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In a classic GPU showdown, we’re here to find out who comes out on top in the RTX 3080 vs RX 6800 XT.
We’ve already seen how the RTX 3080 shapes up versus the RTX 4070 Ti, but now it’s time to see how it fairs against a card from AMD, specifically the RX 6800 XT. We’ll be breaking down the specs, speeds and sales price of these two high end graphics cards.
Ever since their release in 2020 these two have been directly head to head, both in terms of price and performance. In fact, in many ways, it is very hard to separate the two, as they are close to neck and neck in a lot of bench mark tests. Both are amongst the best GPUs for 1440p and the best GPU for Fortnite for example. There are a few key differences, however, which we will be listed here.
It should be noted that we will be focussing mainly on the 10GB version of the RTX 3080, rather than the 12GB, this is because it is more in the price and performance range of the RX 6800 XT, though we have listed the specs for all 3 below.
Knowing exactly which GPU to buy can be a time consuming endeavour, but the hard work can often pay off. To help you use your time as efficiently as possible we got articles covering the best RTX 3080 AIB cards, as well as the best case for RTX 3080. You can also check out the RTX 3080 versus the RTX 4080 to see how it shapes up against the next gen of GPUs.
These will help you make a more informed purchase, something which is really important, especially when buying a GPU, with that in mind let’s get into our comparison.
RTX 3080 vs RX 6800 XT – specs
| Specs | RX 6800 XT | RTX 3080 (12GB) | RTX 3080 (10GB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 4608 | 8960 | 8704 |
| Clock speed (base – boost) | 1.83 – 2.25 | 1.26 – 1.71 | 1.44 – 1.71 |
| VRAM (GB, GDDR6X) | 16GB | 12GB | 10GB |
| Architecture | RDNA 2.0 | Ampere | Ampere |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit | 384-bit | 320-bit |
| Ray Tracing cores | 2rd Gen | 2nd Gen | 2nd Gen |
| Tensor cores | N/A | 3rd Gen | 3rd Gen |
| Maximum resolution | 7260 x 4320 | 7260 x 4320 | 7260 x 4320 |
| Required system power (W) | 226 | 350 | 320 |
| Graphics card power (W) | 650 | 750 | 750 |
You can see from the stats above that it’s hard to discern just which one has more sophisticated hardware. The RX 6800 XT has a significant amount more RAM at 16GB compared to the maximum of 12GB that the RTX 3080 comes with. On top of that, it has a higher base and boosted clock speed, coming in at a maximum of 2.25Ghz.
Hold your horses though because the RTX 3080 fires back with a significantly higher core count, and increased bus width that measures up at 320-bit from the 10GB card, compared to the 256-bit of the RX 6700 XT. On top of that the 3080 uses GDDR6X memory, which is a significant upgrade to the GDDR6 memory of the RX 6800 XT, the former boasting a 43 percent speed increase over the latter.
Read more: RTX 4070 Ti vs 3070 Ti
This means that overall the RTX 3080 has a higher standard memory bandwidth. The RX 6800 XT mitigates this with its Infinity Cache which massively increases bandwidth in certain scenarios, specifically when gaming in 1440p or 4K.
This back and forth between the two cards continues when we start looking at frame rates, where the RX 6800 XT performs marginally better at 1440p, at 4K the results are flipped with the RTX 3080 tending to average high frame rates.
One area where there is a clear winner is ray tracing, where the RTX 3080 is easily dominant. This is thanks to all the break throughs NVIDIA has made with the technology including the 2nd generation ray tracing cores that come inside the card. In fact, the 3080 is so good in this area that it was our pick as the best GPU for raytracing.
RTX 3080 vs RX 6800 XT – price
Closer to the time of their release it was much easier to separate the cards on price, with the RTX 3080 being sold for way over its MSRP due to increased demand during the pandemic. However, since then the price has stabilized and come more in line with how much the RX 6800 XT goes for.
Basically, it all comes down to which manufacturer you go for. The RTX 3080 is on average a bit more though you can find it for a reasonable cost. The two cards we’ve linked to below are both around $700, which is a great price for such powerful cards.
Read more: Best case for RTX 3080
Overall the similarities between these two cards are so slight that it comes down to personal preference. Have a look at the best retailers for GPUs like Amazon and Newegg and look for a card that stands out to you in design or price and go for it.
Check price:
- GIGABYTE Radeon RX 6800 XT – Newegg
- Peladn Gaming RTX 3080 10G – Newegg
Frequently asked questions
Can the RX 6800 XT do ray tracing?
Yes – the RX 6800 XT has 72 ray tracing cores making it capable, however NVIDIA’s card tends to perform much better when ray tracing is turned on.
Is the RX 6800 XT high-end?
The RX 6800 XT is on the high end of consumer graphics cards and that is reflected in the price. Though it is now a generation behind since the release of the RX 7000 XT series, it is still one of the most powerful cards available and capable gaming in 4K.
