RX 7900 XT Vs RTX 3080: We Tested Both

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Abde Manaf

At Tech4Gamers, I began as a comparison writer, analyzing GPU and CPU performance. Now, I focus on writing reviews and contributing to the best-ofs section, sharing personal insights after hands-on testing.

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Difference

• Clock Speeds: The Radeon RX 7900 XT has a boost clock of 2400MHz, while the NVIDIA RTX 3080 has a boost clock of 1710 MHz. Meanwhile, the base clock speeds of both cards are 2000 MHz and 1440 MHz, respectively. 
• VRAM: The Radeon RX 7900 XT has a virtual random access memory of 20 GB, but the better version of the Nvidia RTX 3080 has a VRAM of 12 GB.
• TDP: The RX 7900 XT boasts a lower TDP of 315 W compared to the 350 W TDP of the RTX 3080, offering improved efficiency.
• Other Technologies: The AI accelerators are a new feature with AMD’s Radeon RX 7000 series GPUs, improving AMD’s FSR 3.0 technology. Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 supports PCI Express 4.0 technology.

Gaming Benchmarks – 4K

We’ve analyzed the specifications of RX 7900 XT vs RTX 3080 on paper, but now it’s time to see how these GPUs perform in the real world. We tested seven popular games at 4K resolution to put them head-to-head. For this test, we used the following setup:

Testing Rig

• Processor: Intel Core i9-12900K
• RAM: 2x16GB Patriot Viper LED DDR4-3600
• Storage:  TeamGroup T-Force GE Pro
• PSU: Enermax Joins ATX 3.0
• CPU Cooler: Deepcool Assassin II
• OS: Windows 11 Pro

God Of War

• In our benchmarks, the RX 7900 XT delivered an average of 107 FPS, a significant 59.7% improvement over the average of 67 FPS of the Nvidia 3080.
• The RX 7900 XT delivered a significantly smoother experience by achieving 78 FPS. Conversely, the RTX 3080 only managed a 1% low of 21 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

• While testing Cyberpunk 2077, the Radeon 7900 delivered an average of 57 FPS, while the RTX 3080 averaged 36 FPS. This means the RX 7900 XT performed 58.3% faster.
• The RX 7900 XT delivered a 1% low frame rate of 44 FPS. The RTX 3080 only achieved a 1% low of 4 FPS for comparison.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

• The 7900 XT delivered an impressive performance, averaging 93 FPS with a notable 69% advantage over the RTX 3080, which averaged only 55 FPS in the same test.
• We found that in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the RX 7900 XT maintained a minimum of 73 FPS, whereas the RTX 3080 struggled with a minimum rate of only 8 FPS.

Watch Dogs Legion

• The RX 7900 XT delivered an average of 80 FPS in Watch Dogs Legion. This performance puts it 37.9% ahead of the  3080, which averaged 58 FPS.
• In this game we have analyzed that the RX 7900 XT maintained a minimum of 58 FPS. In contrast, the RTX 3080 only managed a 1% low of 10 FPS.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• We noticed that the Radeon RX 7900 XT delivered a clear performance advantage over the RTX 3080 by achieving an average of 91 FPS, outperforming 60 FPS by a significant margin of 51.8%.

• The RX 7900 XT maintained a 1% low of 71 FPS, ensuring much smoother gameplay. Meanwhile, the RTX 3080 only managed a 1% low FPS of 4 FPS.

   

Doom Eternal

• In our benchmark of Doom Eternal, the RX 7900 XT delivered an average of 229 FPS. This is 17% faster than its competitor, the GeForce RTX 3080, which averaged 190 FPS.
• We found that the RX 7900 XT maintained a 1% low of 90 FPS. On the other hand, the RTX 3080 showed a significantly lower 1% low FPS, reaching only 3 FPS.

Horizon Zero Dawn

• In our benchmarks, the RX 7900 XT delivered an average of 109 FPS. This is a significant improvement of 42 FPS, or approximately 62.6%, compared to the GeForce RTX 3080, which averaged 67 FPS.
• The RX 7900 XT delivered a 1% low of 90 FPS. This means that, in 1% of frames rendered during gameplay, the frame rate dipped below 73 FPS. For comparison, the RTX 3080, in our benchmarks of Horizon Zero Dawn, only managed 4 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

The AMD’s GPU is around 43% faster than the RTX 3080 in 4K resolution. Also, this difference is around 834% in terms of minimum FPS. The overall gaming performance of the RX 7900 XT is much higher and superior to the RTX 3080. So, regarding rasterization performance, AMD’s graphic processing unit wins by a massive margin.

Gaming Temperature

The 7900 XT defeats the 3080 in thermal efficiency. In RTX 3080 vs RX 7900 XT, the 3080 has lower temperatures in certain games, and the average is significantly higher than its competitors. On the other hand, the AMD RX 7900 XT showcases similar temperatures in all competitions, being more consistent.

Price And Availability

The RTX 3080 is 8.3% more expensive than the RX 7900 XT. However, if you are looking at availability, both graphics cards are available on marketplaces such as Amazon and Newegg. Therefore, you can purchase from there or look around your local shops for a better deal.

RX 7900 XT Vs RTX 3080: Which One Would We Recommend?

RX 7900 XT: If you want to purchase a GPU with a better performance per dollar value, the 7900 XT is better. Additionally, it might be the better option if you are concerned with thermal efficiency due to its lower temperatures.

RTX 3080: If ray-tracing and upscaling technology are your primary requirements, then the RTX 3080 might be the better option. Until AMD releases its FSR 3.0 technology, DLSS will remain the better option.

In conclusion, which GPU you should purchase depends solely on your requirements. For that reason, in-depth research is often required before purchasing.

More from RTX 3080:

• RTX 3080 Vs RX 6800 XT
• RTX 3080 Vs RX 7700 XT
• RTX 3080 Vs RTX 4060 Ti

More from RX 7900 XT:

• RTX 4070 Ti Super Vs RX 7900 XT
• RX 6800 XT Vs RX 7900 XT
• RX 7800 XT Vs RX 7900 XT

Abde Manaf

[Comparisons Expert]

Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.

Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.

As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.

Get In Touch: manaf@tech4gamers.com