Did you catch the RTX 5080 launch? NVIDIA’s latest $1000 (or $1500) GPU is here for those who have deep pockets but don’t want to splurge $2800 on the RTX 5090. It’s a great time to be wealthy!
But this post isn’t about the RTX 5080’s specs or benchmarks—we covered that last week. Instead, today’s focus is on a major shift in how we compare GPU performance:
👉 We are now using the RTX 5080 as our reference card, replacing the RTX 3080.
Why the Change?
The RTX 3080 has been our performance benchmark for years. It was a groundbreaking card in its time, offering exceptional 1440p and 4K gaming performance. But time moves on, and in 2025, it’s no longer the king.
RTX 3080 vs. RTX 5080 – A Massive Gap
- The RTX 3080 is now only 60% as powerful as the RTX 5080.
- That means the RTX 3080 performs similarly to today’s $500 GPUs.
- While still a great card, it’s no longer the gold standard for comparison.
At Logical Increments, we periodically update our reference component when a new-generation model is significantly more powerful.
- We did this recently for CPUs.
- We plan to do it for SSDs later this year.
- Now, GPUs get the same treatment—the RTX 5080 is the new baseline.
What This Means Going Forward
Updated Performance Comparisons
From now on, when you hover over any GPU in our chart, you’ll see how it compares to the RTX 5080 instead of the RTX 3080.
If you notice:
❌ A blank space where performance should be
❌ The old RTX 3080 still listed as the reference
👉 Let us know in the comments! We have nearly 1000 GPUs in our database, and we might have missed a few updates.
A Reality Check: The Weakest GPUs Are Now… 1% As Powerful?
With this massive power jump, some of the lowest-end integrated GPUs (iGPUs) are now:
⚠️ Only 1% as powerful as the RTX 5080!
⚠️ Yes, that’s not a typo!
The weakest GPUs were already struggling, but with the new benchmark in place, the gap between entry-level and high-end GPUs has never been wider.
This highlights just how much GPU technology has evolved, but also serves as a reminder that:
- Older GPUs are still viable for budget gaming.
- Not everyone needs an RTX 5080 to game comfortably.
- iGPUs are still useful—but only for light tasks.
Final Thoughts: A New Era for GPU Comparisons
The RTX 5080 is now the gold standard for GPU comparisons. The RTX 3080 served us well, but no king rules forever.
With this change, we ensure that our GPU tier lists and recommendations stay relevant in 2025 and beyond.
What do you think? Are you excited about the RTX 5080 era? Let us know in the comments!
FAQs.
âť“ Why replace the RTX 3080 as the baseline?
✔️ It’s now 5 years old and only 60% as powerful as the RTX 5080. Modern $500 GPUs match it in performance.
âť“ What if I still see the RTX 3080 as the reference?
✔️ Let us know! With nearly 1000 GPUs in our system, we may have missed updating some.
âť“ Is the RTX 5080 really twice as powerful as the RTX 3080?
✔️ Yes! Benchmarks show the RTX 5080 offers roughly 2x the performance of the RTX 3080.
âť“ Are weaker GPUs really just 1% as powerful now?
✔️ Yes, some low-end iGPUs are literally 1% as powerful as the RTX 5080. The performance gap is wider than ever.
âť“ Will you update the CPU and SSD benchmarks too?
✔️ We’ve already updated CPUs and plan to do the same for SSDs later this year.