I'm putting together a gaming PC with a GPU budget of about $600–$700, though I could stretch to $800 if the upgrade is worthwhile. I was originally considering a used RTX 3080 versus a new RTX 5060 Ti and would appreciate advice on the best value for my build.
The current parts are an Ultra 5 245K, Noctua NH-U9S cooler, ASUS B860M MAX motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, an RM850x power supply, and two 2TB NVMe drives. I still need to buy the case and graphics card. The rest of the build has cost around $650, mostly using second-hand parts. I also got the RAM unusually cheaply because of a listing error, which gives me more room in the GPU budget.
Gaming is my only priority. I currently play at 1080p and expect to stay there for quite a while, so value matters more to me than features I won't use.
4 Answers
A used RTX 4070 or 4070 Super could be a nice middle ground if you find one near your target price. The RTX 4070 gives you newer features, better efficiency, and a warranty in many cases, while still being a strong 1080p card. I’d also consider a 3080 12GB over the 10GB version if the prices are close. The 5060 Ti is only worth considering if it drops substantially below its usual pricing.
Since you have up to $800 available, compare the RTX 9070 prices before buying anything. In some places it costs close to a 5060 Ti while being a full performance tier faster. I’d personally avoid paying a premium for a used 3080 when newer cards such as the 9070, or occasionally a discounted RTX 4070 Super, offer better longevity and warranty coverage.
I’d look beyond both of those options and check current prices on the RX 9070 or 9070 XT. The RX 9070 is faster than an RTX 5070 while offering 16GB of VRAM, and the XT competes with the RTX 5070 Ti for less money. The 16GB RTX 5060 Ti is only a little faster than the cheaper RX 9060 XT 16GB, so it’s generally a poor value unless you find a particularly good sale.
A used RTX 3080 is still faster than a 5060 Ti and can be a great deal, especially if you find one around $300. A used 3080 Ti is also worth checking. The main drawbacks are the 10GB of VRAM on many 3080 models and the lack of a new-card warranty, but at 1080p that may not matter much depending on the games and settings you use.
I’ve seen several RTX 3080 cards around $300, which is very appealing. I’ll also check 3080 Ti listings before deciding.
I should have mentioned that I’m playing at 1080p and plan to stay there for a while. I’m leaning toward the 3080 for value, but I’ll watch 9070 prices in case I find one at a good deal.