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01Best for performance
We’re out of that dark tunnel where GPU stock was at an all time low, now bringing the best RTX 3080 GPUs currently available.
The Nvidia RTX 3080 is finally here to stay and we’re here to guide you through the best graphics cards for gaming.
Best RTX 3080 graphics cards at a glance
ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming OC
Base Clock
1440MHz
Boost Clock
1905MHz
VRAM
10GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
12.6 x 5.5 x 2.3 inches
Recommended PSU
700W
EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra
Base clock
1440MHz
Boost clock
1800MHz
VRAM
10GB
Dimensions
11.8 x 5.38, 2.75 inches
Recommended PSU
750W
MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming Trio
Base Clock
1540 MHz
Boost Clock
1740 MHz
VRAM
10GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
304.8 x 55.9 x 119.38mm
Recommended PSU
750W
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming OC
Base Clock
1440MHz
Boost Clock
1800MHz
VRAM
10GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
12.6 x 5.1 x 2.2 inches
Recommended PSU
700W
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming OC
Base Clock
1440MHz
Boost Clock
1800MHz
VRAM
10GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
12.6 x 5.1 x 2.2 inches
Recommended PSU
700W
Costing a little less than an arm and a leg with stock levels back to normal, Nvidia’s RTX 3080 is an impressive GPU powered by Ampere architecture, 2nd Gen tracing cores, and third-gen tensor cores. Still not convinced? Check out if the RTX 3080’s good enough for 4K gaming via WePC. It’s also worth checking out our pick of the best gaming monitors for RTX 3080 since you’re here.
In this article we’ll guide you through our top picks for RTX 3080 graphics cards, considering value for money, cooling, clock speeds and design. If you’re reluctant to get your head around the specs of each GPU, check out WePC’s guide on the best RTX 3080 Prebuilt Gaming PCs here.
Best performing RTX 3080 graphics card – ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming OC
ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming OC
Base Clock
1440MHz
Boost Clock
1905MHz
VRAM
10GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
12.6 x 5.5 x 2.3 inches
Recommended PSU
700W
- Great clock speed
- Striking aesthetic
- Power hungry
This durable RTX 3080 Gaming OC edition model has been hugely popular over the years since its initial release.
It keeps cool under pressure thanks to its 2.9 slot design for a large surface area ideal for next gen consoles. We also love its custom Dual Bios switch found at the back, allowing for a quick selection between “performance” and “quiet” mode.
Overall, go for the ROG STRIX RTX 3080 if you’re wanting a graphics card for daily use that can handle the heat (as long as your wallet can handle the price). You can also upgrade to a 12GB VRAM for that extra space and power.
Best overall RTX 3080 graphics card – EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra
EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra
Base clock
1440MHz
Boost clock
1800MHz
VRAM
10GB
Dimensions
11.8 x 5.38, 2.75 inches
Recommended PSU
750W
- One of the fastest RTX 3080
- Great 4K ability
- On the more expensive side
The slightly smaller EVGA 3080 FTW3 is a brilliant choice of GPU. Complete with strong overclocking abilities and an extra bit of fun coming from its ARGB capabilities, this graphics card fits the bill for a premium-custom graphics card particularly for gamers.
You can buy it with peace of mind, knowing it can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. That being said, if you truly want a stellar performance you can check out the best graphics card for 1440p gaming.
Best RTX 3080 graphics card for VR gaming – MSI Gaming X Trio RTX 3080
MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming Trio
Base Clock
1540 MHz
Boost Clock
1740 MHz
VRAM
10GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
304.8 x 55.9 x 119.38mm
Recommended PSU
750W
- Strong 4K performance
- Good connectivity
- On the large side
The MSI Gaming X Trio RTX 3080 is a stylish and powerful GPU with a super effective cooler. If you’re planning on using a VR headset for gaming, such as the Meta Quest Pro, you’ll be super satisfied with this graphics card. Ultimately, for VR gaming this headset offers a good amount of VRAM which is a must.
Note that it’s a pretty chunky graphics card, so make sure that it fits your motherboard.
Our suggestion below also has an excellent amount of VRAM, making it another good graphics card for VR gaming.
Best cooling and energy efficient RTX 3080 graphics card – Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming OC
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming OC
Base Clock
1440MHz
Boost Clock
1800MHz
VRAM
10GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
12.6 x 5.1 x 2.2 inches
Recommended PSU
700W
- Greta 4K performance
- High boost speeds
- Power hungry
The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 is the best 3080 for cooling and energy-wise performance. Triple fan cooling produced by the Windforce cooling solution enforces this as a powerful contender for the best cooled GPU in the RTX 3080 range.
