Nvidia’s RTX 3080 Ti Card is a great way to bridge the gap between the RTX 3080 and the insanely priced RTX 3090. The GPU comes with fast GDDR6X memory, as well as 10,240 stream processors and features like HDMI 2.1 for improved throughput. Performance-wise, it sits right below RTX 3090, averaging 160 to 180 frames per second at 1440p, though this could vary greatly depending on the specific game you play. With the RTX 3090 averaging 1-2% FPS more, the RTX 3080 Ti is a much better choice for gaming. That being said, below we have carefully curated this list of the best RTX 3080 Ti graphics cards.
There are quite a few AIB variants, and not all of them are equal. As you’ll see in the reviews below, some of them perform a lot worse than their competitors, and there’s a significant difference in terms of design and cooling, too. And when it comes to pricing, it is incredibly bad across the board, but some models are less overpriced than others.
To make things a bit easier for you, we’ve chosen a few top-notch RTX 3080 Ti AIB card models from popular Nvidia partners, so let’s check out the best options if you’re in the market for an RTX 3080 Ti.
Best RTX 3080 Ti Graphics Cards
1. ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 Ti OC Edition
Verdict
If you don’t mind the almost three-slot size, the ROG Strix OC Edition is an excellent choice. With a high yet stable boost clock and robust cooling, you can expect great performance with this GPU hitting over 120fps on average at 4K in some titles.
Specifications
Stream Processors: 10,240 | Base/Boost Clock: 1365 MHz /1845 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock: 19Gbps | TDP: 350 watts | Power Connector: 3x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | Dimensions: 12.53 x 5.51 inches, 2.9 slotsBenefits
- Consistently high boost clocks
- Excellent performance at both 1440p and 4K
- Beautiful design
Drawbacks
- Fans can get loud
- 2.9-slot size is very big
- Very expensive
The ROG Strix models by ASUS are constantly some of the best-looking GPUs out there, and the OC Edition RTX 3080 Ti is right up there. The design is beautiful, with a black and silver combination and (quite a lot of) RGB sprinkled around the GPU. There is also a neat-looking backplate with the ROG logo, just to remind you what RTX 3080 Ti AIB card you’re using. The build quality is top-notch, as you’d expect from a ROG product, and the backplate adds a lot of stiffness, something that’s a necessity with a card this big.
In terms of performance, you do get a hefty boost in the clock speeds, with a maximum boost of up to 1845 MHz, which is great. You can expect solid performance from the ROG Strix, both at 1440p and even at 4K gaming, due to the high clock speed and great cooling solution. While we’re at it, it’s worth mentioning that the fans can get loud, which is something you’ll need to deal with considering how powerful this card is.
Overall, ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 Ti OC Edition is a great card. With 12GB of VRAM, you’re looking at an excellent performer in terms of both gaming and other graphically demanding tasks.
2. EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti FTW3 ULTRA GAMING
Verdict
If stunning RGB and clean are two design features you’re after, EVGA’s FTW3 ULTRA GAMING should be right up your alley. Performance is excellent, with the GPU averaging about 175fps at 1440p and about 115fps at 4K depending on the title, and thanks to the iCX3 cooling solution, the GPU remains cool under load without much noise.
Specifications
Stream Processors: 10,240 | Base/Boost Clock: 1365MHz/1800 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock: 19Gbps | TDP: 350 watts | Power Connector: 3x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | Dimensions: 11.81 x 5.38 inches, 2.75 slotsBenefits
- Very clean design, even with RGB turned off
- iCX3 cooling solution gets you great thermals
Drawbacks
- Only one HDMI port
- Still overpriced, but less expensive than the competition
Probably one of the cleanest designs we’ve seen in a while, EVGA’s FTW3 ULTRA GAMING RTX 3080 Ti AIB card is a beautiful piece of engineering. With or without the (comprehensive) RGB lights, it just looks stunning regardless of which angle you’re looking at it from. The black and silver design with white accents makes it fit with any colored setup, and the red accent line on the backplate adds an interesting touch. The drilled-out backplate is a questionable choice for some, sure, but we think it looks nice and it certainly helps to cool.
