RTX 3080 Vs RX 6900 XT: Comparison 2023

In the ever-evolving world of gaming and graphics, two behemoths stand tall – the RTX 3080 Vs RX 6900 XT. As gaming enthusiasts and content creators seek to push the boundaries of visual fidelity and performance, choosing the right GPU becomes crucial. Let’s delve into the intricacies of these powerhouses and discover which one reigns supreme.

Remember what powerful graphics cards came before them since everyone is talking about the brand-new RTX 4090 and the RX 7900 XT? Because of this, we chose to compare the Nvidia RTX 3080 Vs the AMD RX 6900 XT.

Nvidia was already known for adding the latest features to support and improve Ray Tracing, but thanks to their RDNA 2.0 design, AMD stayed caught up in this race. This guide will give you a thorough analysis of both GPUs and benchmark results for games played with and without Ray Tracing.

Key Takeaways

• The RTX 3080 comes in a 10 GB and a 12 GB version, and both of them work pretty much the same.
• The RTX 3080 12 GB is only about 6% faster than the RTX 3080 10 GB, and it costs around $200 more.
• The RTX 6900 XT costs about $200 more than the RTX 3080 12 GB, but it is 11.6% faster at 1080p and 7.6% faster at 1440p.
• Both the RX 6900 XT and the RTX 3080 12 GB work almost the same at 4K, so the RTX 3080 12 GB is a good choice for 4K gaming.
• At both 1080p and 1440p, the RTX 3080 uses more power than the RX 6900 XT. However, when Ray Tracing is turned on, the RTX 3080 works better.
• The RTX 3080 stays about 9°C cooler than the RX 6900 XT on average, but the RTX 3080 12 GB is harder to find than the RX 6900 XT and RTX 3080 10 GB.

RTX 3080 Vs RX 6900 XT Specifications

The RTX 3080 came out on September 17, 2020, and the RX 6900 XT came out on December 8, 2020, just a few months later. To be clear, the RTX 3080 first came out with the 10 GB VRAM model. A year later, Nvidia released a version of the RTX 3080 with 12 GB of memory and some minor changes to its features.

Here are the most important specs for both versions of the RTX 3080 Vs RX 6900 XT:

RTX 3080 10 GB Vs RTX 3080 12 GB

The 10 GB and 12 GB versions of the RTX 3080 are similar in many ways, such as having the same amount of boost clock, memory clock, transistors, GPU die, design, node, and power connector. Aside from these similarities, the RTX 3080 12 GB is slightly better than the RTX 3080 10 GB in speed, but the difference is not huge.

First, the RTX 3080 12 GB has 2 GB more VRAM, which doesn’t mean much. But we’ll talk about what makes it better than the RTX 3080 10 GB version in a bit. The RTX 3080 12 GB also has 256 more CUDA cores, which handle complicated tasks like demanding games or heavy rendering.

Go through our epic guide on 6800 Vs 6800 XT

Even though the RTX 3080 12 GB has the same memory clock, it has a better bandwidth. This moves data from the VRAM to the computer’s cores, which is why the 12 GB VRAM version is better than the 10 GB version. There isn’t much difference between RT cores, Tensor cores, and the memory bus.

Also, the RTX 3080 12 GB only uses 30 W more power than the RTX 3080 8 GB. Regarding gaming speed, the RTX 3080 12 GB is 6% better than the model with less VRAM. The rate is almost the same, with the RTX 3080 12 GB only getting 2 to 3 more frames per second (FPS) in most games. There are a few rare games where it gets more than that.

RTX 3080 12 GB Vs RX 6900 XT

Let’s compare the RTX 3080 12 GB and the RX 6900 XT because of this small change in performance. Interestingly, the features on one card could be better than those on the other. But don’t worry; we’ll finally see how they work, clearing up any questions about these GPUs’ power. These two cards feature a distinct gap. The RX 6900 XT has 4 GB more VRAM than the RTX 3080. CUDA cores make things enjoyable.

RX 6900 XT has 3,840 CUDA cores less than RTX 3080 12GB. RX 6900 XT has 36.6% and 27.2% higher body and boost clock frequencies, which makes a big difference. The transistor difference resets the field for both cards.

The RTX 3080 12 GB has more transistors, which means it can fit smaller transistors on its small die. This cuts down on the amount of power it needs, allowing the maximum clock frequency to go up and improving the total performance. Even though it has 8mm nodes instead of 7mm nodes like the RX 6900 XT, it still needs more power.

Also, check out our separate post on RTX 4080 Vs RTX 3090

The RX 6900 XT features 16 GB of VRAM and 2000 MHz of memory clock, which is the VRAM speed. It lacks memory bandwidth, although RTX 3080 12 GB has a better data transmission rate.

The 12 GB version of the RTX 3080 has a 384-bit memory bus, which is also higher. This is because the memory speed is higher. This also means that more data is being shared, which gives the 12 GB version of the RTX 3080 an extra point. The RT and Tensor cores of the RX 6900 XT are better than those of the RTX 3080. This means that Ray-Tracing fans would have a better time with it.

