RTX 3080 vs RTX 3080 Ti: Which Should You Buy?
Head-to-head on performance, VRAM, power and value for 2026.
Quick Summary · TL;DR
On our relative performance index the RTX 3080 Ti leads the RTX 3080 by about 11% — a moderate gap. The RTX 3080 Ti has more VRAM (12GB vs 10GB), which helps at high resolutions and in VRAM-hungry titles.
| RTX 3080 | RTX 3080 Ti | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance index | 56/100 | 62/100 |
| VRAM | 10GB | 12GB |
| Board power (TBP) | 320W | 350W |
| Recommended PSU | 750W | 850W |
| Power connector | 8-pin PCIe | 8-pin PCIe |
| Generation | RTX 30 | RTX 30 |
Relative gaming index — an estimate of typical performance. Real-world gaps vary by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy?
Buy the RTX 3080 Ti if you want the higher frame rate and can find it at a fair price. Choose the RTX 3080 if it is clearly cheaper and its 10GB+ of VRAM and features cover your target resolution. Both are from a similar lineage, so price is the main deciding factor.
Power planning: RTX 3080 PSU · RTX 3080 Ti PSU.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 3080 better than the RTX 3080 Ti?
On our relative index the RTX 3080 Ti is about 11% ahead of the RTX 3080. The RTX 3080 Ti has more VRAM (12GB vs 10GB), which helps at high resolutions and in VRAM-hungry titles. The smaller the gap, the more other factors like price, VRAM and features should decide it.
Which is better value, the RTX 3080 or the RTX 3080 Ti?
Value depends on the price you can find each at. The slower card is usually the smart buy if it is meaningfully cheaper, unless you need the extra VRAM or features of the faster one.
Do the RTX 3080 and RTX 3080 Ti need different power supplies?
The RTX 3080 is rated around a 750W PSU and the RTX 3080 Ti around 850W. Size for the more demanding card if you might upgrade, and prefer an ATX 3.x unit for any 12V-2x6 card.
Make sure your CPU can keep up with either card using the Bottleneck Estimator, or compare more cards in the GPU comparison hub.