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 2080

2018

Why buy it

✅100% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (368 vs 184).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3070 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
40.1% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.7 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌10.3% longer card at 267mm vs 242mm.

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

Why buy it

✅18.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 26.7 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 267mm, a 25mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (184 vs 368), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 2080

2018

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

Why buy it

✅100% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (368 vs 184).

Why buy it

✅18.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 26.7 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 267mm, a 25mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3070 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
40.1% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.7 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌10.3% longer card at 267mm vs 242mm.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (184 vs 368), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3070 better than GeForce RTX 2080?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3070 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 18.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 18.7% higher PassMark G3D performance. It also comes from 2020 instead of 2018, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

GeForce RTX 3070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 generation instead of 2018, 18.7% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 8 GB, and a 8nm process instead of 12nm. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

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

GeForce RTX 3070 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3070 is about $200 cheaper on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $699 MSRP, and you are getting 18.5% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 18.7% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 66.3%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce RTX 2080 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 2080 is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $699 MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3070 is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

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 2080 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3070 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	159 FPS	158 FPS
medium	141 FPS	140 FPS
high	123 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	135 FPS	134 FPS
medium	109 FPS	109 FPS
high	96 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	80 FPS
medium	68 FPS	67 FPS
high	54 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	45 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2080 Open GeForce RTX 3070

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	413 FPS	470 FPS
medium	347 FPS	405 FPS
high	282 FPS	327 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	277 FPS
1440p
low	262 FPS	294 FPS
medium	221 FPS	246 FPS
high	192 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	161 FPS	179 FPS
4K
low	126 FPS	141 FPS
medium	108 FPS	120 FPS
high	91 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	83 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2080 Open GeForce RTX 3070

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	783 FPS	885 FPS
medium	634 FPS	712 FPS
high	560 FPS	619 FPS
ultra	420 FPS	499 FPS
1440p
low	606 FPS	692 FPS
medium	492 FPS	557 FPS
high	420 FPS	473 FPS
ultra	315 FPS	374 FPS
4K
low	409 FPS	479 FPS
medium	331 FPS	388 FPS
high	277 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	210 FPS	249 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2080 Open GeForce RTX 3070

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	529 FPS	600 FPS
medium	460 FPS	527 FPS
high	395 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	385 FPS
1440p
low	431 FPS	489 FPS
medium	376 FPS	433 FPS
high	307 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	297 FPS
4K
low	272 FPS	292 FPS
medium	257 FPS	270 FPS
high	224 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	185 FPS	200 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2080 Open GeForce RTX 3070

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 2080 and GeForce RTX 3070

GeForce RTX 2080

The GeForce RTX 2080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 20 2018. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1515 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 2944 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 215W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 18,676 points. Launch price was $699.

GeForce RTX 3070

The GeForce RTX 3070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1725 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,172 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 2080 scores 18,676 versus the GeForce RTX 3070's 22,172 — the GeForce RTX 3070 leads by 18.7%. The GeForce RTX 2080 is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3070 uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,944 (GeForce RTX 2080) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070). Raw compute: 10.07 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2080) vs 20.31 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3070). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 1725 MHz. Ray tracing: 46 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2080) vs 46 (GeForce RTX 3070) with 368 Tensor cores vs 184.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
G3D Mark Score	18,676	22,172+19%
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2944	5888+100%
Compute (TFLOPS)	10.07 TFLOPS	20.31 TFLOPS+102%
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	1725 MHz
ROPs	64	96+50%
TMUs	184	184
L1 Cache	2.9 MB	5.8 MB+100%
L2 Cache	4 MB	4 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	46	46
Tensor Cores	368+100%	184

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 2080 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3070 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3070 offers 1.2% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 256-bit vs 256-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
VRAM Capacity	7.906 GB	8 GB+1%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	448 GB/s	448 GB/s
Bus Width	256-bit	256-bit
L2 Cache	4 MB	4 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce RTX 2080) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
DirectX	12.1	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.2	1.4+17%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 6th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 2080) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3070). Decoder: 4th Gen NVDEC vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce RTX 2080) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
Encoder	6th Gen NVENC	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	4th Gen NVDEC	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 2080 draws 215W versus the GeForce RTX 3070's 220W — a 2.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 2080 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 2080) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 3070). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080	GeForce RTX 3070
TDP	215W-2%	220W
Recommended PSU	650W	650W
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	242mm
Height	116mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	80°C	75°C-6%
Perf/Watt	86.9	100.8+16%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 2080 launched at $699 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3070 launched at $499. The GeForce RTX 3070 costs 28.6% less ($200 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 26.7 (GeForce RTX 2080) vs 44.4 (GeForce RTX 3070) — the GeForce RTX 3070 offers 66.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 3070 is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2018).