AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
Transient-aware PSU requirements, ATX compliance, cable safety audit, and power efficiency comparison.
| Specification | AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Tier | Ultra | Ultra |
| Total Board Power (TBP) | 355W | 320W |
| Transient Peak (modeled) | 571W | 561W |
| Minimum Recommended PSU | 800W | 800W |
| PCIe Connector Required | 8pin-x2 | 8pin-x2 |
| Number of Connectors | 2 | 2 |
| ATX 3.1 Required | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Daisy-Chain Safe | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| MSRP | $799 | $699 |
| Generation | RDNA 3 | Ampere |
PSU Requirement Breakdown
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
⚠ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX requires 2 separate 8-pin PCIe power cables. DO NOT daisy-chain — each cable must run directly from the PSU to the GPU.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
⚠ NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 requires 2 separate 8-pin PCIe power cables. DO NOT daisy-chain — each cable must run directly from the PSU to the GPU.
Power Efficiency Verdict
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX requires less PSU headroom per dollar spent. It needs 800W recommended at $799, versus 800W at $699 for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which PSU do I need for AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX?
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX has a 355W TBP but can spike to 571W during transient loads. We recommend a minimum 800W ATX 3.1 PSU for safe operation with headroom.
Which PSU do I need for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080?
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 has a 320W TBP and transient peak up to 561W. We recommend a minimum 800W ATX 3.1 PSU for stable operation.
Does AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 need ATX 3.1?
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX uses a standard 8pin-x2 connector and does not strictly require ATX 3.1, though an ATX 3.x PSU is still recommended for transient headroom. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 uses 8pin-x2 and does not require ATX 3.1.