Gigabyte RTX 3090 and RTX 3080 Gaming Strip Down

Introduction

This article accompanies a video which goes into a little more detail, or at least shows these cards off in a manner which isn’t dry pictures and text. However, we know that some people like to peruse things in more detail, so this isn’t a standalone but will still cover the main points.

If you read our reviews of the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Gaming and RTX 3090 Gaming you’ll be aware that on the outside the cards were basically identical, with only the inclusion of what we’d refer to as SLI fingers being the only outward detail that separates the two. We know that beneath the hood there are differences in the amount of GDDR6X, with 10GB on the RTX 3080 and 24GB on the RTX 3090, but is there anything else that sets them apart, and is there anything that sets the Gigabyte apart from the reference Nvidia design?

We know that reference designs aren’t really of much interest to anyone, but if you’re looking to upgrade your air-cooled card to an EK Waterblock – other manufacturers are available – then knowing if it will fit is vital. For everyone else you just get a chance to be glad it’s not you soldering all this on to the PCB. Let’s start with the shots of the two cards side by side, with the cooler on the third page and then a side by side naked comparison on the fourth page. Don’t worry, just the cards are undressed, we won’t be.

Video

For those of you who want Tom’s dulcet tones accompanying your pictures, click the embedded video below. Everyone else, on to the next page and play a game of spot the difference.