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).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon RX 7900 GRE 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).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 7900 GRE is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
127.7% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$549 MSRP

Radeon RX 7900 GRE

2023

Why buy it

✅6.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $701 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 132.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 49.5 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($549 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.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Radeon RX 7900 GRE

2023

Why buy it

✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Why buy it

✅6.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $701 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 132.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 49.5 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($549 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 7900 GRE 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).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 7900 GRE is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
127.7% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$549 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.

Quick Answers

So, is Radeon RX 7900 GRE better than GeForce RTX 3080 12GB?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. Radeon RX 7900 GRE averages 6.4% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 26,569 vs 27,162 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer Radeon RX 7900 GRE is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, FSR 3 + AFMF, plus much lower power draw (260W vs 350W).

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

Radeon RX 7900 GRE 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?

Radeon RX 7900 GRE can still make sense if you find it at the right price, especially around $549 MSRP. Radeon RX 7900 GRE is still the smarter buy for most people, though, because the raw performance is close while the overall package is cleaner. Radeon RX 7900 GRE is about $701 cheaper on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $1,250 MSRP, and you are getting 6.4% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 2.2% higher G3D Mark. Moving to $549 MSRP gets you newer hardware, lower power draw (260W vs 350W), and FSR 3 + AFMF.

Is GeForce RTX 3080 12GB still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB 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 $1,250 MSRP, it remains a very sensible buy. Radeon RX 7900 GRE is still the safer recommendation for most fresh builds because it offers a cleaner overall package with newer hardware and FSR 3 + AFMF.

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 7900 GRE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7900 GRE
1080p
low	165 FPS	246 FPS
medium	150 FPS	227 FPS
high	132 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	165 FPS
1440p
low	139 FPS	233 FPS
medium	115 FPS	195 FPS
high	98 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	132 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	159 FPS
medium	67 FPS	130 FPS
high	51 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	83 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 7900 GRE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7900 GRE
1080p
low	553 FPS	523 FPS
medium	473 FPS	453 FPS
high	383 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	345 FPS	309 FPS
1440p
low	415 FPS	417 FPS
medium	344 FPS	357 FPS
high	273 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	226 FPS
4K
low	198 FPS	228 FPS
medium	168 FPS	200 FPS
high	144 FPS	174 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	144 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 7900 GRE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7900 GRE
1080p
low	892 FPS	900 FPS
medium	724 FPS	746 FPS
high	631 FPS	662 FPS
ultra	551 FPS	565 FPS
1440p
low	705 FPS	696 FPS
medium	567 FPS	571 FPS
high	484 FPS	495 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	417 FPS
4K
low	485 FPS	484 FPS
medium	394 FPS	399 FPS
high	331 FPS	340 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	276 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 7900 GRE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7900 GRE
1080p
low	456 FPS	525 FPS
medium	413 FPS	471 FPS
high	339 FPS	413 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	350 FPS
1440p
low	366 FPS	433 FPS
medium	334 FPS	391 FPS
high	273 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	278 FPS
4K
low	245 FPS	294 FPS
medium	226 FPS	269 FPS
high	191 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	187 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Open Radeon RX 7900 GRE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3080 12GB and Radeon RX 7900 GRE

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 7900 GRE

The Radeon RX 7900 GRE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in July 27 2023. It features the RDNA 3.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1287 MHz to 2245 MHz. It has 5120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 260W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 80 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 27,162 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB scores 26,569 and the Radeon RX 7900 GRE reaches 27,162 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 7900 GRE uses RDNA 3.0, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 5,120 (Radeon RX 7900 GRE). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 45.98 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 7900 GRE). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2245 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 80 (Radeon RX 7900 GRE) with 280 Tensor cores.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7900 GRE
G3D Mark Score	26,569	27,162+2%
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 3.0
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	8960+75%	5120
Compute (TFLOPS)	30.64 TFLOPS	45.98 TFLOPS+50%
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	2245 MHz+31%
ROPs	96	160+67%
TMUs	280	320+14%
L1 Cache	8.8 MB+252%	2.5 MB
L2 Cache	6 MB	6 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	70	80+14%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 7900 GRE 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 7900 GRE relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7900 GRE
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 7900 GRE has 16 GB. The Radeon RX 7900 GRE offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 576 GB/s (Radeon RX 7900 GRE) — a 58.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Bus width: 384-bit vs 256-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7900 GRE
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	16 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	912 GB/s+58%	576 GB/s
Bus Width	384-bit+50%	256-bit
L2 Cache	6 MB	6 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 12 Ultimate (Radeon RX 7900 GRE). 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 7900 GRE
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
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 4.0 (Radeon RX 7900 GRE). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs VCN 4.0. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs AV1,H.264,H.265/HEVC (Radeon RX 7900 GRE).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7900 GRE
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	VCN 4.0
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	VCN 4.0
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1	AV1,H.264,H.265/HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB draws 350W versus the Radeon RX 7900 GRE's 260W — a 29.5% difference. The Radeon RX 7900 GRE is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 750W (Radeon RX 7900 GRE). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 285mm vs 276mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 60°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Radeon RX 7900 GRE
TDP	350W	260W-26%
Recommended PSU	750W	750W
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	285mm	276mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	80°C	60°C-25%
Perf/Watt	75.9	104.5+38%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB launched at $1250 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 7900 GRE launched at $549. The Radeon RX 7900 GRE costs 56.1% less ($701 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 21.3 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 49.5 (Radeon RX 7900 GRE) — the Radeon RX 7900 GRE offers 132.4% better value. The Radeon RX 7900 GRE is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2022).