Even better, the ‘stop-start’ fan technology consistent with RTX 3080s really improves the energy efficiency of this card.
Alongside this, the backplate encourages a depth of air cooling as air is easily dissipated through the back.
Though this is a great card, you may want to look at something for a little less. If that’s the case, then consider the best budget graphics cards.
Best quiet RTX 3080 graphics card – ASUS RTX 3080 Noctua OC
ASUS RTX 3080 Noctua OC
Base Clock
1440MHz
Boost Clock
1710MHz
VRAM
10GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
12.2 x 3.45 x 5.7 inches
Recommended PSU
700W
- Impressive speeds
- Incredibly tired
- Colourway might not be for everyone
Performing at one level higher than the RTX 3070 Noctua, the RTX 3080 Noctua OC is a brilliant graphics card thanks to ASUS’ custom cooling solution. We have of course, found a wider selection of the best quiet graphics cards if that’s what you’re after.
The lack of RGB may come as a disappointment for some, but this is definitely made up for its mouse-like quietness. In our opinion, this is the ideal choice for those wanting a low-key graphics card for daily use.
Features to look out for when buying an RTX 3080
Below you’ll find the most important features to pay attention to when choosing your RTX 3080 GPU, plus a small explanation of the main features to look out for in the specs:
- Dimensions
- Memory
- Base clock & boost clock
- Power Connectors
- Ports
- VRAM
- Memory bandwidth
- RGB
- Recommended PSU (power supply unit)
Dimensions
Crucially, the size of your motherboard and case will determine what size RTX 3080 will fit onto it.
Clock speed
Clock speed is measured in MHz if you want to look out for that value in the specs. As a general rule of thumb is the higher the GPU clock speed, the faster the processing of cores render your graphics.
Power connectors
The RTX 3080’s power connection needs depend on the custom card. Make sure that your motherboard and PSU are compatible with the card. Motherboards can be confusing and we get that, so if you want to learn more, WePC have got you covered on everything you need to know about your motherboard.
VRAM
In terms of gaming, you’ll find that your VRAM usage is dependent on the games you play. Graphic heavy games, especially modern ones will require the GPU to effectively render millions of images. You should also consider what resolution you have, as the higher your resolution, the more VRAM you will need.
Memory bandwidth
Memory bandwidth is the speed of data transfer between the GPU and is measured in Gigabytes per second (Gbps). The higher the better, as long as the memory bus allows the bandwidth.
RGB
An extra special touch to personalise your GPU with colours. A GPU without RGB lighting can bring the overall price down, though RGB certainly adds to a pleasant gaming ambience and aesthetic.
Ports
Each RTX cards brings new ports, so it’s important to check if your gear is all compatible. If you find it isn’t, consider buying cable adaptors, and be wary that your hardware might be in need of updating if you find yourself buying multiple adaptors.
Recommended PSU
PSU powers all the components in your PC and is the all-important choice you’ll need to make when researching your GPU:
Try Newegg’s PSU calculator here.
Unsure about how many watts you’ll be needing? We recommend a buffer-zone of 100-150 watts to give you the flexibility and peace of mind that your GPU can cope with.
For more serious gamers, we’d suggest a PSU of around 750W to allow for overclocking, extra fans and future add-ins. Bear in mind that TDP doesn’t change between custom cards, but how that hard deals with that TDP is what buyers should pay attention to.
As usual, pay attention to CUDA Cores / Stream Processors. Generally speaking, they are both branded names for the same thing (though are used differently by AMD and NVIDIA’s unique architecture). Though not the sole thing which determines a GPU’s performance, higher core counts will likely amount to a better performance from your CPU.
For anyone interested in the RTX 4090 check out our Best Cases for RTX 4090 guide here.
We also want to flex that the RTX 3080, for all its gains, is actually cheaper than the RTX 2080 Ti but offers a performance increase of around 20-30% making it even better!
RTX 3080 FAQs
Is the RTX 3080 overkill for gaming?
If you’re keen on 4K gaming, then the RTX 3080 will deliver an excellent performance and is also futureproof for next-gen gaming. However, if you’re happy with 1440p gaming and money is a concern, the RTX 3070 might be the better choice.
Is the RTX 3080 good enough for 4K gaming?
The RTX 3080 is a pretty future-proof gaming card with DLSS and raytracing features. You can hit 60 FPS on the right settings, but you want to make sure you have a power supply of at least 750 W as 4K is much more taxing.
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