The NVIDIA RTX 3080 12 GB and the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation are tied in this objective comparison, as each component leads in seven distinct technical specifications. The most significant advantage for the former is its memory bandwidth, which is 153% better than the latter. Conversely, the most impactful advantage for the latter is its AV1 encoding capability, which is 100% better than the performance offered by the former.

Users prioritizing high memory bandwidth should select the NVIDIA RTX 3080 12 GB for their workstation or gaming needs. Those who require advanced video processing and streaming efficiency should choose the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation to leverage its superior AV1 encoding. Because both cards offer an equal number of technical advantages, the final decision depends entirely on whether your specific workflow relies more heavily on memory throughput or modern video encoding standards.