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

✅2.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Trade-offs

❌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).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 7800 XT is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
150.5% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 48.6 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Radeon RX 7800 XT

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $751 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 128.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 48.6 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($499 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).
✅More future proof: RDNA 3.0 (2022−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 12GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Radeon RX 7800 XT

2023

Why buy it

✅2.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Why buy it

✅Costs $751 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 128.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 48.6 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($499 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).
✅More future proof: RDNA 3.0 (2022−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌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).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 7800 XT is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
150.5% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 48.6 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 12GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3080 12GB better than Radeon RX 7800 XT?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 2.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data, 9.5% higher PassMark G3D performance, and DLSS 2 Super Resolution. It also comes from 2022 instead of 2023, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

Radeon RX 7800 XT is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2022, more VRAM at 16 GB instead of 12 GB, better upscaling support with FSR 3 (2023) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023) instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 5nm process instead of 8nm. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

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

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is still the better GPU overall, but Radeon RX 7800 XT is probably the smarter buy today for most people. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is about 150.5% more expensive on MSRP at $1,250 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and you are getting 2.6% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 9.5% higher G3D Mark. Radeon RX 7800 XT still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. Paying about 150.5% more on MSRP for only 2.6% more estimated average FPS is just a weak value trade on paper.

When does Radeon RX 7800 XT make more sense than GeForce RTX 3080 12GB?

Yes. Radeon RX 7800 XT is still a very sensible gaming buy in 2026: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. Around $499 MSRP, you are saving about $751 on MSRP and only giving up lower estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. Radeon RX 7800 XT still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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 7800 XT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7800 XT
1080p
low	165 FPS	210 FPS
medium	150 FPS	193 FPS
high	132 FPS	166 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	152 FPS
1440p
low	139 FPS	192 FPS
medium	115 FPS	160 FPS
high	98 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	120 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	127 FPS
medium	67 FPS	105 FPS
high	51 FPS	79 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	73 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 7800 XT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7800 XT
1080p
low	553 FPS	450 FPS
medium	473 FPS	393 FPS
high	383 FPS	319 FPS
ultra	345 FPS	281 FPS
1440p
low	415 FPS	351 FPS
medium	344 FPS	295 FPS
high	273 FPS	237 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	198 FPS	169 FPS
medium	168 FPS	145 FPS
high	144 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	96 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 7800 XT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7800 XT
1080p
low	892 FPS	895 FPS
medium	724 FPS	727 FPS
high	631 FPS	631 FPS
ultra	551 FPS	541 FPS
1440p
low	705 FPS	691 FPS
medium	567 FPS	556 FPS
high	484 FPS	472 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	398 FPS
4K
low	485 FPS	481 FPS
medium	394 FPS	389 FPS
high	331 FPS	320 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	262 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 7800 XT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7800 XT
1080p
low	456 FPS	582 FPS
medium	413 FPS	514 FPS
high	339 FPS	453 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	386 FPS
1440p
low	366 FPS	461 FPS
medium	334 FPS	413 FPS
high	273 FPS	345 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	295 FPS
4K
low	245 FPS	322 FPS
medium	226 FPS	292 FPS
high	191 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	198 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 7800 XT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3080 12GB and Radeon RX 7800 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 7800 XT

The Radeon RX 7800 XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in August 25 2023. It features the RDNA 3.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1295 MHz to 2430 MHz. It has 3840 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 263W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 60 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 24,253 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB scores 26,569 versus the Radeon RX 7800 XT's 24,253 — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB leads by 9.5%. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 7800 XT uses RDNA 3.0, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 3,840 (Radeon RX 7800 XT). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 37.32 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 7800 XT). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2430 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 60 (Radeon RX 7800 XT) with 280 Tensor cores.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7800 XT
G3D Mark Score	26,569+10%	24,253
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 3.0
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	8960+133%	3840
Compute (TFLOPS)	30.64 TFLOPS	37.32 TFLOPS+22%
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	2430 MHz+42%
ROPs	96	96
TMUs	280+17%	240
L1 Cache	8.8 MB+1073%	0.75 MB
L2 Cache	6 MB+50%	4 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	70+17%	60

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 7800 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 7800 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 7800 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 7800 XT has 16 GB. The Radeon RX 7800 XT offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 624 GB/s (Radeon RX 7800 XT) — a 46.2% 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 7800 XT) — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7800 XT
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	16 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	912 GB/s+46%	624 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 (Radeon RX 7800 XT). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7800 XT
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4	1.4
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs Dual VCN 4.0 (Radeon RX 7800 XT). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs VCN 4.0. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (Radeon RX 7800 XT).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7800 XT
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	Dual VCN 4.0
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	VCN 4.0
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1	H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB draws 350W versus the Radeon RX 7800 XT's 263W — a 28.4% difference. The Radeon RX 7800 XT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 700W (Radeon RX 7800 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°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7800 XT
TDP	350W	263W-25%
Recommended PSU	750W	700W-7%
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	285mm	267mm
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	80°C	75°C-6%
Perf/Watt	75.9	92.2+21%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB launched at $1250 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 7800 XT launched at $499. The Radeon RX 7800 XT costs 60.1% less ($751 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 21.3 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 48.6 (Radeon RX 7800 XT) — the Radeon RX 7800 XT offers 128.2% better value. The Radeon RX 7800 XT is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2022).