RTX 3080 vs RTX 5070: 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 5070 leads the RTX 3080 by about 18% — a moderate gap. The RTX 5070 has more VRAM (12GB vs 10GB), which helps at high resolutions and in VRAM-hungry titles.
| RTX 3080 | RTX 5070 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance index | 56/100 | 66/100 |
| VRAM | 10GB | 12GB |
| Board power (TBP) | 320W | 250W |
| Recommended PSU | 750W | 650W |
| Power connector | 8-pin PCIe | 16-pin 12V-2x6 |
| Generation | RTX 30 | RTX 50 |
Relative gaming index — an estimate of typical performance. Real-world gaps vary by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy?
Buy the RTX 5070 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 5070 PSU.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 3080 better than the RTX 5070?
On our relative index the RTX 5070 is about 18% ahead of the RTX 3080. The RTX 5070 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 5070?
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 5070 need different power supplies?
The RTX 3080 is rated around a 750W PSU and the RTX 5070 around 650W. 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.