I currently have an MSI triple-fan RTX 3070 that I could probably sell for around $300. I've found an RTX 3080 available for $370, so the upgrade would cost me about $70 after selling my card. I'm using a 144Hz 1080p monitor and mainly play Hell Let Loose: Vietnam and Escape from Tarkov. Would the performance and extra VRAM make this upgrade worthwhile, or would I be better off saving for a newer-generation GPU?
3 Answers
The upgrade makes sense only if the 3080 is in good condition and you’re comfortable with its higher power draw and heat. Otherwise, jumping from a 3070 to a newer-generation card would be a more meaningful long-term upgrade. The 3080 is faster, but it’s still an older card with only 10GB of VRAM.
For just $70, I’d lean toward the 3080, especially if you plan to keep the same monitor and play demanding shooters. Just don’t expect every game to feel dramatically different at 1080p, since you may run into CPU limits or already have high frame rates on the 3070.
If you can really sell the 3070 for $300 and get a working 3080 for $370, a roughly 30% performance increase for $70 is a pretty good deal. At 1080p the difference may not always be dramatic, but demanding games should benefit and the 3080 could keep your current setup comfortable for several more years.
My main concern is whether moving from 8GB to 10GB of VRAM would actually help much with future games, or if that’s too small an upgrade to matter.
That’s what makes it tricky. Newer cards cost a lot more, and I’m not sure they all offer a major VRAM advantage for the price.