	135 FPS
medium	67 FPS	114 FPS
high	51 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	83 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 6800 XT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
1080p
low	553 FPS	565 FPS
medium	473 FPS	477 FPS
high	383 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	345 FPS	327 FPS
1440p
low	415 FPS	359 FPS
medium	344 FPS	296 FPS
high	273 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	201 FPS
4K
low	198 FPS	150 FPS
medium	168 FPS	132 FPS
high	144 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	89 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 6800 XT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
1080p
low	892 FPS	924 FPS
medium	724 FPS	767 FPS
high	631 FPS	683 FPS
ultra	551 FPS	562 FPS
1440p
low	705 FPS	714 FPS
medium	567 FPS	587 FPS
high	484 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	485 FPS	498 FPS
medium	394 FPS	412 FPS
high	331 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	281 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 6800 XT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
1080p
low	456 FPS	663 FPS
medium	413 FPS	552 FPS
high	339 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	366 FPS	553 FPS
medium	334 FPS	466 FPS
high	273 FPS	407 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	359 FPS
4K
low	245 FPS	355 FPS
medium	226 FPS	309 FPS
high	191 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	252 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 6800 XT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3080 12GB and Radeon RX 6800 XT

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,569 points. Launch price was $799.

Radeon RX 6800 XT

The Radeon RX 6800 XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 28 2020. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1825 MHz to 2250 MHz. It has 4608 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. It features 72 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 24,995 points. Launch price was $649.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB scores 26,569 versus the Radeon RX 6800 XT's 24,995 — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB leads by 6.3%. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 6800 XT uses RDNA 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 4,608 (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 20.74 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2250 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 72 (Radeon RX 6800 XT) with 280 Tensor cores.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
G3D Mark Score	26,569+6%	24,995
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	7 nm
Shading Units	8960+94%	4608
Compute (TFLOPS)	30.64 TFLOPS+48%	20.74 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	2250 MHz+32%
ROPs	96	128+33%
TMUs	280	288+3%
L1 Cache	8.8 MB+780%	1 MB
L2 Cache	6 MB+50%	4 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	70	72+3%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 6800 XT is support for FSR Frame Generation + AFMF. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 6800 XT relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR 3
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation + AFMF
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 6800 XT has 16 GB. The Radeon RX 6800 XT offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 512 GB/s (Radeon RX 6800 XT) — a 78.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Bus width: 384-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 4 MB (Radeon RX 6800 XT) — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	16 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	912 GB/s+78%	512 GB/s
Bus Width	384-bit+50%	256-bit
L2 Cache	6 MB+50%	4 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 12 Ultimate (12_2) (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs VCN 3.0 (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs VCN 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (Radeon RX 6800 XT).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	VCN 3.0
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	VCN 3.0
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB draws 350W versus the Radeon RX 6800 XT's 300W — a 15.4% difference. The Radeon RX 6800 XT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 750W (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 285mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 75.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 6800 XT
TDP	350W	300W-14%
Recommended PSU	750W	750W
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	285mm	267mm
Height	112mm	120mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	80°C	75-6%
Perf/Watt	75.9	83.3+10%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB launched at $1250 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 6800 XT launched at $649. The Radeon RX 6800 XT costs 48.1% less ($601 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 21.3 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 38.5 (Radeon RX 6800 XT) — the Radeon RX 6800 XT offers 80.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2020).