Let’s talk performance, shall we? This is an area where EVGA’s card is admittedly a bit conservative, with clock speeds coming in a bit lower than some competitors. However, thanks to the excellent iCX3 cooling system and the backplate we mentioned earlier, the GPU is significantly cooler than those competitors and can maintain said boost clocks for longer, making it a great choice for extended gaming sessions.
The best thing about it is arguably the price, with EVGA selling this for a fraction of the price other AIB models are going for. When paired with the performance, that price makes the FTW3 ULTRA GAMING a great choice. Don’t get us wrong – it’s still overpriced, just not as much as the competition.
3. ASUS GeForce RTX 3080 Ti STRIX LC
Verdict
People who have plenty of room in their builds should consider the STRIX LC thanks to a combination of excellent performance and a quiet, yet effective all-in-one cooling solution. With the GPU averaging almost 180fps at 1440p and almost 120fps at 4K depending on the title, it’s a great choice for high framerate gaming at both resolutions.
Specifications
Stream Processors: 10,240 | Base/Boost Clock: 1365 MHz /1830 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock: 19Gbps | TDP: 350 watts | Power Connector: 3x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | Dimensions: 11.4 x 4.33 inches, 2.6 slots (card only)Benefits
- Water cooling provides quieter, cooler operation
- Hardware switch for a Performance and Quiet BIOS
- Beautiful industrial design
Drawbacks
- Radiator and tubing take up a lot of space
- Incredibly expensive
Water cooling your GPU is a great way to maintain high clock speeds and low temperatures under load, but not a lot of people are willing to do that to an expensive GPU. That’s why ASUS gives you the STRIX LC, which stands for Liquid Cooled, and is an all-in-one solution for a liquid-cooled GPU. The industrial design is just stunning, and the GPU itself looks very modern. You get sleeved tubing and a radiator that admittedly, could’ve been more compact.
Performance-wise, however, this is a brilliant choice for extended gaming sessions. The liquid cooling does a great job at keeping the temperatures low, peaking at only 49 degrees, and making sure no thermal throttling occurs. The 1830 MHz clock speeds make it a great performer for high resolutions and high framerates, with the GPU easily achieving almost 180 fps in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, at 1440p and highest quality. Note that performance will vary depending on the games you play.
A nifty addition is the BIOS switch, which allows you to choose between the P (performance) mode, and Q (quiet) mode depending on whether you’re gaming or just using your system for day-to-day tasks and want it to be a bit quieter.
We aren’t fans of the price, though, but if you want liquid cooling without the hassle of a custom loop, it’s somewhat worth it.
4. MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X
Verdict
Even though it’s incredibly massive, the SUPRIM X by MSI is one of the most beautiful RTX 3080 Tis you’ll come across. Pair that with a top-notch performance which gets you around 178fps at 1440p and around 117fps at 4K on average, and this is a great choice for people who have room for it.
Specifications
Stream Processors: 10,240 | Base/Boost Clock: 1365 MHz /1845 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock: 19Gbps | TDP: 400 watts | Power Connector: 3x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | Dimensions: 13.2 x 5.5 inches, 3 slotsBenefits
- Beautifully designed from all aspects
- Subtle, yet effective RGB lights
- Performance is top-notch
Drawbacks
- Incredibly large
- Cooling is not impressive
- Overpriced
You can’t talk about the SUPRIM X by MSI without mentioning how massive it is in every possible way. It’s long, it’s tall, and it’s thick, but there’s no denying that this is a beautiful-looking card. Turn off the RGB lights, and you’ve got a silver and black design that blends in within every build. Turn the RGB on, though, and you’ve got accents in any color you’d like, which allows for a bit of personalization.
