When Nvidia launched the RTX 3070 in September 2020, it quickly became a favorite for gamers seeking high performance at a more affordable price. The $500 price tag was tempting, offering impressive performance for the latest games. Just a few months later, AMD released its RX 6800, which featured a whopping 16GB of VRAM and came with a $650 price tag. However, for the next couple of years, neither card was widely available at their MSRP due to the global chip shortage. By late 2022, as the market normalized and prices dropped to a more reasonable range of $500 to $600, consumers were faced with the dilemma of choosing between Nvidia’s RTX 3070 and AMD’s RX 6800.
The primary difference between these two cards lies in their memory configuration—8GB for the RTX 3070 and 16GB for the RX 6800. This has sparked an ongoing debate on whether the extra VRAM offered by AMD would make a significant difference as games continue to push the limits of graphics processing.
The VRAM Advantage
One of the main reasons gamers consider the RX 6800 is the substantial VRAM advantage. As new games become more demanding, particularly with the rise of ray tracing and high-resolution textures, VRAM is playing an increasingly critical role. While the RTX 3070 still offers great performance, it often struggles in modern titles that require large amounts of video memory. The 8GB of VRAM on the RTX 3070 limits its ability to handle these newer, more intensive games without noticeable performance hits, such as stuttering or frame drops.
In contrast, the RX 6800 with 16GB of VRAM generally handles these scenarios with ease. Even though raw GPU power plays a role, the extra memory often makes the difference when dealing with large textures and high-quality settings, especially at higher resolutions like 4K.
Game Performance: RTX 3070 vs RX 6800
Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
Cyberpunk 2077, one of the most demanding games of recent years, remains a prime example of how VRAM can impact performance. With the RTX 3070, players can run the game smoothly at 1440p with high settings, but enabling ray tracing significantly reduces performance. On the other hand, the RX 6800, despite being slightly ahead in terms of rasterization performance, handles the task with relative ease and delivers a smoother experience even at higher settings.
Horizon Zero Dawn (2020)
Released just before the cards hit the market, Horizon Zero Dawn pushed the limits of GPU power. At 4K Ultra settings, the RTX 3070 managed an average of 66 FPS, though occasional stuttering occurred. Meanwhile, the RX 6800 had a similar experience but ran a bit smoother, handling the stuttering better with a marginal FPS increase.
Far Cry 6 (2021)
Far Cry 6 is another game that made the 8GB of VRAM on the RTX 3070 feel insufficient, particularly when played at 4K. At 1440p, the RTX 3070 still managed a solid 90 FPS with ray tracing enabled, but it fell behind the RX 6800, which consistently delivered superior performance at both 1440p and 4K. The 16GB of VRAM on the RX 6800 allowed for smoother gameplay and higher resolutions, offering a tenfold increase in performance at 4K.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2022)
Spider-Man’s PC debut was another game that tested the limits of the 8GB cards. The RTX 3070 was able to hit 67 FPS at 1440p with ray tracing enabled, but the RX 6800 outperformed it by a significant margin. AMD’s card delivered around 18% higher average FPS and was also less prone to micro stuttering, thanks to its extra VRAM.
Returnal (2023)
Returnal’s PC release in 2023 presented a different challenge. While the RTX 3070 still performed decently at 1440p without ray tracing, the RX 6800 took a small lead with its superior VRAM buffer. However, when ray tracing was enabled, the 3070 had a slight advantage due to its better ray tracing performance. At 4K, both cards struggled, but the RX 6800’s extra memory provided a marginal improvement.
Hogwarts Legacy (2023)
Hogwarts Legacy, another heavy-hitting title, was a tough challenge for the RTX 3070 at 4K. At 1440p, however, both cards performed better, with the RX 6800 outpacing the 3070 by around 26% in average FPS. The extra VRAM allowed the RX 6800 to handle the game’s demanding textures with better consistency.
The Last of Us Part One (2023)
In 2023, The Last of Us Part One showcased the limits of 8GB VRAM in games. At 1440p, the RTX 3070 struggled to maintain 60 FPS even on medium settings, with frame drops and micro stuttering. The RX 6800, however, achieved much higher performance with a 30-40% advantage at medium settings and a 60% lead at high settings. The additional VRAM proved to be a crucial factor in handling the demanding texture assets.
God of War Ragnarok (2024)
Finally, God of War Ragnarok at 4K medium settings showed both cards performing similarly, but the RX 6800 delivered more consistent performance, especially at higher settings, thanks to its 16GB of VRAM. While both cards were capable of running the game smoothly, the RX 6800 maintained better frame time consistency, offering a smoother overall experience.
Conclusion: Which GPU Should You Choose?
As we can see from the performance benchmarks, the RX 6800 consistently outperforms the RTX 3070 in terms of VRAM usage, especially in more demanding titles and higher resolutions. The extra 8GB of VRAM makes a significant difference in modern games, providing smoother gameplay, better texture rendering, and more stability when pushing the system to its limits.
However, the RTX 3070 still holds its ground, especially in games that do not rely heavily on VRAM or in titles where ray tracing is a priority. Nvidia’s card performs well in many scenarios, but its 8GB VRAM may hinder its longevity as newer, more demanding games are released.
For gamers looking to future-proof their setup, the RX 6800 is likely the better choice, especially if you plan on playing at 4K or high-resolution settings with demanding textures. The added VRAM offers a level of flexibility and stability that the RTX 3070 cannot match.
That said, if you’re on a budget and can find the RTX 3070 at a better price, it remains a solid option for 1440p gaming with excellent ray tracing performance. For those hunting for deals in the used market, the RX 6800 typically sells for $300 to $350, while the RTX 3070 hovers around $270, making the 3070 an attractive option for gamers who don’t mind lowering some settings.
Ultimately, both cards have their merits, but for future-proofing and handling the most demanding titles, the RX 6800 with 16GB of VRAM stands out as the more well-rounded choice.
