Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB is a graphics card that doesn’t have to exist with Nvidia’s existing offers, and it demonstrates a concerning trend for GPU prices in 2022. Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB is a bloated version of one of the best graphics cards available, which is unfortunate.
Price And Availability
That’s around $1,249, which is $50 more than the RTX 3080 Ti. For example, EVGA XC3 Ultra Edition is listed at that price. It costs $40 more than RTX 3080 Ti variant and $440 more than the 10GB version of the same model. I’m not making a comparison between high-end cards. These are the most basic EVGA models.
You’ll pay a premium for your card regardless of where you receive it.
Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB model is selling for roughly $300 more on eBay than the 10GB model which is fairly close to the retail rates. Sure, pricing is closer now at stores as well as older marketplaces, but that implies you’ll pay more for your card regardless of where you obtain it.
There are various causes behind the 12GB RTX 3080’s high pricing, but the bottom line is that after the market settles down, Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB will keep selling at scalper rates. I’m not against Nvidia or its board members profiting from their products, but I am against minor GPU improvements being released at a much premium cost when the majority of people still can’t buy the base model.
Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB Specification
| Feature | RTX 3080 12GB |
| CUDA cores | 8,960 |
| Boost clock | 1.71GHz |
| Memory | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 384-bit |
| Effective bandwidth | 912.4GB/s |
| Tensor cores | 280 |
| RT cores | 70 |
| Power draw | 350W |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 17,071 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 65 fps |
| Fortnite | 76 fps |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 61 fps |
| Battlefield V | 103 fps |
| Civilization VI | 252 fps |
| PugetBench for Premiere Pro | 799 |
| Blender BMW (lower is better) | 19 seconds |
| Blender Classroom (lower is better) | 100 seconds |
| Blender Koro (lower is better) | 65 seconds |
MSI was kind enough to give me a 12GB RTX 3080 Suprim X, which is fantastic given that Nvidia doesn’t offer an Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB Founders Edition model. Regardless of what Nvidia does with this card, the Supreme X is still a fantastic layout.
It’s a dual-slot card in the sense that it only takes up 2 slots on the rear of your system, but the additional cooler height takes up around a third of the available space. It has a dual BIOS switch, like some other Supreme X designs, to switch among silent as well as gaming forms, but even in gaming mode, the graphic card was never loud enough to be an issue.
Regarding the inferior silicon, MSI has created a fantastic GPU.
It also comes fully tuned, with a 180MHz boost on Nvidia’s official specification and a 50W boost in power. The card has three 8-pin connectors for the ability to support increased power usage. MSI adds a GPU support bracket in the system to help with larger cooler capacity.
Regardless of my feelings about the silicon, MSI has created a great GPU here. The RGB MSI Shield in particular appeals to me.
Pros And Cons of Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB
| Pros | Cons |
| A good 4K graphics card is still available. | Expensive compared to the 10GB model |
| The MSI Suprim X version has an excellent design. | There isn’t much of a performance boost over the 10GB variant. |
| Memory bandwidth has been increased | Low availability compared to other GPUs |
| ……………. | The power draw has increased. |
| ……………. | Having more memory doesn’t help much.5 |
Conclusion
With the current GPU shortage, you should purchase practically any GPU you can get at a reasonable price. It’s possible that the card in question is Nvidia 12GB RTX 3080, in which case it’s a fantastic performance. Even at inflated scalper pricing, Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB will be a horrible bargain relative to the 10GB and Ti variants if the price trends.
Our opinion
There’s no need for Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB to exist. Even RTX 3080 Ti was a disappointment given how much more costly it was compared to the RTX 3080, so this 12GB variant simply splits the difference between the two. It’s pointless product segmentation that serves no purpose other than to raise RTX 3080’s base price.
Nvidia claims that the 10GB variant will continue to exist, but I have my doubts. There’s no reason to choose Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB over 10GB or RTX 3080 Ti, as well as Nvidia understands this. There’s a purpose RTX 3050 & RTX 3090 Ti didn’t get as many day one reviews or a publicized debut as RTX 3050 and RTX 3090 Ti.
Read Also: New AMD RX 6500 XT: 3 Graphics Cards You Should Buy Instead
People May Ask
Q- Is There Any Other Option?
A- Yes. 10GB RTX 3080 and RTX 3080 Ti are so similar to this type that they can be used as substitutes. RX 6800 XT from AMD is the closest contender, albeit it has issues with ray tracing.
Q- How Long Do You Think It’ll Last?
A– Although 12GB RTX 3080 is a disappointment, it is not a poor graphics card. This one, like 10GB base model, will last you at least a couple of years at 4K and probably longer at lower resolutions.
Q- Should You Purchase It?
A- If the 10GB version and RTX 3080 Ti didn’t exist, 12GB RTX 3080 would be among the top graphics cards. They do, and they do it at a considerably superior price-to-performance ratio.
