GeForce RTX 3080 cards with 20GB of VRAM are being sold in second-hand markets

The current memory crisis is such that NVIDIA has officially brought back the now-aging GeForce RTX 3060 12GB graphics card, with new models selling at prices notably higher than its launch-day $329 MSRP. And with recent widespread and substantial price increases hitting NVIDIA's current GeForce RTX 50 Series lineup, we're not surprised to see GeForce RTX 3080 cards hit the second-hand market and be sold at higher-than-expected prices.

2

That said, like the recent return of the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, which saw modders double the Turing generation's flagship memory to 22GB of VRAM, the same is now happening for the GeForce RTX 3080. As VideoCardz spotted, China's second-hand GPU market is now full of GeForce RTX 3080 graphics cards with 20GB of GDDR6X memory.

This is double the 10GB of memory of the stock version, making it a more viable 1440p PC gaming option. These GeForce RTX 3080 20GB cards seemingly cover a wide range of makes and models, from large triple-fan models to cards with a more old-school blower-style cooling solution. The prices vary, but it looks like they're being sold for around $445 USD.

Now, this might seem like a lot, but it's on par with new GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and RTX 5060 8GB graphics cards. The GeForce RTX 3080 performs roughly on par with the GeForce RTX 4070 12GB and GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB cards; at $445, it's an affordable alternative for PC gamers looking for a solid 1440p performer.

Frequently Asked Questions

TweakBot answers common questions about this news using TweakTown's own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. All answers are generated from TweakTown content and not outside sources. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below related to this content.

Question #1

What exactly did modders change to turn a 10GB RTX 3080 into a 20GB model?

Modders doubled the card's GDDR6X memory capacity, turning the stock 10GB RTX 3080 into a 20GB model. The article does not provide technical details about how the memory was changed.

Answered

Question #2

Which RTX 3080 board partners and cooler types are appearing in the 20GB modded listings?

The article reports the modded GeForce RTX 3080 20GB listings cover a wide range of makes and models but does not name specific board partners. Cooler types mentioned include large triple-fan designs and old-school blower-style cooling solutions.

Answered

Question #3

How does the gaming performance of a modded RTX 3080 20GB compare to an RTX 4070 12GB or RTX 5060 Ti 16GB?

The article says the modded GeForce RTX 3080 20GB performs roughly on par with the GeForce RTX 4070 12GB and the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. It is presented as a viable 1440p performer sold around $445 USD, but it is relatively power-hungry at 320W and likely comes without warranty. The Ampere RTX 30 Series 3080 also lacks DLSS Frame Generation or Multi Frame Generation features found on the RTX 40 and RTX 50 Series.

Answered

Question #4

What warranty and reliability risks are associated with buying a second-hand modded RTX 3080 20GB?

Click to reveal answer

Have a question about this content not listed here? Ask below and TweakBot will answer it.

Your questionAsk

Answering your question×

TweakBot is analyzing your question…

Could not get an answer

TweakBot is generating an answer

Read More

Was TweakBot helpful?Thanks for the feedback!

Granted, the GeForce RTX 3080 20GB is relatively power-hungry, drawing 320W, and there's the added risk of no warranty when you pick up a second-hand, modded card. Plus, unlike the RTX 40 and RTX 50 Series, the Ampere-powered RTX 30 Series doesn't have access to DLSS's Frame Generation or Multi Frame Generation technologies. Still, at a time when the GeForce RTX 5070 has hit as high as $900 USD, the modded GeForce RTX 3080 20GB starts to make a lot of sense.