I'm looking for some advice on upgrading my graphics card. My older brother has both a standard 6800 and a 3080 (10GB) for sale at prices lower than market value—$200 for the 6800 and $250 for the 3080. Both cards are more than enough for my current gaming needs, but I don't want to let such a good deal slip away. I primarily play esports titles like Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Rainbow Six Siege, aiming for a stable 240fps at 1080p. I plan to get a 1440p monitor after Christmas, but I doubt that I'll run into VRAM issues with the games I play. Here are my current PC specs if that helps: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/qFPzqH. Also, I'll be upgrading my CPU to a 5700X3D once my brother gets his AM5 components. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
If you're opting for the base 6800, I'd recommend going with the 3080 instead. It's generally going to outperform the 6800 in most scenarios, especially for games like Fortnite and Apex where you want smooth performance. Plus, at 1080p, you won't hit the 10GB VRAM limit anytime soon. Once you upgrade to 1440p, the 3080's superior upscaling will likely keep you ahead performance-wise as well. I played some demanding titles on a 3080 and didn't run into any significant VRAM issues, except for the high-end stuff like Cyberpunk.
Definitely go with the 3080—especially at that price! You won’t encounter VRAM limitations with esports titles anytime soon. Also, I have to ask, why does your build have a 1000W PSU for a 4060 setup? That's kind of overkill, right?
The 3080 is the better pick, no doubt. It will provide a significant performance boost in almost all scenarios compared to the 6800. Plus, with the games you’re planning to play, the VRAM won't be an issue. If you're looking at future-proofing your setup for a bit, the 3080 is definitely better for that too.
Thanks for the insight! Sounds like the 3080 is the way to go for my needs. The most demanding game currently on my list is RDR2.