The RX 7700 XT release date is finally here, so we want to take a look at how to sizes up against something like the RTX 3080, a popular card from the previous generation of Nvidia GPUs – it’s the RX 7700XT vs RTX 3080! These are some of the best graphics cards on the market if you’re looking for powerful performance without having to stretch your budget to the absolute high-end.
We’re of course comparing two rivalling companies – AMD vs Nvidia – as well as two different generations, but the cards do indeed share some similarities. Let’s get into all the details and see which card comes out on top before you decide to find out where to buy an RX 7700 XT.
RTX 5070 Ti launches today!
Nvidia’s latest Blackwell GPU is set to go live today, below are the latest listings from the biggest retailers.
First up is architecture, and this is a major difference between the rivalling cards. The RX 7700 XT is based on AMD’s latest RDNA 3 architecture, while the RTX 3080 is on Nvidia’s last-gen Ampere. So, the newer 7700 XT has the upper hand here, but that doesn’t mean you should count out the RTX 3080.
Ampere architecture offers some excellent features such as third-gen tensor cores for AI acceleration, taking advantage of DLSS technology for upscaling and optimization. Nvidia have also been the pioneers for ray tracing, and Ampere cards feature second-gen RT cores to handle the workload.
RDNA 3 features new AI acceleration of its own, second-gen ray tracing accelerators and plenty of upgraded features such as second-gen AMD Infinity Cache for improved bandwidth and better color accuracy with AMD Radiance Display Engine.
RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3080 specs
RX 7700 XT
RTX 3080
GPU
Navi 32
GA102
Architecture
RDNA 3.0
Ampere
GPU process
TSMC 5nm
Samsung 8nm
Shading units
3456
8960 (12GB) / 8704 (10GB)
Base clock speed
1900 MHz
1440 MHz
Boost clock speed
2544 MHz
1710 MHz
VRAM
12GB GDDR6
10GB / 12GB GDDR6X
Memory bandwidth
432 GB/s
760.3 GB/s
Memory bus
192-bit
320-bit
Memory clock
2250 MHz / 18 Gbps effective
1188 MHz / 19 Gbps effective
TDP
245W
320W
As the RX 7700 XT represents a newer generation, we can see some optimizations which give it plenty of power with a lower TDP – and therefore more power-efficient system. This is partly thanks to the smaller GPU process, as many newer cards are taking advantage of TSMC chips.
The RTX 3080 does have the upper hand for memory (which helps in higher resolutions), but the superior clock speeds of the RX 7700 XT make it a powerful, fresh competitor.
RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3080 performance
Performance has to be the number one thing many consumers look for when comparing graphics cards. You want to know how your favorite games will perform with a fresh GPU installed in your system after all.
With that being said, our own tests found that the RX 7700 XT can perfect extremely well in 1080p and 1440p, as well as 4K in many titles. To take Cyberpunk 2077 as an example, it hits 122 FPS, 79 FPS, and 36 FPS respectively, though it completely tanked with ray tracing on. This jumps up to 260, 186, and 96 in titles such as Overwatch 2 though (without RT of course).
As for the RTX 3080, TechSpot’s 14 game average from back when it released reveals an average of 181 FPS and 108 FPS at 1440p and 4K respectively. Since then, the card has continued to perform consistently well, and this recent 4K benchmark shows that the card performs superbly at the high resolution, even with ray tracing on – especially thanks to DLSS support.
Overall, the RTX 3080 is the winner here, especially at 4K, but emerging benchmarks show that the cards can hold a relatively similar framerate in some games, which makes the RX 7700 XT a worthy competitor.
RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3080 price
Now on to price, a defining factor for whether or not you’ll be spending your hard-earned cash on a new graphics card. Let’s first look as the MSRPs of the two GPUs.
RX 7700 XT price (MSRP): $449
RTX 3080 price (MSRP): $699 (10GB) / $799 (12GB)
Despite quite the gap between these prices, the RTX 3080 is of course an old GPU and has dropped in price since its release. GPU prices were soaring sky-high back during the 30-series launches, so you can still find many RTX 3080 cards at a premium price tag, with the lower end looking to be around $600, though this is rarer.
With that in mind, we’d have to say the RX 7700 XT is the clear winner on price. This isn’t a massive surprise though, as AMD tend to be the go-to choice when looking for excellent value.
RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3080 – which is better?
Deciding in which is best has actually turned out to be a close call, but the RX 7700 XT being a newer GPU and great value for money compared to Nvidia equivalents has to weigh strongly. We were impressed when we reviewed the Sapphire Pulse AMD RX 7700 XT, though the next step up the 7800 XT may be the better choice if your budget reaches there.
The RTX 3080 is still a fantastic card – and the performance doesn’t lie, but the RX 7700 XT definitely offers better value for money right now and would be our pick. We do have to commend the 3080 on its ray tracing ability though, and it would definitely be the better option if you’re focusing on RT performance or 4K gaming with the support of DLSS.
AMD are known for offering some great GPUs which offer good value for money, and the RX 7700 XT looks to be another addition to that trend.
We think the GPU is definitely worth it if you want one of the most powerful mid-range cards right now.
Is the RTX 3080 good value for money?
The RTX 3080 is a high-end graphics card capable at 4K with ray tracing enable in many titles, so a high cost is expected.
While the price was way too high for some back when it released, it now sits around a decently-priced level and is good value, but not quite as cheap as the RX 7700 XT.
As a Junior Staff Writer, Jack is involved in writing and maintaining a bunch of hardware guides & reviews. With an interest in PC gaming, he now focuses on writing about monitors, headsets, and more.
Trusted Source
WePC’s mission is to be the most trusted site in tech. Our editorial content is 100% independent and we put every product we review through a rigorous testing process before telling you exactly what we think. We won’t recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves. Read more
