I'm building my first PC for current-generation gaming and Blender, and I'm deciding between a Galax GeForce RTX 3080 12GB SG and an ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3080 10GB OC. The Galax costs only about $25 more, and the extra VRAM seems useful for both gaming and Blender. However, I've found many positive reviews praising the ASUS card's fans and cooling, while there are far fewer reviews of the Galax model, with some criticizing its fans. Is the difference in cooling and fan quality significant enough to choose the ASUS, or is the 12GB Galax the better deal? My budget is around 700,000 Argentine pesos, roughly $800.
3 Answers
Galax cooling may be underrated. My experience with another Galax EX model has been positive, and the fan reputation alone wouldn’t put me off. As long as the card has a reasonable warranty and fits your case, the extra VRAM makes the 12GB version the more sensible purchase.
The Galax is the better choice for only $25 more. Its 12GB of VRAM will be more useful for newer games and Blender than the ASUS card’s extra focus on cooling. The heatsink and fans matter, but they shouldn’t outweigh the additional memory here.
I’d definitely take the 12GB Galax. The 3080 12GB also has a few more CUDA cores and a wider memory bus, giving it roughly a 5–7% performance advantage over the standard 10GB model. It sits somewhere between a regular 3080 and a 3080 Ti, so the extra $25 is an easy choice, especially above 1080p.
That was my main concern—I found lots of reviews for the ASUS and barely any for the Galax, so I wasn’t sure if people avoided it for a reason.