Is RTX 3080 Worth It?
No, despite its higher price point of $714, the GeForce RTX 3080 proves disappointing when purchased new. For similarly price Radeon RX 7900 XT has 45.1% better 3DMark score compared to GeForce RTX 3080 .
In the realm of the used market, the GeForce RTX 3080 still maintains decent value for money, but Radeon RX 6800 XT has a 8.7% performance lead over the GeForce RTX 3080. Makeing it a moderate choice, neither remarkable nor disappointing.
PSU for RTX 3080
The GeForce RTX 3080 requires 320 watts to operate. However, when selecting a power supply, it's crucial to account for the power consumption of the entire system. Therefore, add together the TDP of your GPU and CPU, then multiply the sum by 2. For instance, if you pair GeForce RTX 3080 with AMD Ryzen 5 7600X , which has a TDP of 105W, you should aim for a power supply around 900 watts. This approach ensures a substantial margin, allowing your PSU to operate coolly and efficiently.
Another reason to opt for a more potent PSU than your system's exact power requirement is due to GPU transient power spikes, which occur when the GPU is under heavy load. These spikes may cause the PC to shut down if the PSU lacks sufficient overhead. For overclocking or future-proofing, you might even want to consider an even more powerful power supply, as the trend in current GPU power requirements seems to be increasing year by year.
While it may be tempting to choose cheaper brands with similar ratings and specifications on paper compared to more expensive brands, it's always advisable to select a quality product, solid resource for finding a good PSU is Cultists Network PSU Tier List.
Compromising your entire system to save a few dollars is not worth the risk. A faulty PSU can damage your entire system, and in the worst-case scenario, it can even cause a fire hazard.
