With the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super replacing the original RTX 4080, it seems only reasonable to compare it against one of its main competitors — the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT. This article will delve into specs, performance, and price to see who comes out on top in the battle between the RTX 4080 Super vs RX 7900 XT.
Now that we have tested both cards in our RTX 4080 Super review and RX 7900 XT review, we can let you know how these two cards stack up against each other in real-world performance and which one will be more suitable for your build. So, without any further ado, let’s dive in!
Team Green or Team Red?
The choice isn’t clear-cut. The RTX 4080 Super likely offers faster pure performance, especially with ray tracing and DLSS 3 giving it an edge in supported games. However, the RX 7900 XT could be the better value if your focus is on raw performance for the price. So, if you want a future proof card, then the RTX 4080 is the way to go. But if budget is an issue, then you’ll be more than fine with the RX 7900 XT.
RTX 4080 Super vs RX 7900 XT: Specs
| Specs | Nvidia RTX 4080 Super | AMD RX 7900 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Memory Size | 16 GB GDDR6X | 20 GB GDDR6 |
| Lithography | 5 nm TSMC | 5 nm TSMC |
| Memory Bus | 256 bit | 320 bit |
| Bandwidth | 716.8 GB/s | 800.0 GB/s |
| Base Clock | 2295 MHz | 2025 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2550 MHz | 2394 MHz |
| RT Cores | 80 | 84 |
| TDP | 320W | 300 W |
| Launch Price | $999 | $899 |
Specs table for the RTX 4080 Super and RX 7900 XT
At first glance, the RX 7900 XT has an edge with its larger 20GB of GDDR6 memory and higher memory bandwidth (800 GB/s). However, the RTX 4080 Super counters with superior architecture and clock speeds.
While more VRAM can be useful, Nvidia’s GDDR6X memory, despite being smaller (16GB), is faster. Also, their Ada Lovelace architecture is more efficient in using VRAM. On top of that, the RTX 4080 Super’s higher base clock (2295 MHz) and boost clock (2550 MHz) mean its core processors can cycle faster than the RX 7900 XT (2025 MHz base, 2394 MHz boost). This translates into higher potential frame rates.
Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace architecture has shown efficiency advantages over AMD’s RDNA 3 in early comparisons. This means the RTX 4080 Super is likely to get more performance out of each watt of power.
RTX 4080 Super vs RX 7900 XT: Performance
Now, coming down to the most important part; the performance. As mentioned earlier, the RX 7900 XT may have a bigger VRAM, 20 GB, but it’s only GDDR6. On the other hand, RTX 4080 Super’s 16 GB is GDDR6X, which makes it much faster. And in our testing, we found that the RTX 4080 Super was able to deliver more FPS, and this is all thanks to the GDDR6X VRAM type.
| Game | RTX 4080 Super (Approx. FPS) | RX 7900 XT (Approx. FPS) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (No Ray Tracing) | 80-90 | 70-80 | RX 7900 XT is competitive in pure rasterization |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray Tracing On) | 50-60 | 30-40 | Nvidia’s tech pulls far ahead |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 100-120 | 90-110 | RTX 4080 Super has an edge, but both are great for this game |
Now, it is important to note that during our testing, we found that neither of these cards is meant for native 4K gaming. Sure, they were able to achieve a decent number of FPS at 4K, but you’d want to go with a card like the RTX 4090 if you don’t want your PC to struggle in harsh 4K environments. You can also check out our in-depth RTX 4090 review to learn about its real-world performance.
Nvidia excels at ray tracing, a rendering technique that simulates how light interacts with objects in the real world. This creates more realistic lighting effects, such as soft shadows, reflections, and global illumination. Ray tracing can significantly enhance the visual fidelity of games, but it also comes at a performance cost. During our tests, we noted that you’ll need to keep DLSS or FSR enabled with ray tracing if you want to play the titles at 4K resolution. This will help boost the number of FPS you’re getting while letting you enjoy the visual enhancements from ray tracing.
DLSS 3 advantage
DLSS 3 is Nvidia’s latest innovation in deep learning supersampling. It uses AI to analyze frames rendered at a lower resolution and then intelligently reconstructs them into a higher-resolution image. This can result in significant performance gains without sacrificing visual quality.
In some games, DLSS 3 can even boost frame rates by 2x or more compared to traditional rendering. This is a major advantage for Nvidia cards, especially for gamers who want to play at high resolutions with maximum visual fidelity.
Here’s a breakdown of how DLSS 3 works:
- Lower Resolution Rendering: The RTX 4080 Super renders the game at a lower resolution (like 1440p) to improve performance.
- AI Analysis: Dedicated AI processors on the RTX 4080 Super analyze the lower-resolution frame, identifying objects, edges, and other important details.
- High-Quality Reconstruction: Using the information from the AI analysis and the knowledge of previous frames, the RTX 4080 Super reconstructs a high-resolution image (like 4K) that closely resembles what would be rendered natively at that resolution.
The result is a smooth, high-resolution image with minimal quality loss, all while achieving much better performance than traditional rendering. This allows gamers to crank up settings and resolutions for a more visually impressive experience without sacrificing frame rates. It’s significant to note that DLSS 3 is still a new technology, and not all games support it yet. However, Nvidia is working with developers to bring DLSS 3 to more titles.
RTX 4080 Super vs RX 7900 XT: Price
When deciding between these two powerhouse graphics cards, the price difference is a significant factor. When the RTX 4080 Super was launched, it had an MSRP of $999. On the other hand, the RX 7900 XT had a price tag of $899 at launch.
Now, according to BestValueGPU, the RTX 4080 Super is listed for $1,099 on Amazon. This is around $100 more than the launch price. However, the RX 7900 XT can be grabbed for $200 less than the original price, as it can be found for $699 on Amazon.
As you can see for yourself, there’s currently a 44% price gap between the two cards. So the main question is – should you pay the extra $400 to get the RTX 4080 Super? Or should you go ahead with the RX 7900 XT and invest the $400 in some other component? Well, it all depends on your needs. If you want something that is future-proof and delivers decent performance in 4K gaming, then you’d want to opt for the RTX 4080 Super, as it provided better frame rates in our tests. However, for 1440p gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT certainly offers better value for money, as it comes with a lower price tag and still delivers great performance. On top of that, it is more than capable of taking on heavy-duty content creation tasks, such as graphic design programs.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, thanks to our tests, you now have an idea about the real-world performance of both GPUs. Before making the purchase, we recommend that you first understand the type of user you are. If you need a GPU for demanding 4K gaming or to sort of future-proof your PC with the 16GB of GDDR6X memory, the 4080 Super is a good option. On the other hand, if your main objective is price-to-performance and gaming at 1440p and 4K while compromising the settings, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT may be the way to go on this one.
