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The 3080 Ti and 3090 are both high-end graphics cards, so their performance will be very similar. The 3090 is slightly better than the 3080 Ti, but the difference is not very significant.
It really comes down to your specific needs and budget. For example, the 3090 has more memory (24GB versus 12GB for the 3080 Ti), which can be useful if you are working with very large datasets or running resource-intensive applications.
On the other hand, the 3080 Ti is generally cheaper and may be a better option if you are on a tight budget or want to carry out less demanding activities.
In this article, we will directly compare the specs of the RTX 3090 and the RTX 3080 Ti alongside the tasks best suited for each graphics card, so that you can have a better idea if the 3080 Ti is better or vice versa – and get the right options for you.
Specifications
Let’s check both cards’ specs in order to determine how much they differ from each other.
| RTX 3080 Ti | RTX 3090 | |
| GPU | GA102-225-A1 | GA102-300-A1 |
| Memory | 12GB GDDR6X | 24GB GDDR6X |
| Memory bandwidth | 912.4 GB/s | 936.2 GB/s |
| Memory clock | 19 Gbps | 19.5 Gbps |
| Base clock speed | 1365MHz | 1395MHz |
| Boost clock speed | 1665MHz | 1695MHz |
| Shaders | 10240 | 10496 |
| RT cores | 80 | 82 |
| TDP | 350W | 350W |
| Card bus | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
Both the 3080 Ti and the 3090 use the same chip, the GA102, and although the 3090 uses the 300 variant and the 3080 Ti the 225 variant, there is no architectural difference to note. It is only when we start talking specifics that both cards start to stand out from each other.
The first part to notice is the VRAM difference. The 3090 has 24GB of VRAM while the 3080 Ti has only 12GB. However, 12GB is more than enough memory for the vast majority of cases, and you’ll only need 24GB of memory in some cases.
For example, if you are working with very large datasets or running resource-intensive applications, the extra memory of the 3090 may be beneficial. Additionally, the 3090 has a slightly faster clock speed, which can improve its performance in certain situations.
Having this in mind, the RTX 3080 Ti is better than the 3090 if you want to save some money and are not going to run the most resource-intensive applications.
Gaming
We’ve taken a look at whether the RTX 3080 Ti is worth it, and in that piece saw that if you’re looking for better FPS performance, the RTX 3090 is better than the 3080 Ti. The RTX 3080 Ti is good for 1080p, 1440p, and VR gaming, and 4K, but the 3090 performs better.
Should I upgrade from 3080 Ti to 3090?
Both graphics cards are perfect for demanding tasks, although their performance is very similar. Depending on your personal preference, it may not be worth upgrading from the 3080 Ti to the 3090.
Is RTX 3080 Ti overkill for 1440p?
If you are primarily interested in gaming in 1440p then this graphics card will be overkill. The RTX 3080 Ti performs exceptionally well for 4K gaming, where it can fully utilize its computing capabilities.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, the RTX 3090 and 3080 Ti are both high-end graphics cards, so they are well-suited for demanding tasks such as gaming at high resolutions, running complex simulations, and rendering 3D graphics. However, the 3090 has more memory (24 GB versus 10 GB for the 3080 Ti), which can be useful for certain types of tasks.
