RTX 3050 vs RTX 5080 for Blender
Compare RTX 3050 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 710.1%.
Fastest in Cycles
RTX 5080
710% faster than RTX 3050
Most VRAM
RTX 5080
100% more VRAM than RTX 3050
Lowest power draw
RTX 3050
64% lower rating than RTX 5080
Cheapest
RTX 3050
86% cheaper than RTX 5080
Best value for money
RTX 5080
14% better value than RTX 3050
GPU comparison
Key specifications for Blender rendering.
| Spec | RTX 3050 | RTX 5080 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | $229.99 Checked Oct 9, 2026 | $1,639.99 Checked Oct 9, 2026 |
| Value for money | 4.90 | 5.57 +14% |
| Blender benchmark score | 1,126.85 | 9,128.28 +710% |
| VRAM | 8 GB Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM | 16 GB More headroom for complex scenes+100% |
| System PSU | N/A | 850 W Manufacturer requirement |
| Performance | ||
| CUDA cores | 2,304 | 10,752 +367% |
| Boost clock | 1755 MHz | 2617 MHz +49% |
| RT cores | 18 | 84 +367% |
| Tensor cores | 72 | 336 +367% |
| Memory | ||
| Memory bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 960 GB/s +329% |
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR7 |
| Memory bus | 128-bit | 256-bit +100% |
| Platform | ||
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell 2.0 |
| Render support | OptiX, CUDA | OptiX, CUDA |
| TDP | 130 W −64% | 360 W |
| Release year | 2022 | 2025 |
Blender Cycles benchmarks
Estimated seconds / frame Lower is faster
RTX 3050
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 22 runs
RTX 5080
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 311 runs
Junkshop
Monster
Classroom
Which GPU should you choose for Blender?
RTX 5080 is the stronger Blender rendering pick here based on benchmark score.
Cycles rendering performance
RTX 5080 leads by 710.1% in the Renderjuice Blender benchmark model (9,128 vs 1,127). For render-time-first decisions, that is the card to prioritize.
VRAM and scene capacity
RTX 5080 has more scene headroom with 16 GB of VRAM versus 8 GB on RTX 3050. That matters most for large environments, dense geometry, high-resolution textures, and less optimized production files.
Power ratings and cooling
RTX 3050 is the lower-power option at 130 W TDP, compared with 360 W for RTX 5080. If render speed is close, that can make RTX 3050 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 3050 would be price, availability, existing ownership, or a specific workstation requirement.
Comparison summary
RTX 5080 leads the Blender benchmark score by 710.1%.
Fastest in Cycles: RTX 5080 710% faster than RTX 3050.
Most VRAM: RTX 5080 100% more VRAM than RTX 3050.
Lowest power draw: RTX 3050 64% lower rating than RTX 5080.
Cheapest: RTX 3050 86% cheaper than RTX 5080.
Best value for money: RTX 5080 14% better value than RTX 3050.
RTX 3050 has 8 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.