Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Five graphics cards that suit a Ryzen 7 9800X3D or 7800X3D gaming build, from the RX 9070 to the RTX 5080, compared on memory, size and power.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D and 7800X3D are among the fastest gaming CPUs, so pairing one with a weak graphics card wastes much of their advantage. These five cards match that class of CPU at 1440p and 4K.
The pairings reflect our research into maker specifications and listings, not tests on our own 9800X3D system. Plan your power supply for the CPU and GPU together.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best Match for the 9800X3D
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 EVO 16GB OCAn RTX 5080 in a 2.5-slot, SFF-Ready card.
Best for: High-refresh 1440p and 4K gaming.
Check price for ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 EVO 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best AMD Pairing
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Challenger 16GB OCAn RX 9070 XT with 64 compute units and 16GB of GDDR6.
Best for: An all-AMD gaming build.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Cooled RTX 5080
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5080 16GB OCA 3.6-slot TUF cooler with a 850W PSU.
Best for: Large cases and quiet high-end builds.
Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5080 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best RTX 5070 Pairing
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OCA ROG Strix cooler with a vapor chamber and 3.2-slot heatsink.
Best for: 1440p high-refresh builds.
Check price for ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Value Pairing
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G16GB of GDDR6 on the RX 9070 at the lowest price here.
Best for: Keeping the budget for the CPU and platform.
Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Match for the 9800X3D1 of 5
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 EVO 16GB OC
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO is fast enough that a 9800X3D and the GPU both stay busy at 1440p and above.
Best for
- High-refresh 1440p and 4K gaming.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Its 2.5-slot, SFF-Ready size fits most mid-towers without trouble. It matches the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger, the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC on video memory (16GB). On cooler thickness it leads this guide at 2.5-slot, ahead of the ROG Strix RTX 5070 (3.2-slot).
It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 and ROG Strix RTX 5070; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC goes with GDDR6 memory. It shares a 2685MHz (OC mode) boost clock with the ROG Strix RTX 5070; the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 goes with a 2730MHz (OC mode) boost clock. It also comes with a MaxContact heat spreader with 5% more contact area, a quiet/performance dual BIOS and 0dB fan stop. Its price falls between the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and the ASUS TUF RTX 5080, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5080
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 2685MHz (OC mode)
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- MaxContact heat spreader with 5% more contact area
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC at the time of writing
Best AMD Pairing2 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Challenger 16GB OC
ASRock's RX 9070 XT Challenger gives an all-AMD build 16GB of memory on a 256-bit bus and a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Best for
- An all-AMD gaming build.
Skip if
- Pass if a published cooler thickness matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
Three DisplayPort 2.1a outputs suit high-refresh monitors. It uses the RDNA 4 architecture with 64 compute units and boosts up to 2970MHz on a 256-bit memory bus. The triple-fan cooler stops its fans at idle for silent desktop use.
On video memory it ties with the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO, the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC at 16GB. An RX 9070 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 uses an RTX 5080 gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2970MHz boost clock; compare the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO, which has a 2685MHz (OC mode) boost clock.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. It was priced above the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and below the ROG Strix RTX 5070 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 2970MHz
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1a, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 64 compute units
- 256-bit memory bus
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO comes in at 2.5-slot.
Best Cooled RTX 50803 of 5
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5080 16GB OC
The ASUS TUF RTX 5080 uses the same chip as the Prime EVO but a much larger 3.6-slot cooler, and it has an 850W PSU and a 16-pin plug.
Best for
- Large cases and quiet high-end builds.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: a 348mm length needs a roomy case.
Why we like it
Pick it when your case has the room. On video memory it ties with the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO, the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC at 16GB. Like the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO and ROG Strix RTX 5070, it has GDDR7 memory, while the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger uses GDDR6 memory.
No other pick in this guide offers a 2730MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO, which has a 2685MHz (OC mode) boost clock. It also comes with military-grade components, a protective PCB coating and a phase-change GPU thermal pad. Power for the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 comes through 16-pin 12V-2x6, with 850W the maker's minimum PSU. Only the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5080
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Length
- 348mm
- Thickness
- 3.6-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 850W
- Power connector
- 16-pin 12V-2x6
- Boost clock
- 2730MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Military-grade components
- Protective PCB coating
Cons
- A 348mm length needs a roomy case
- Its 3.6-slot cooler covers the slots below
- Calls for a 850W or larger PSU
The catch
It gives ground on cooler thickness, where the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO comes in at 2.5-slot.
Best RTX 5070 Pairing4 of 5
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OC
The ROG Strix RTX 5070 is a premium take on the RTX 5070, with a vapor chamber, digital power control and ARGB lighting.
Best for
- 1440p high-refresh builds.
Skip if
- Pass on it if its 3.2-slot cooler covers the slots below rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It suits a 9800X3D build aimed at 1440p rather than 4K. On video memory it trails the group at 12GB, while the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO offers 16GB. Its 3.2-slot cooler thickness ranks second of 3 here, behind the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO (2.5-slot) and ahead of the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 (3.6-slot).