The triple-fan design does a mediocre job at keeping the SUPRIM X cool, even though the metal backplate does help dissipate heat quite a bit. When it comes to RTX 3080 Ti cards that are clocked as high as possible, this is the one that can maintain the boost clock of 1845 MHz the longest. Unfortunately, with peak temperatures of 78 degrees, this is a card that runs a bit hot, even though the fans aren’t particularly loud. But if you can handle the noise, you’re looking at about 180 frames per second in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, at 1440p and highest quality settings. These numbers may vary depending on which titles you play.
To add to this, it does come with an increased TDP of 400W, compared to the competition’s 350W, and you’ll need a beefy PSU to run it. If you’re willing to work with that, you’re looking at arguably the best RTX 3080 Ti graphics card.
5. Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 3080 Ti XTREME
Verdict
The AORUS XTREME is Gigabyte’s flagship for a reason – it offers excellent performance and a beautiful design with plenty of RGB lighting, and then adds silent fans that keep it very cool, very easily.
Specifications
Stream Processors: 10,240 | Base/Boost Clock: TBD /1830 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock: 19Gbps | TDP: 350 watts | Power Connector: 3x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: HDMI 2.0, 2x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | Dimensions: 12.56 x 5.51 inches, 3.5 slotsBenefits
- Extensive RGB lighting with LCD display on the side
- Quiet, yet effective fans
- Metal backplate for added structural strength
Drawbacks
- Large 3.5-slot size
- Overpriced
Gigabyte’s AORUS line is the brand’s flagship, and the RTX 3080 Ti XTREME is one of the best RTX 3080 Ti card models you’ll come across. In terms of the design, it’s an all-black card with gold accents on the fans which do look premium, but there’s another highlight design feature – the display on the side. It’s a small LCD panel that you can put pretty much anything you like on, thanks to the brand’s RGB Fusion 2.0 software. You can use it to display a GIF or picture, or monitor temperatures and clock speeds.
Performance-wise, the AORUS XTREME is a great choice. The clock speed boost when compared to the reference cards does give it a bit of a performance boost, making this the perfect choice for high-framerate gaming. Gigabyte paid a lot of attention to cooling, with a combination of a vapor chamber, angular fins for directing airflow, and alternate spinning fans for reduced turbulence and better air pressure. The result is a remarkably cool GPU, even when pushed hard.
When you factor in everything we just said and add to that a price that’s below most of the competitors’ prices, the AORUS XTREME is a great choice for an RTX 3080 Ti AIB card, even though it’s still expensive.
6. ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Ti OC Edition
Verdict
Even though the TUF Gaming by ASUS looks rather subtle and comes with a very durable build, the lowered clock speeds and not-lowered-enough price make it a good choice only for a limited few. With an across-the-board average of 10fps less than competitor cards at 1440p, this card fails to impress.
Specifications
Stream Processors: 10,240 | Base/Boost Clock: TBD /1695 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock: 19Gbps | TDP: 350 watts | Power Connector: 2x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | Dimensions: 11.81 x 5 inches, 2.7 slotsBenefits
- Only uses two 8-pin power connectors
- Durable build with a metal backplate
- Reasonable temperatures even under load
Drawbacks
- Clocked much lower than the competition
- Very overpriced
The TUF Gaming cards by ASUS have always focused on durability and industrial design, and the RTX 3080 Ti is no different. With a black and silver design and white accents, it looks neat, but it’s nothing to write home about. There are a couple of RGB lights you can configure, but that’s about it – nothing special. We do like the military-grade certification, which indicates this is a durable GPU that won’t sag, but the design isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
And performance-wise, it only gets worse. This is the lowest clocked GPU we’re talking about, and it’s almost as if ASUS wants you to avoid this one and go for their more expensive options. And that’s interesting, to say the least, because the TUF Gaming RTX 3080 Ti AIB card is more expensive than most of the competition. Yes, it’s not bad for gaming, but firing up Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1440p gives us about 10fps less at 1440p, on average, than competitors like the ROG Strix LC.
