Question Is this upgrade worth doing ?

[Imacflier]

Hi, All,

In your opinion, is it worth me spending $400 to upgrade from a Gigabyte RTX 3080 Waterforce to an MSI RTX 3090 TI + Phanetics [Phanteks?] Waterblock for 4k gaming? All other things held equal.

I need to make a final configuration decision before I begin the build. Easiest to stay with what I have....will it be worth the delay, hassle, and $400 to change to a 3090 Ti ?

TIA

LARRY

 

[Teknoman2]

Can I ask a genuine, yes genuine question please

What do people see in gaming, I have no interest whatsoever

However my Autistic son (to know him you would never know) is 32, it is his life

Simply put its a hobby like any other. For someone with autism or social anxiety or heavily introverted, it can be the only thing that keeps them sane when lacking the ability to make friends.

 

[helpstar]

multiplayer wise it can be social with team building
getting success to get a goal or your character will improve abiltities the more you game
in single player you can like in movies dive into a different world or character and get mostly a good ending
also in most cases the rules are clear and the path you go is preprogrammed. The worlds are mostly not grey, only evil or good.
Some games of course have open worlds with choices that can depend on the action or answer you give to any question. This is more realistic but still you have the safety of not beeing hurt, only your character, who will usually have more than one life
you can experiment what can happen if you choose something you usually in real life wouldn't do for sure.

 

[Hasselblad]

Spending $400 to upgrade from a Gigabyte RTX 3080 Waterforce to an MSI RTX 3090 Ti (plus a Phanteks component — presumably a case or cooling solution?) depends on your specific needs and expectations. Here's a detailed breakdown to help you decide:

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🔍 GPU Comparison: RTX 3080 vs. RTX 3090 Ti​

Spec / Feature	RTX 3080 (10GB)	RTX 3090 Ti (24GB)
CUDA Cores	8704	10752
VRAM	10GB GDDR6X	24GB GDDR6X
Memory Bus	320-bit	384-bit
TDP	~320W	~450W
Gaming Performance	Baseline	~10–15% faster on avg.
Productivity (AI/3D)	Good	Much better (VRAM!)
Price New (2025)	~$400–500 (used)	~$600–700 (used)

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✅ When It Might Be Worth It​

• You do heavy GPU workloads (3D rendering, AI/ML, video editing): the 3090 Ti's 24GB VRAM is a huge win.
• You game at 4K and want the best possible FPS.
• You're upgrading from a basic 3080 and not already using it near its full potential.
• The deal includes a high-end Phanteks case or cooler that you need anyway.

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❌ When It’s Probably Not Worth It​

• You mainly game at 1440p — the 3090 Ti offers minimal real-world gains over the 3080.
• You already have a water-cooled card (the Waterforce), and this upgrade might introduce more heat/noise.
• The 3090 Ti’s power draw is significantly higher, requiring a beefier PSU and better cooling.
• You’re considering a next-gen upgrade soon (e.g., RTX 50-series in 2025–2026) — better to wait.

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🔧 Side Note: What is "Phanetic"?​

Did you mean Phanteks (a brand)? If so, which product? A case? Cooler? PSU? That affects value quite a bit.

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🧠 Verdict:​

Only worth it if you:

• Need the extra VRAM for specific workloads (AI, 3D, etc.)
• Can resell your 3080 for a good price ($300+)
• Are not planning to upgrade to RTX 50-series anytime soon

Otherwise, keep your 3080 — it's still a beast for 1440p/4K gaming in 2025.

 

[logainofhades]

Personally, I would change the loop to CPU only, and buy a 9070xt, and sell the 3080. It's faster than a 3090ti, and would have a warranty.