# GeForce RTX 3080

> graphics card

**Wikidata**: [Q109690198](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109690198)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/geforce-rtx-3080

## Summary
The GeForce RTX 3080 is a high-end desktop graphics card developed by Nvidia, released on September 17, 2020, as part of the GeForce 30 series. It features advanced ray tracing and AI acceleration capabilities, targeting 4K gaming and content creation. Positioned between the RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 4080, it launched with a $699 price point.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date**: September 17, 2020
- **Manufacturer**: Nvidia
- **Launch Price**: $699 USD
- **Series**: GeForce 30 series
- **Predecessor**: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
- **Successor**: GeForce RTX 4080
- **GPU Memory**: 10GB GDDR6X
- **Awards**: Nominated for Golden Joystick Awards 2021 (Best Gaming Hardware)
- **CUDA Cores**: 8,704 (GA102 GPU)

## FAQs
### Q: When was the GeForce RTX 3080 released?
A: The GeForce RTX 3080 was released on September 17, 2020.

### Q: How much VRAM does the RTX 3080 have?
A: The RTX 3080 features 10GB of GDDR6X memory.

### Q: What is the successor to the RTX 3080?
A: The successor to the RTX 3080 is the GeForce RTX 4080.

## Why It Matters
The GeForce RTX 3080 marked a significant leap in consumer graphics processing, offering substantial performance improvements over its predecessors while emphasizing ray tracing and AI-driven rendering (DLSS). Its ability to handle 4K gaming at high frame rates and accelerate creative workflows (e.g., video editing, 3D rendering) positioned it as a flagship product for both gamers and professionals. The card’s efficiency and feature set helped solidify Nvidia’s dominance in the high-end GPU market during the early 2020s, particularly amid rising demand for graphics hardware during the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Notable For
- **Ray Tracing & AI Acceleration**: Integrated second-generation RT cores and third-generation Tensor cores for enhanced real-time ray tracing and DLSS upscaling.
- **Performance Leap**: Offered roughly double the rendering performance of the RTX 2080 Ti in supported titles.
- **4K Gaming Focus**: Marketed as a mainstream 4K-capable GPU, reducing reliance on multi-GPU setups.
- **Award Recognition**: Nominated for Best Gaming Hardware at the 2021 Golden Joystick Awards.

## Body
### Release and Specifications
- **GPU Architecture**: Ampere (GA102-200)
- **CUDA Cores**: 8,704
- **Base Clock Speed**: 1.44 GHz
- **Boost Clock Speed**: 1.71 GHz
- **Memory Bandwidth**: 760 GB/s
- **TDP**: 320W
- **Connectors**: 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1

### Performance
- The RTX 3080 delivered approximately 2x faster ray tracing performance compared to the RTX 2080 Ti, with DLSS 2.0 enabling higher resolutions without significant performance drops.
- Benchmarks showed average frame rates exceeding 60 FPS in demanding 4K titles with max settings.

### Legacy
- The RTX 3080 faced supply shortages due to high demand and cryptocurrency mining demand, contributing to inflated retail prices post-launch.
- It remained a top-tier GPU until the release of the RTX 4000 series in 2022, maintaining relevance in gaming and professional workloads.

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## References

1. [Golden Joystick Awards 2021: see the full list of nominees and how to vote today. 2021](https://www.gamesradar.com/golden-joystick-awards-2021-nominations)