At the end of the day, the only people who will find value in the TUF Gaming RTX 3080 Ti are the ones that love the design and don’t care about performance that much.
7. Gigabyte Vision GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
Verdict
White is the name of the game with the Vision, and Gigabyte has done a beautiful job with this GPU. Performance and clock speeds, however, could’ve been better, and we didn’t love the fan noise.
Specifications
Stream Processors: 10,240 | Base/Boost Clock: TBD /1710 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock: 19Gbps | TDP: 350 watts | Power Connector: 2x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | Dimensions: 12.60 x 4.96 inches, 2.7 slotsBenefits
- Beautiful all-white design
- Windforce 3X design keeps the GPU cool
Drawbacks
- Focus is more on looks than performance
- Not exactly the quietest cooling solution under load
- Still overpriced, but less expensive than the competition
There are beautiful GPUs, and there’s Gigabyte’s Vision series, which is way above anything else on the market nowadays in terms of a clean design. The all-white build looks stunning in every aspect, from the metal backplate with a design we haven’t seen anywhere else, to the white fans and the RGB strip on the side. Of course, design is personal preference, but if it was objective, we wouldn’t hesitate to rank this a solid 10/10 in that regard.
Unfortunately, Gigabyte focused a tad too much on the design and neglected the performance a bit, which is why the Vision isn’t the best RTX 3080 Ti card for high framerate gaming. The maximum boost clock sits at 1710 MHz, which is much lower than the competition and does result in a bit of a performance hit. The Windforce 3X design is tried and tested, though, and paired with the lower boost clocks, it has no problem keeping the Vision cool and quiet.
When you take everything into consideration, the Vision isn’t the best RTX 3080 Ti card for gaming. Instead, it’s a solid choice if the design is your prime concern, and you’re willing to sacrifice a few frames for it. We do like the price, though, which is much lower than other cards that offer similar performance with an arguably worse design.
8. Zotac AMP Holo RTX 3080 Ti
Verdict
Even though the AMP Holo does look rather nice, from a performance standpoint Zotac could’ve done a lot better. The clock speeds are too low, and the price is higher than it should be, making this a not-so-great choice.
Specifications
Stream Processors: 10,240 | Base/Boost Clock: TBD /1710 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock: 19Gbps | TDP: 350 watts | Power Connector: 2x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | Dimensions: 12.5 x 5.2 inches, 3 slotsBenefits
- Beautiful design with RGB on the backplate
- Triple-fan cooling solution is rather quiet
Drawbacks
- The maximum boost clock could’ve been better
- Large, 3-slot size
- Overpriced
Zotac’s AIB card known as the AMP Holo is an interesting choice. The design is tame if you keep the RGB off, but turning it on adds an interesting touch and you can customize the looks as much as you like to. The all-grey design is made to fit any build design language, and the only downside is the overall size of the card itself.
But when it comes to performance, the AMP Holo is objectively worse than almost all other AIB cards you’ll come across. The boost clock is low, so the resulting framerates are okay-ish but nothing special. It only reaches an average of 158fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1440p, and about 91fps at 4K, which is less than impressive. Depending on the titles you play, these numbers may vary. The GPU does remain cool and the triple-fan design is rather quiet, but that’s more or less everything the AMP Holo has going for it. Oh, that, and the fact that it only requires two 8-pin connectors rather than three for power.
In reality, the AMP Holo is not a good choice. Design is only okay, performance is mediocre, and the price is higher than it should be for this kind of performance.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, the RTX 3080 Ti is a great way to get close to RTX 3090 performance without spending that much money. All of the RTX 3080 Ti AIB cards performed admirably, with some focusing more on performance, while others went for design as their priority.
Unfortunately, all cards are still incredibly overpriced (some more than others), but if you’re in the market for a powerful Nvidia GPU that’s great for both high refresh rate 1440p, and 4K gaming, the RTX 3080 Ti is a great choice, and you can find a model that suits you best in the list above.
