🎮 Real‑World Gaming Performance
1440p Raster (No Ray Tracing)
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The RTX 3080 12 GB delivers an average of ~170 FPS in a 12‑game test suite, roughly 5–7% faster than the 10 GB variant and nearly matching RTX 3080 Ti. In Horizon Zero Dawn and Death Stranding, expect 120–140 FPS ranges.
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Compared to previous-gen, 3080 runs roughly 24–33% faster than RTX 2080 Ti, and up to 70% faster than GTX 1080 Ti in multiple titles.
4K Raster (Native)
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Native 4K raster gaming maintains ~110–130 FPS in optimized titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Doom Eternal, and Forza Horizon 5. For most 4K games, average FPS hovers around 80–100.
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This represents ~30–35% gain over RTX 2080 Ti and nearly 70% over RTX 2080, delivering flagship-class 4K gaming at a sub-flagship price point.
Ray Tracing & DLSS
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In Cyberpunk 2077 with RT Ultra at 1440p, RTX 3080 can fall to ~40–50 FPS natively—but enabling DLSS Quality improves smoothness (~60+ FPS), and driver DLSS generation tools offer further uplift in compatible titles.
🧪 Synthetic Performance & Compute Scores
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In 3DMark Time Spy scores, RTX 3080 12 GB ranks just ~2% ahead of RTX 3080 10 GB average (~17,900 vs 17,500 points), holding a strong lead in pure GPU workloads.
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Compared against AMD: it's ~6% faster than RX 6800 XT and ~4% slower than 3080 Ti at both 1440p and 4K settings. In AI/compute tests, the RTX maintains a lead through Tensor core acceleration.
📋 Summary Table
| Scenario | Quick Stats (Avg FPS) | Uplift & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1440p Raster (12‑game avg) | ~170 FPS | +5–7% vs 10 GB; nearly matches 3080 Ti |
| 4K Native Raster | ~110–130 FPS | 30–35% faster than RTX 2080 Ti |
| Ray Tracing (4K, DLSS off) | ~40–50 FPS | Playable but requires DLSS for smoothness |
| Ray Tracing + DLSS (1440p) | ~60+ FPS | DLSS Quality helps sustain 60+ FPS |
| Synthetic (Time Spy Score) | ~17,900 (avg) | ~2% ahead of 10 GB; just behind 3080 Ti |
🗣️ Community Feedback
“The RTX 3080 is 23% faster than 2080 Ti at 1440p, and still delivers very solid native 4K playback across modern titles.” — Reddit thread summary
“In 2023, the 3080 still handles 1440p with ease and can deliver high-refresh on many titles—even into modern esports games.” — r/buildapc users
✅ Final Verdict
The RTX 3080 12 GB sits at the sweet spot of high-end performance: it outpaces the original 3080 by a modest margin, matches or slightly trails the 3080 Ti, and offers flagship-level 4K and 1440p gaming at a more accessible price point. With ample VRAM and strong synthetic benchmark results, it remains a compelling choice for balanced gamers in 2025.