You get an RTX 5070 gpu here, which sets it apart from the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and its an RX 9070 gpu. Like the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO and ASUS TUF RTX 5080, it has GDDR7 memory, while the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger uses GDDR6 memory. Like the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO, it has a 2685MHz (OC mode) boost clock, while the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger uses a 2970MHz boost clock. You also get a protective PCB coating.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5070
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 3.2-slot
- Boost clock
- 2685MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Vapor chamber with MaxContact
- Digital power control with 15K capacitors
Cons
- Its 3.2-slot cooler covers the slots below
- Video memory trails the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO (16GB)
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC at the time of writing
The catch
Video memory is its weakest area, and the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO covers it better at 16GB.
Best Value Pairing5 of 5
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G
Gigabyte's RX 9070 Gaming OC is the lowest-cost card here, with 16GB of GDDR6 and a WINDFORCE cooler.
Best for
- Keeping the budget for the CPU and platform.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its cooler thickness before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
It leaves more of the budget for the CPU, board and memory. On video memory it ties with the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO, the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger and the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 at 16GB. You get an RX 9070 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and its an RTX 5070 gpu.
It also offers server-grade thermal conductive gel and RGB lighting. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC with the maker. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger was closest.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans
- Server-grade thermal conductive gel
- RGB lighting
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
The catch
If you want a confirmed cooler thickness, look to the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO instead: it comes in at 2.5-slot, while this one gives no figure.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and cooler thickness and boost clock are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO to the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC give no cooler thickness; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC gives no boost clock.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC ($500 to $1000) to the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 (over $1500).
What to Look for in a GPUs for 9800X3D
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Here video memory runs from 12GB on the ROG Strix RTX 5070 to 16GB on the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO, a 33% spread. The ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger comes second at 16GB, in the $500 to $1000 tier against over $1500 for the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO.
Cooler thickness across these picks
Across these 3 picks cooler thickness spans 3.6-slot (the ASUS TUF RTX 5080) to 2.5-slot (the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO). For less, the ROG Strix RTX 5070 is the runner-up at 3.2-slot ($1000 to $1500 tier). The ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die Memory
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO, the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 and the ROG Strix RTX 5070 list GDDR7; the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC list GDDR6. Settling memory first narrows 5 picks to 3 or 2.
Boost clock
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO and the ROG Strix RTX 5070 list 2685MHz (OC mode); the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger lists 2970MHz; the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 lists 2730MHz (OC mode).
What to check at home
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 348mm and 3.6 slots before ordering the ASUS TUF RTX 5080.
How to Choose a GPUs for 9800X3D
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High-refresh 1440p and 4K gaming | ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO | An RTX 5080 in a 2.5-slot, SFF-Ready card |
| An all-AMD gaming build | ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger | An RX 9070 XT with 64 compute units and 16GB of GDDR6 |
| Large cases and quiet high-end builds | ASUS TUF RTX 5080 | A 3.6-slot TUF cooler with a 850W PSU |
| 1440p high-refresh builds | ROG Strix RTX 5070 | A ROG Strix cooler with a vapor chamber and 3.2-slot heatsink |
| Keeping the budget for the CPU and platform | Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | 16GB of GDDR6 on the RX 9070 at the lowest price here |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO | RTX 5080 | 16GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
| ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger | RX 9070 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS TUF RTX 5080 | RTX 5080 | 16GB | GDDR7 | 3.6-slot |
| ROG Strix RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | 3.2-slot |
| Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC was the lowest-priced pick ($500 to $1000) and the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 the highest (over $1500) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $500 to $1000 | Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger |
| About $1000 to $1500 | ROG Strix RTX 5070 |
| Over $1500 | ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO, ASUS TUF RTX 5080 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ROG Strix RTX 5070 compare with the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO on cooler thickness?
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO comes out best at 2.5-slot, with the ROG Strix RTX 5070 at 3.2-slot. The ASUS TUF RTX 5080 closes the ranking at 3.6-slot. The ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC don't state a cooler thickness figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
Why is the ROG Strix RTX 5070 our Best RTX 5070 Pairing pick?
The label rests on a ROG Strix cooler with a vapor chamber and 3.2-slot heatsink. The price of that: the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, the cheapest pick, still beats it on video memory (16GB against 12GB). It makes sense for 1440p high-refresh builds.
Do the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO and the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger differ on GPU?
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO and the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 use RTX 5080; the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger uses RX 9070 XT; the ROG Strix RTX 5070 uses RTX 5070; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC uses RX 9070.
Will the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO work with my setup?
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO with the maker. In this guide it ranks first of 5, as our Best Match for the 9800X3D pick, and first of 5 on video memory (16GB).
What extras do the ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO and the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger include?
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO: a MaxContact heat spreader with 5% more contact area. The ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger: 64 compute units. The ASUS TUF RTX 5080: military-grade components.
Bottom Line
The ASUS Prime RTX 5080 EVO is the best all-round partner for a 9800X3D, the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger suits an all-AMD build, and the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 is the larger, better-cooled version.
The ROG Strix RTX 5070 targets 1440p, and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC keeps the total cost down.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and 7800X3D
- Related guideThe Best RAM for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- Related guideThe Best AMD CPUs for Gaming
- Related guideThe Best 850W Power Supplies for a Single-GPU Gaming PC
- Lower budgetThe Best GPUs Between $280 and $400
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power suppliesHow Much PSU Wattage Does Your PC Need?
- Similar guideThe Best GPUs for the Ryzen 7 9700X
- Topic hubAll graphics cards guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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