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

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $5,301 less on MSRP ($699 MSRP vs $6,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 757.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 35.9 vs 4.2 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $6,000 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX 5880 Ada Generation across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 10 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (272 vs 440), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

RTX 5880 Ada Generation

2024

Why buy it

✅17.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅61.8% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (440 vs 272).
✅380% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 10 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
758.4% HIGHER MSRP
$6,000 MSRPvs$699 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.2 vs 35.9 G3D/$ ($6,000 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3080

2020

RTX 5880 Ada Generation

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $5,301 less on MSRP ($699 MSRP vs $6,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 757.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 35.9 vs 4.2 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $6,000 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Why buy it

✅17.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅61.8% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (440 vs 272).
✅380% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 10 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX 5880 Ada Generation across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 10 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (272 vs 440), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
758.4% HIGHER MSRP
$6,000 MSRPvs$699 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.2 vs 35.9 G3D/$ ($6,000 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is RTX 5880 Ada Generation better than GeForce RTX 3080?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. RTX 5880 Ada Generation averages 17.5% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 25,071 vs 25,096 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, no meaningful modern upscaling stack.

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

RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2024 generation instead of 2020, more VRAM at 48 GB instead of 10 GB, the stronger feature stack with no meaningful modern upscaling stack 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?

RTX 5880 Ada Generation is about 758.4% more expensive on MSRP at $6,000 MSRP versus $699 MSRP, and you are getting 17.5% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 0.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3080 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3080 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 3080 is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $699 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, RTX 5880 Ada Generation earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

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 Benchmark Check

RTX 5880 Ada Generation Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
1080p
low	164 FPS	222 FPS
medium	150 FPS	194 FPS
high	129 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	113 FPS
1440p
low	139 FPS	199 FPS
medium	116 FPS	166 FPS
high	97 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	105 FPS
medium	72 FPS	88 FPS
high	56 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	50 FPS	51 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 Open RTX 5880 Ada Generation

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
1080p
low	579 FPS	605 FPS
medium	493 FPS	491 FPS
high	390 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	386 FPS	504 FPS
medium	322 FPS	423 FPS
high	257 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	219 FPS	261 FPS
4K
low	178 FPS	280 FPS
medium	153 FPS	238 FPS
high	131 FPS	212 FPS
ultra	110 FPS	173 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 Open RTX 5880 Ada Generation

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
1080p
low	869 FPS	915 FPS
medium	706 FPS	750 FPS
high	617 FPS	676 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	565 FPS
1440p
low	686 FPS	709 FPS
medium	555 FPS	580 FPS
high	475 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	423 FPS
4K
low	472 FPS	486 FPS
medium	386 FPS	402 FPS
high	325 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	270 FPS	282 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 Open RTX 5880 Ada Generation

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
1080p
low	647 FPS	377 FPS
medium	588 FPS	330 FPS
high	490 FPS	287 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	242 FPS
1440p
low	524 FPS	277 FPS
medium	472 FPS	248 FPS
high	396 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	178 FPS
4K
low	344 FPS	189 FPS
medium	314 FPS	162 FPS
high	289 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	101 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 Open RTX 5880 Ada Generation

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3080 and RTX 5880 Ada Generation

GeForce RTX 3080

The GeForce RTX 3080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1440 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8704 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 320W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 68 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 25,071 points. Launch price was $699.

RTX 5880 Ada Generation

The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 5 2024. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 975 MHz to 2460 MHz. It has 14080 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 285W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 110 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 25,096 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce RTX 3080 scores 25,071 and the RTX 5880 Ada Generation reaches 25,096 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 3080 is built on Ampere while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 8,704 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 14,080 (RTX 5880 Ada Generation). Raw compute: 29.77 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 69.27 TFLOPS (RTX 5880 Ada Generation). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2460 MHz. Ray tracing: 68 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 110 (RTX 5880 Ada Generation) with 272 Tensor cores vs 440.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
G3D Mark Score	25,071	25,096
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	8704	14080+62%
Compute (TFLOPS)	29.77 TFLOPS	69.27 TFLOPS+133%
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	2460 MHz+44%
ROPs	96	176+83%
TMUs	272	440+62%
L1 Cache	8.5 MB	13.8 MB+62%
L2 Cache	5 MB	72 MB+1340%
Ray Tracing Cores	68	110+62%
Tensor Cores	272	440+62%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The RTX 5880 Ada Generation supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3080 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3080 comes with 10 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation has 48 GB. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation offers 380% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 760 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 768 GB/s (RTX 5880 Ada Generation) — a 1.1% advantage for the RTX 5880 Ada Generation. Bus width: 320-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 5 MB (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 72 MB (RTX 5880 Ada Generation) — the RTX 5880 Ada Generation has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
VRAM Capacity	10 GB	48 GB+380%
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	760 GB/s	768 GB/s+1%
Bus Width	320-bit	384-bit+20%
L2 Cache	5 MB	72 MB+1340%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 12 Ultimate (RTX 5880 Ada Generation). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
DirectX	12 Ultimate (12_2)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3080) vs NVENC 8th gen (RTX 5880 Ada Generation). Decoder: NVDEC (Ampere) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP8,VP9 (RTX 5880 Ada Generation).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
Encoder	NVENC (Ampere)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Ampere)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1	MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP8,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3080 draws 320W versus the RTX 5880 Ada Generation's 285W — a 11.6% difference. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 650W (RTX 5880 Ada Generation). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 16-pin. Card length: 285mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
TDP	320W	285W-11%
Recommended PSU	750W	650W-13%
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	16-pin
Length	285mm	267mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	78.3	88.1+13%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3080 launched at $699 MSRP, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation launched at $6000. The GeForce RTX 3080 costs 88.3% less ($5301 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 35.9 (GeForce RTX 3080) vs 4.2 (RTX 5880 Ada Generation) — the GeForce RTX 3080 offers 754.8% better value. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2020).