Benchmarks Test On 1080p, 1440p and 4K Resolution

Like we did with RTX 3070 vs RX 6700 XT, a benchmark test best assesses a graphics card’s gaming performance. This test should use the RTX 3080 12 GB GPU since its performance is closer to the RX 6900 XT.

Before we begin, notice that the performance of any graphics card depends on the GPU variant, optimization settings, motherboard, CPU, driver version, and more. Video Game Player’s benchmark test mentions this. So, without further ado, let’s compare the game benchmarks of the Nvidia RTX 3080 Vs AMD RX 6900 XT.

Testing Rig For RTX 3080 12 GB Vs RX 6900 XT

• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Founders Edition
• GPU: XFX AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
• Motherboard: MSI MAG X570S Tomahawk Max Wifi
• RAM: 32 GB DDR4-3200 CL 14

Far Cry 6 

Far Cry 6 is one of the most challenging and worst-optimized games. Its massive geography, high-resolution foliage, and NPCs require strong GPUs. In this game, let’s compare the Nvidia RTX 3080 Vs AMD RX 6900 XT.

1080p and 1440p perform similarly. The RX 6900 XT averaged 113 FPS on 1080p, seven more than the RTX 3080. The RTX 3080 had 2 FPS more than the RX 6900 XT at 1% lows.

1% lows are the worst FPS attained 1% of the time. Average FPS can misrepresent GPU or CPU performance. The maximum FPS is the highest, but it varies considerably, which could mislead people. Thus, higher GPUs have 1% lows closer to the average FPS.

RTX 3080 averaged 104 FPS @ 1440p, two more than 1080p. RX 6900 XT averaged 107 FPS, down six from 1080p. We get close to 1% lows. The RX 6900 XT’s 76 FPS was almost 20 FPS lower than the RTX 3080’s 78 FPS.

The average FPS changes when we reach 4K. Both GPUs exceeded 60 FPS; however, the average FPS dropped 20 FPS to 75 and 84 FPS on the RTX 3080 Vs AMD RX 6900 XT, respectively. The 1% lows differ from the other resolutions.

On 1% lows, RTX 3080 had 68 FPS and RX 6900 XT 73. Compared to 1440p, RTX 3080 drops 10 FPS while RX 6900 XT drops a couple. This implies both powerful graphic cards can easily play this single-player game in 4K resolution.

Ray Tracing On 1080p And 1440p

It would be unfair to merely benchmark the Nvidia RTX 3080 against AMD RX 6900 XT without testing their complete capabilities. Ray Tracing is the best way to try them. ARTIS tested numerous Ray Tracing games on 1080p and 1440p to compare the RTX 3080 10 GB and Sapphire’s RX 6900 XT.

The YouTuber used the ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 motherboard with the NOCTUA NH-U9B SE2-cooled Ryzen 5 5600X CPU. Patriot Viper Steel Series’ 16 GB DDR4 RAM has a remarkable clock speed of 4400 Mhz CL19, overclockable to 3600MHz CL14.

He chose a Samsung 120GB 2.5″ 840 EVO SSD and 10 TB hard drive to store these heavy games for speedier boot time. A powerful motor drives the system. Be silent! Straight Power, 10 CM 700W, gold-rated over 80. Lian Li’s PC-T60B ATX/Micro ATX Test Bench PC case holds everything.

Watch Dogs Legion 

Ray Tracing makes Watch Dogs Legion more immersive. Immersion loads the GPU. Both graphics cards performed fine. The RTX 3080 leads this test with an average FPS of 75 and a 1% low FPS of 63. The RX 6900 XT has an average FPS of 65 and 1% lows of 53. Since it has less VRAM, the RTX 3080 consumes less. The RX 6900 XT uses 9.6 GB of VRAM and 8.7.

The RX 6900 XT temps are the most intriguing. The RX 6900 XT started at 60°C and reached 70°C, while the RTX 3080 stayed at 40–50°C. The card with a lower TDP and intended to remain cooler is fascinating. Power usage is again remarkable. The RX 6900 XT consumed 260–280 W, whereas the RTX 3080 consumed 330–350 W. RX 6900 XT performs as promised.

1440p and extreme settings reduce FPS. Since the RTX 3080 gained 55 FPS, the average FPS dropped 20 FPS. The RX 6900 XT, which averaged 45 FPS, likewise drops FPS. RTX 3080 got 43 FPS, while RX 6900 XT got 31 FPS at 1% lows. VRAM increased on both ends, as planned. The RX 6900 XT has 10.8 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 3080 has 9.5.

RX 6900 XT’s temps again impress. The RTX 3080 has 41°C–51°C temperatures. The RX 6900 XT only reached 60°C from 52°C. 1440p keeps the RX 6900 XT cooler than 1080p.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Valhalla is even more complex than Odyssey. It strains the system even at 1080p and requires high-end GPUs. Ultra and high settings work similarly; however, this test will use ultra.

