I'm deciding between a used RTX 4080 Founders Edition for €800 and a new RX 9070 XT for €720. I currently have an RTX 3080 FE and play mostly racing simulators at 1440p. I'm also planning to use VR and buy a widescreen 1440p monitor soon. My system has a Ryzen 7 5800X, 32GB of 3600MHz RAM, and a Corsair RM850x power supply. I like the design and build quality of the Founders Edition, but I'm unsure whether the 4080's VR and ray-tracing advantages are worth paying extra for a used card.
4 Answers
The two cards are fairly close in regular gaming performance, so both would be a noticeable upgrade from your 3080. If ray tracing matters to you, the RTX 4080 is the safer choice. Otherwise, the new RX 9070 XT saves €80 and should offer excellent 1440p performance.
For VR, I’d lean toward the RTX 4080. Nvidia generally has more consistent VR support and game compatibility, which can be especially useful with racing simulators. The 9070 XT is still a strong card, but VR is the main reason I’d choose the 4080 here.
I’d pick the 9070 XT unless you specifically want ray tracing or VR is a major priority. It’s cheaper, new rather than used, and performance is close enough that the value is better for standard 1440p gaming.
The 4080’s power connector is worth checking carefully before buying. Your RM850x may be capable, but make sure you have the correct dedicated cable or adapter and that it is seated properly. If you don’t want to think about that with a used card, the 9070 XT is the simpler purchase.
That power-connector concern is part of what makes me hesitate about the Founders Edition. I’ll check the exact PSU cables and adapter setup before deciding.