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 Ti

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $4,801 less on MSRP ($1,199 MSRP vs $6,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 435.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 22.4 vs 4.2 G3D/$ ($1,199 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 12 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (320 vs 440), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌22.8% higher power demand at 350W vs 285W.

RTX 5880 Ada Generation

2024

Why buy it

✅12.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅37.5% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (440 vs 320).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 12 GB).
✅Draws 285W instead of 350W, a 65W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
400.4% HIGHER MSRP
$6,000 MSRPvs$1,199 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.2 vs 22.4 G3D/$ ($6,000 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

2021

RTX 5880 Ada Generation

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $4,801 less on MSRP ($1,199 MSRP vs $6,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 435.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 22.4 vs 4.2 G3D/$ ($1,199 MSRP vs $6,000 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Why buy it

✅12.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅37.5% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (440 vs 320).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 12 GB).
✅Draws 285W instead of 350W, a 65W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX 5880 Ada Generation across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (320 vs 440), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌22.8% higher power demand at 350W vs 285W.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
400.4% HIGHER MSRP
$6,000 MSRPvs$1,199 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.2 vs 22.4 G3D/$ ($6,000 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).

Quick Answers

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

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. RTX 5880 Ada Generation averages 12.5% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 26,861 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, plus much lower power draw (285W vs 350W).

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 2021, more VRAM at 48 GB instead of 12 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 400.4% more expensive on MSRP at $6,000 MSRP versus $1,199 MSRP, and you are getting 12.5% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and a lower G3D Mark (25,096 vs 26,861). GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 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 Ti still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 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 $1,199 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 Ti Benchmark Check

RTX 5880 Ada Generation Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
1080p
low	200 FPS	222 FPS
medium	183 FPS	194 FPS
high	155 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	129 FPS	113 FPS
1440p
low	176 FPS	199 FPS
medium	145 FPS	166 FPS
high	118 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	108 FPS	105 FPS
medium	91 FPS	88 FPS
high	66 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	56 FPS	51 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Open RTX 5880 Ada Generation

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
1080p
low	636 FPS	605 FPS
medium	551 FPS	491 FPS
high	438 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	464 FPS	504 FPS
medium	399 FPS	423 FPS
high	316 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	261 FPS
4K
low	222 FPS	280 FPS
medium	188 FPS	238 FPS
high	158 FPS	212 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	173 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Open RTX 5880 Ada Generation

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
1080p
low	903 FPS	915 FPS
medium	739 FPS	750 FPS
high	659 FPS	676 FPS
ultra	573 FPS	565 FPS
1440p
low	710 FPS	709 FPS
medium	581 FPS	580 FPS
high	506 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	423 FPS
4K
low	489 FPS	486 FPS
medium	404 FPS	402 FPS
high	348 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	289 FPS	282 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Open RTX 5880 Ada Generation

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
1080p
low	821 FPS	377 FPS
medium	763 FPS	330 FPS
high	673 FPS	287 FPS
ultra	604 FPS	242 FPS
1440p
low	656 FPS	277 FPS
medium	606 FPS	248 FPS
high	532 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	453 FPS	178 FPS
4K
low	475 FPS	189 FPS
medium	441 FPS	162 FPS
high	395 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	302 FPS	101 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Open RTX 5880 Ada Generation

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 31 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1365 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 10240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 80 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,861 points. Launch price was $1,199.

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

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti scores 26,861 versus the RTX 5880 Ada Generation's 25,096 — the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti leads by 7%. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is built on Ampere while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 10,240 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 14,080 (RTX 5880 Ada Generation). Raw compute: 34.1 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 69.27 TFLOPS (RTX 5880 Ada Generation). Boost clocks: 1665 MHz vs 2460 MHz. Ray tracing: 80 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 110 (RTX 5880 Ada Generation) with 320 Tensor cores vs 440.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
G3D Mark Score	26,861+7%	25,096
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	10240	14080+38%
Compute (TFLOPS)	34.1 TFLOPS	69.27 TFLOPS+103%
Boost Clock	1665 MHz	2460 MHz+48%
ROPs	112	176+57%
TMUs	320	440+38%
L1 Cache	10 MB	13.8 MB+38%
L2 Cache	6 MB	72 MB+1100%
Ray Tracing Cores	80	110+38%
Tensor Cores	320	440+38%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

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

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti	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 Ti comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation has 48 GB. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 768 GB/s (RTX 5880 Ada Generation) — a 18.8% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. Bus width: 384-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) 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 Ti	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	48 GB+300%
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	912 GB/s+19%	768 GB/s
Bus Width	384-bit	384-bit
L2 Cache	6 MB	72 MB+1100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

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

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

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1	MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP8,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti draws 350W versus the RTX 5880 Ada Generation's 285W — a 20.5% difference. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) 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: 85°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti	RTX 5880 Ada Generation
TDP	350W	285W-19%
Recommended PSU	750W	650W-13%
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	16-pin
Length	285mm	267mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	85°C	80°C-6%
Perf/Watt	76.7	88.1+15%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti launched at $1199 MSRP, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation launched at $6000. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti costs 80% less ($4801 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 22.4 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) vs 4.2 (RTX 5880 Ada Generation) — the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti offers 433.3% better value. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2021).