RTX 3090 vs RTX 5080 for Blender
Compare RTX 3090 and RTX 5080 for Blender Cycles. See benchmark performance, VRAM, power ratings and checked prices side by side. RTX 5080 leads the Blender benchmark score by 79.7%.
Fastest in Cycles
RTX 5080
80% faster than RTX 3090
Most VRAM
RTX 3090
50% more VRAM than RTX 5080
Lowest power draw
RTX 3090
3% lower rating than RTX 5080
Cheapest
RTX 5080
9% cheaper than RTX 3090
Best value for money
RTX 5080
97% better value than RTX 3090
GPU comparison
Key specifications for Blender rendering.
| Spec | RTX 3090 | RTX 5080 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | $1,975.00 Checked Oct 19, 2026 | $1,799.99 Checked Oct 14, 2026 |
| Value for money | 2.57 | 5.07 +97% |
| Blender benchmark score | 5,082.71 | 9,134.16 +80% |
| VRAM | 24 GB More capacity for heavy scenes+50% | 16 GB More headroom for complex scenes |
| System PSU | 750 W Manufacturer requirement−12% | 850 W Manufacturer requirement |
| Performance | ||
| CUDA cores | 10,496 | 10,752 +2% |
| Boost clock | 1.70 GHz | 2617 MHz +54% |
| RT cores | 82 | 84 +2% |
| Tensor cores | 328 | 336 +2% |
| Memory | ||
| Memory bandwidth | 936.2 GB/s | 960 GB/s +3% |
| Memory type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| Memory bus | 384-bit +50% | 256-bit |
| Memory speed | 19.5 Gbps | N/A |
| Platform | ||
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell 2.0 |
| Render support | OptiX, CUDA | OptiX, CUDA |
| TDP | 350 W −3% | 360 W |
| Release year | 2020 | 2025 |
Blender Cycles benchmarks
Estimated seconds / frame Lower is faster
RTX 3090
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 91 runs
RTX 5080
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 337 runs
Junkshop
Monster
Classroom
Which GPU should you choose for Blender?
RTX 5080 is faster for Blender rendering, but RTX 3090 has more VRAM. That makes this a speed-versus-scene-headroom decision.
Cycles rendering performance
RTX 5080 leads by 79.7% in the Renderjuice Blender benchmark model (9,134 vs 5,083). For render-time-first decisions, that is the card to prioritize.
VRAM and scene capacity
RTX 3090 has more scene headroom with 24 GB of VRAM versus 16 GB on RTX 5080. That matters most for large environments, dense geometry, high-resolution textures, and less optimized production files.
Power ratings and cooling
RTX 3090 is the lower-power option at 350 W TDP, compared with 360 W for RTX 5080. If render speed is close, that can make RTX 3090 easier to cool and run quietly.
Is the upgrade worthwhile?
RTX 5080 is both the newer and faster Blender rendering choice here. The main reason to choose RTX 3090 would be price, availability, existing ownership, or a specific workstation requirement.
Comparison summary
RTX 5080 leads the Blender benchmark score by 79.7%.
Fastest in Cycles: RTX 5080 80% faster than RTX 3090.
Most VRAM: RTX 3090 50% more VRAM than RTX 5080.
Lowest power draw: RTX 3090 3% lower rating than RTX 5080.
Cheapest: RTX 5080 9% cheaper than RTX 3090.
Best value for money: RTX 5080 97% better value than RTX 3090.
RTX 3090 has 24 GB of VRAM, while RTX 5080 has 16 GB, which matters when scenes, textures, or geometry get heavier.
If you are deciding between these cards for Blender, focus first on Blender benchmark score, VRAM capacity, memory bandwidth, and whether your scenes are likely to benefit more from raw speed or extra memory headroom. The comparison table above keeps those tradeoffs in one place.