RTX 4000 vs RTX 3000: Which Graphics Card Should You Buy?

03/10/2023 | Johnathon Reyes

If you are a gamer or a graphics enthusiast, you have probably heard of RTX. But what exactly is RTX and why does it matter? RTX stands for Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme¹ and is a proprietary technology made by Nvidia to harness the power of ray tracing in computer 3D graphics ². Ray tracing is a technique that simulates how light behaves in the real world, creating realistic shadows, reflections, refractions and global illumination. RTX cards are specially designed to support real-time ray tracing, which makes the video look more beautiful and immersive ¹. Nvidia first announced the RTX cards in 2018 using Turing architecture¹ , and has recently unveiled the new RTX 4000 series using Lovelace architecture³. In this blog, we will compare and contrast the main features and specifications of the RTX 4000 series and the RTX 3000 series, and help you decide which one is better for your gaming or graphics needs.

Difference in VRAM

One of the most important features to consider when choosing a graphics card is the amount of VRAM or video memory. VRAM is used to store textures, models, shaders and other data that are needed for rendering graphics. The more VRAM you have, the more complex and detailed graphics you can display without compromising performance or quality. The RTX 4000 series offers a range of VRAM options, from 12GB to 48GB¹. The RTX 4090 has a whopping 48GB of GDDR6X VRAM, which is twice as much as the RTX 3090 ¹. The RTX 4080 comes in two variants: one with 16GB of GDDR6X VRAM and one with 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM ¹. The RTX 3080 also has 10GB of GDDR6X VRAM ² , while the RTX 3070 and RTX 3060 Ti have 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM each ². The RTX 3060 has 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM, which is more than its higher-end counterparts ³. As you can see, the RTX 4000 series generally offers more VRAM than the RTX 3000 series, which means it can handle higher resolutions and more demanding games or applications better.

Difference in CUDA cores

Another key feature to compare between the RTX 4000 series and the RTX 3000 series is the number of CUDA cores. CUDA cores are parallel processors that are responsible for executing various tasks related to graphics rendering, such as shading, lighting, geometry and physics. The more CUDA cores you have, the faster and smoother your graphics performance will be. The RTX 4000 series boasts a significant increase in CUDA cores compared to the RTX 3000 series ¹. The RTX 4090 has an impressive 16,384 CUDA cores, which is almost double the number of the RTX 3090’s 10,496 CUDA cores ¹. The RTX 4080 with 16GB VRAM has 9,728 CUDA cores, which is slightly more than the RTX 3080’s 8,704 CUDA cores ¹. The RTX 4080 with 12GB VRAM has 7,680 CUDA cores, which is still more than the RTX 3070’s 5,888 CUDA cores ¹. The only exception is the RTX 3060 Ti, which has 4,864 CUDA cores ¹ , more than the RTX 3060’s 3,584 CUDA cores ². As you can see, the RTX 4000 series generally offers more CUDA cores than the RTX 3000 series, which means it can deliver faster and smoother graphics performance.

In conclusion, the RTX 4000 series is a major upgrade from the RTX 3000 series in terms of VRAM and CUDA cores. The RTX 4000 series offers more VRAM options, ranging from 12GB to 48GB, which can handle higher resolutions and more demanding games or applications better. The RTX 4000 series also boasts more CUDA cores, which can deliver faster and smoother graphics performance. The RTX 4000 series is ideal for gamers and graphics enthusiasts who want to experience the best of ray tracing and other advanced features. However, the RTX 4000 series also comes with a higher price tag and power consumption than the RTX 3000 series. The RTX 4000 series may not be worth it for casual users or those who are satisfied with their current graphics performance. Ultimately, the choice between the RTX 4000 series and the RTX 3000 series depends on your personal preferences, budget and needs.