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Let’s jump straight to it and discuss the RTX 4070 Ti vs 3080 Ti .
Following the launch of the RTX 4070 Ti, we’ve compiled the most relevant information on where to buy the latest GPU and where to find stock for it. Now we’re taking a closer look at how the specs and performance shape up to the 3080 Ti, which has been a firm favourite since its release.
We’ve already pitted the 4070 Ti against the 3080, finding it to be up to 3.5 times faster than the RTX 12GB graphics card when RT-Overdrive is enabled. With overdrive off, we’ve seen gains of over twice that of the 4080 when DLSS 3 is enabled.
Now it’s time to see how it faces up against the RTX 3080’s more powerful Ti version. A card which boasts over 10 thousand CUDA cores and 12Gb of VRAM, making it actually closer in performance to the RTX 3090. So how does it shape up against the 4070 Ti? We’ll be breaking our comparison down into 3 sections: specs, design and price.
If you want to make further sense of the 4070 Ti, we’ve put the 4070 Ti against the 4080. From experience, sussing out all the competition is the best way to commit to the right graphics card as it puts all those specs into proper context.
Now that we’ve got that spiel out of the way, let’s dive straight into a comparison of the RTX 4070 Ti vs 3080 Ti.
RTX 4070 Ti vs RTX 3080 Ti – specs
What makes the 4070 Ti different from the RTX 3080 Ti? Take a look at the table of specs below.
| Specs | RTX 4070 Ti | RTX 3080 Ti |
| CUDA Cores | 7680 | 10240 |
| Clock speed (base – boost) | 2.31 – 2.61 | 1.36 – 1.65 |
| VRAM (GB, GDDR6X) | 12GB | 12GB |
| Architecture | Lovelace | Ampere |
| Memory Interface | 192-bit | 384-bit |
| Ray Tracing cores | 3rd Gen | 2nd Gen |
| Tensor cores | 4th Gen | 3rd Gen |
| Maximum resolution | 7260 x 4320 | 7260 x 4320 |
| Connectivity | HDMI 2.1, 3 x DisplayPort | 1x HDMI 2.1 3 x DisplayPort |
| Required system power (W) | 226 | 350 |
| Graphics card power (W) | 750 | 750 |
As you can see, there are a handful of standout differences between the 4070 Ti and 3080 Ti.
First up is the GPU architecture they use.
The 4070 Ti is equipped Ada Lovelace architecture based on TSMC’s 4nm N4 technology, making it half the size of the Samsung’s 8nm chip part of the 3080 Ti’s Ampere Architecture.
But how does this difference in architecture translate to performance? The Lovelace architecture translates to power being delivered to the GPU more efficiently. You’ll notice that the 4070 Ti needs just 226W compared to the 3080 Ti’s 350W, meaning it has higher ray tracing and graphics rendering abilities.
Read Now: Best GPU for ray tracing
Fortified with DLSS 3.0, the 4070 Ti allows you to game at a virtualized higher resolution whilst maintaining both high frame rates and greater detail. In other words, it’s the best of both worlds since your graphics card performs better without coming under too much strain.
RTX 4070 Ti vs RTX 3080 Ti – design
Now that we’ve covered the internal specs of each card, it’s worth taking a moment to consider the physical aspects. While this may seem insignificant to performance, size becomes a very important factor when building a PC, as you’ll need to make sure you have enough space to give your new GPU a suitable home.
In this regard, the two cards can barely be separated. The RTX 4070 Ti founders card is almost identical in dimensions to the 3080 Ti. Both with a length and height of 285mm and 112mm respectively. The RTX 4070 Ti is a shade thicker at 42mm, versus 40mm for the 3080 Ti. However, both should fit into identical builds with no problem.
Read more: RTX 4070 Ti vs 3090
These measurements fluctuate depending on which manufacturer you’re going for of course. And it’s the same with other aspects of design. You have plenty of freedom for cooling solutions, RBG lighting and overall aesthetic between both cards, thanks to the wide variety of companies offering their versions, including Acer ROG, MSI and Gigabyte.
RTX 4070 Ti vs RTX 3080 Ti – price
The RTX 3080 Ti is more expensive across the board, costing around $1500 consistently, a price $300 over its MSRP. That said we did find one as low at $899, the Peladn Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.
The RTX 4070 Ti meanwhile is around $850, with cards being offered for both more and less than that depending on manufacturer. For this lower price, you are getting superior performance and more efficient energy usage, saving you even more money in the long run.
Read more: Best PSU for RTX 4070 Ti
It is worth noting that, with a higher 384-bit memory interface, the RTX 3080 Ti will perform better in some specific circumstances. However, it can’t be denied that the RTX 4070 Ti is a more powerful card being sold for a lower price.
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Base Clock
2310
Boost Clock
2745 MHz
VRAM
‎12 GB
Dimensions
13.3 x 2.4 x 5.5 inches
Recommended PSU
750W
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
Base Clock
1695 MHz
Boost Clock
1710 MHz
VRAM
12 GB
Dimensions
12.5 x 4.8 x 2.5 inches
Recommended PSU
750W
Is the RTX 3080 Ti still good?
It sure does sound like we’re making the case for the 4070 Ti here. So, where does that leave the RTX 3080 Ti?
It’s certainly been around for longer, meaning it’s potentially a safer option thanks to an abundance of independent reviews, (thanks WePC).
It also matches the 12GB VRAM offered by the RTX 4070 Ti meaning it is highly efficient at graphics rendering – it’s a solid card if you want to game in 4K.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 4070 Ti better than the 3080 Ti?
Though the RTX 3080 Ti is a highly capable GPU, the RTX 4070 Ti will likely outperform the 3080 Ti in a number of areas, largely thanks to its new Ada Lovelace architecture.
How much will the RTX 4070 Ti cost?
Nvidia has announced that the RTX 4070 Ti will cost $799 upon its release, though this may be subject to change depending on demand.
Is the RTX 4070 better than RTX 3090?
The RTX 4070 is a more powerful and efficient GPU. For a complete breakdown and comparison, you can check out our article Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti vs 3090.