AMD GPUs will have an advantage in this AMD-optimized game. It could be better optimized and chokes FPS even on high-end graphics cards. Now let’s examine the benchmark results. The RX 6900 XT starts with 155 FPS on 1080p. The RTX 3080 only averaged 112 FPS. 43 FPS short is a lot. Average FPS and 1% lows show the performance disparity.

RTX 3080 1% lows were better. 82 FPS gave it 30 FPS. RTX 3080 gets 110 FPS at 1% lows—45 FPS margin.

Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus is our latest Nvidia RTX 3080 Vs AMD RX 6900 XT gaming benchmark. The RTX 3080’s highest 1080p settings show a noticeable change. The GPU consumes just over 400 W. This is important given its maximum TDP of 320 W. Higher power input means higher card temperatures.

The RTX 3080 runs at 54°C; thus, this is false. RTX 3080s are thermally efficient. The RX 6900 XT consumes 290 W at 63°C. Metro Exodus uses little VRAM. The RX 6900 XT uses 5.4 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 3080 uses 4.5. The RTX 3080 averaged 110 FPS, surpassing 100 FPS. At 90 FPS, the RX 6900 XT falls short. Both GPUs dropped significantly from their 1% lows.

The 1% lows received 75 FPS, 25–30 FPS more than the average FPS. The RX 6900 XT’s 60 FPS is 1% low also behind 30 FPS.

Let’s compare 1440p GPU performance. Both GPUs used the same amount of power at 1080p. Both cards’ VRAM only increased to 100 MB. RTX 3080 averaged 82 FPS, whereas RX 6900 XT averaged 70. The RX 6900 XT dropped to 44 FPS from its 1% lows. The RTX 3080’s 0.1% and 1% lows are similar.

The RTX 3080’s temperatures rarely exceeded 53 C, and the RX 6900 XT’s were also good. RX 6900 XT temps vary about 60 C.

Overall Gaming Performance

Nvidia RTX 3080 Vs AMD RX 6900 XT have similar gaming performance. After playing all five games on both GPUs, the RTX 3080’s average framerate is almost identical to the RX 6900 XT’s.

The RX 6900 XT outperforms the RTX 3080 by 11.5% on 1080p. On 1440p, the RX 6900 XT outperforms the RTX 3080 by 7.6% in average FPS. Both achieve about the same average FPS on 4K.

Power Consumption

Gaming performance alone doesn’t decide. The GPU’s power need determines the graphics card’s power supply; therefore, all factors should be considered. The RTX 3080 performs great but uses 312 W in 1080p games and 339 W in 1440p. The RX 6900 XT uses 250 W at 1080p and 273 W at 1440p.

The chart shows the average power consumption of both graphic cards at each resolution to compare Ray Tracing performance. The four Ray Tracing-enabled titles show a considerable difference on both cards. The RTX 3080 uses 386.25 W on average at 1080p, 100 W higher than the RX 6900 XT, which uses 288.5 W.

The 1440p RTX 3090 averages 399.25 W. RX 6900 XT averages 292.75 W, 100 W less than the RTX 3080. The RTX 3080 packs the maximum power. Thus, it needs a higher-TDP PSU to work.

Thermal Efficiency

Thermal efficiency follows power consumption to ensure that it stays cool even if the GPU generates high FPS. This uses RTX 3080 and RX 6900 XT Ray Tracing. The RTX 3080, the most power-hungry GPU, ran more relaxed than the RX 6900 XT. Ray Tracing enabled, the RTX 3080 averaged 52°C at 1080p and 1440p.

After playing four Ray Tracing games, the RX 6900 XT, which used less power, averaged 64.5°C on 1080p and 58.25°C on 1440p. This reveals that Nvidia improved the RTX 3080’s heatsink to keep it more relaxed during operation.

conclusion

In the ever-advancing landscape of graphics cards, the enthralling duel between the RTX 3080 Vs AMD RX 6900 XT has kept tech aficionados on the edge of their seats, anticipating a grand finale. With meticulous scrutiny of GPU architectures, memory bandwidth, and computational prowess, the moment of conclusion draws near.

As pixelated battlegrounds witnessed unprecedented clashes, the RTX 3080 emerged, wielding the finesse of an artistic virtuoso, summoning ray-traced marvels that defy reality. In response, the RX 6900 XT, empowered by its valiant Infinity Cache, showcased raw computational might akin to a mythical titan.

Throughout the FPS benchmarks and resolution scaling acrobatics, both contenders displayed merits worthy of acclaim. The RTX 3080, akin to a nimble dancer, triumphed in high-refresh-rate gaming, while the RX 6900 XT, an unyielding marathon runner, excelled in ultra-high-definition panoramas.

Yet, as this epic saga reaches its crescendo, one truth prevails: technology’s relentless march knows no bounds. As the baton of innovation passes on, we’re left in awe of both the RTX 3080 Vs AMD RX 6900 XT, two beacons illuminating the boundless realm of gaming’s future.

In this symphony of supremacy, let us revel in the perpetual chase of excellence, where each pixel harbors untold adventures yet to unfold.

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