The Best RTX 3080 Graphics Cards (2023 Reviews)

Nvidia’s new RTX 3000 series GPUs have been out for some time now, and legions of gamers are still lining up, ready to get their hands on the latest graphics cards and take their gaming experience to the next level.

And if you’re aiming for some high-end solutions for 4K gaming, then the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 will be the ideal GPU for you.

Offering a 20% performance increase compared to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and with an MSRP of $700, the RTX 3080 is the perfect graphics card if you’re finally aiming to make the jump to 4K.

As usual, there are quite a few models to choose from. In this guide, we’ll be showcasing the absolute best RTX 3080 graphics cards available right now to help you choose the right one for your needs.

Related:The Best RTX 3090 Graphics Cards (2023 Reviews)The Best RTX 3070 Graphics Cards (2023 Reviews)

The first graphics card on this list is from one of the newer but still highly recognizable names in the game, Zotac.

Zotac is known for its quality cards and affordable prices. Its highly compact cards are also great for small form factor cases and external GPU enclosures.

While the Zotac RTX 3080 Trinity is anything but compact, it makes a solid pick for those who don’t want to spend more on an RTX 3080 than they absolutely need to. That said, the card features competent but basic cooling that will keep the GPU running at acceptable temperatures. However, it leaves virtually no headroom for overclocking.

Design-wise, it boasts a clean and simple exterior. It would perhaps even feel a tad too cheap if it weren’t for the RGB lighting that gives it a bit of that gaming flair, which we would expect from a graphics card this expensive.

Moving on, we have a similar GPU coming from Asus, the Asus TUF Gaming RTX 3080.

Unlike the company’s more popular Republic of Gamers brand, the TUF cards don’t feature overly flashy RGB or aggressive highlights. Instead, they prioritize performance and affordability over form.

That said, this card performs quite well and can hit some impressive clock speeds, although it certainly doesn’t look the part. As far as the RGB is concerned, the card only has a small RGB strip and an RGB-lit TUF logo on the side. Other than that, it looks more like a mid-range card rather than a $700+ high-end model.

Of course, if you prefer performance over aesthetics, then this just might be the ideal card for you. It sports a high-quality build and great cooling while also coming with an MSRP price tag attached. As such, it offers great overall value for your money.

Next, we have Gigabyte. You can always expect supplied solid, well-rounded cards from this company, and the RTX 3080 Gaming OC is no exception.

As with the rest of Gigabyte’s Gaming series cards, this one boasts a fairly simple but effective design. A black shroud with gray highlights that go great with the metal backplate, plus a somewhat conservative implementation of RGB in the form of a single strip. You’ll also have the Gigabyte logo on the side of the card.

In addition to that, this graphics card offers improved cooling as it is capable of hitting higher clock speeds and will thus appeal more to overclockers and those who want to get all the performance they can out of their GPU. Plus, it is rather quiet, too, even under load.

In any case, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Gaming OC has all the important bases covered: it looks good, offers a better performance than reference models, and has good cooling that will keep it running at low temperatures without being too loud. To top it all off, Gigabyte offers an extended 4-year warranty on this card – a year longer than the usual manufacturer warranty, which is always welcome.

Next up we have one of Nvidia fans’ favorite manufacturers, EVGA, and they have definitely delivered this time as well.

The RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra is an absolute unit of a card that has you covered on virtually all fronts.

We’ve seen that manufacturers so far have actually toned down the RGB compared to some of their older models. In contrast, EVGA has equipped this card with a sleek shroud, backplate, and a huge RGB strip on the side that makes it stand out compared to the competition.

But of course, you won’t be getting this card just for its exterior design. As you might expect from looking at that massive heatsink, it doesn’t disappoint in the performance department either. However, it’s actually a bit smaller than MSI’s RTX 3080 Gaming X Trio, all the while being slightly ahead in terms of performance.

At the end of the day, this card’s biggest drawback would undoubtedly have to be its price: $810. We’re looking at a very steep price premium, and not everyone will be willing to fork over so much extra cash.

No graphics card list is complete without an entry from MSI, so here is the MSI RTX 3080 Gaming X Trio.

As you can tell from the picture, the design has been tweaked a bit compared to what the RTX 20 Gaming X Trio models looked like. Most notably, the RGB has been toned-down but the overall design philosophy has remained intact.

As far as the performance is concerned, it’s pretty much what you’d expect — the card can hit impressive clock speeds but the cooling is extremely efficient. It not only keeps the card running at low temperatures but also remains remarkably quiet while doing so.

In short, at the end of the day, this card gets almost everything right – it boasts a sleek design, excellent performance and superb cooling. However, this does come at a bit of a price premium, and not everyone will find the extra expense to be worth it.

Conclusion – Which RTX 3080 Should You Buy?

Now that we’ve shown you the best RTX 3080 graphics cards, which one should you ultimately pick?

If you don’t care that much about overclocking and don’t want to spend more on the already pricey RTX 3080, the ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 will likely be a good pick for you. It performs exceptionally well, considering the price, and it is bound to catch your eye if you place performance first and aesthetics second.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have the EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra, a graphics card that brings aesthetics and performance together in one all-around impressive package. Granted, the price is a major drawback, but if you want every bit of performance that you can squeeze out of an RTX 3080, you won’t regret it.

If you want the best overall RTX 3080 graphics card, the MSI RTX 3080 Gaming X Trio is your best bet.

Of course, those are only our top choices, and any of the cards listed here will definitely be a good pick as long as you keep your requirements and their capabilities in mind.

Note that we will be updating this guide as new RTX 3080 models are released, so be sure to check back every once in a while if you don’t intend on getting a new graphics card immediately.