RTX 3080 Ti vs RTX 5090 for Blender
Compare RTX 3080 Ti and RTX 5090 for Blender Cycles. See benchmark performance, VRAM, power ratings and checked prices side by side. RTX 5090 leads the Blender benchmark score by 231.7%.
Fastest in Cycles
RTX 5090
232% faster than RTX 3080 Ti
Most VRAM
RTX 5090
167% more VRAM than RTX 3080 Ti
Lowest power draw
RTX 3080 Ti
39% lower rating than RTX 5090
Cheapest
RTX 3080 Ti
86% cheaper than RTX 5090
Best value for money
RTX 3080 Ti
115% better value than RTX 5090
GPU comparison
Key specifications for Blender rendering.
| Spec | RTX 3080 Ti | RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | $909.99 Checked Oct 9, 2026 | $6,499.99 Checked Oct 9, 2026 |
| Value for money | 5.32 +115% | 2.47 |
| Blender benchmark score | 4,843.03 | 16,065.83 +232% |
| VRAM | 12 GB Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM | 32 GB More capacity for heavy scenes+167% |
| System PSU | 750 W Manufacturer requirement−25% | 1000 W Manufacturer requirement |
| Performance | ||
| CUDA cores | 10,240 | 21,760 +113% |
| Boost clock | 1665 MHz | 2407 MHz +45% |
| RT cores | 80 | 170 +113% |
| Tensor cores | 320 | 680 +113% |
| Memory | ||
| Memory bandwidth | 912.4 GB/s | 1,790 GB/s +96% |
| Memory type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| Memory bus | 384-bit | 512-bit +33% |
| Platform | ||
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell 2.0 |
| Render support | OptiX, CUDA | OptiX, CUDA |
| TDP | 350 W −39% | 575 W |
| Release year | 2021 | 2025 |
Blender Cycles benchmarks
Estimated seconds / frame Lower is faster
RTX 3080 Ti
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 39 runs
RTX 5090
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 137 runs
Junkshop
Monster
Classroom
Which GPU should you choose for Blender?
RTX 5090 is the stronger Blender rendering pick here based on benchmark score.
Cycles rendering performance
RTX 5090 leads by 231.7% in the Renderjuice Blender benchmark model (16,066 vs 4,843). For render-time-first decisions, that is the card to prioritize.
VRAM and scene capacity
RTX 5090 has more scene headroom with 32 GB of VRAM versus 12 GB on RTX 3080 Ti. That matters most for large environments, dense geometry, high-resolution textures, and less optimized production files.
Power ratings and cooling
RTX 3080 Ti is the lower-power option at 350 W TDP, compared with 575 W for RTX 5090. If render speed is close, that can make RTX 3080 Ti easier to cool and run quietly.
Is the upgrade worthwhile?
RTX 5090 is both the newer and faster Blender rendering choice here. The main reason to choose RTX 3080 Ti would be price, availability, existing ownership, or a specific workstation requirement.
Comparison summary
RTX 5090 leads the Blender benchmark score by 231.7%.
Fastest in Cycles: RTX 5090 232% faster than RTX 3080 Ti.
Most VRAM: RTX 5090 167% more VRAM than RTX 3080 Ti.
Lowest power draw: RTX 3080 Ti 39% lower rating than RTX 5090.
Cheapest: RTX 3080 Ti 86% cheaper than RTX 5090.
Best value for money: RTX 3080 Ti 115% better value than RTX 5090.
RTX 3080 Ti has 12 GB of VRAM, while RTX 5090 has 32 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.