You might wonder where to buy NVIDIA's powerful RTX 30-series graphics cards. These Ampere-powered GPUs deliver a significant performance boost over RTX 20-series cards, and they're crushing the list of best graphics card options, battling it out with AMD's Radeon RX 6000 GPUs. Availability was initially terrible, so much so that NVIDIA apologized for a messy launch, but it's still good to know where to look to get your hands on these cards as stock rotates in and out.
Where to buy the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
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The NVIDIA RTX 3080 was the first GPU up for grabs in the 30-series and sold out almost immediately at the beginning, which caused NVIDIA to apologize for such a messy launch. Those who missed their chance to grab one in the first wave saw availability updates on the official NVIDIA store page, with third-party retailers offering their stock soon after.
The 3080 has 8,074 CUDA cores and 10GB of GDDR6X VRAM and is an option for PC enthusiasts looking for consistent frame rates at a 4K resolution. Our testing at 1440p shows the RTX 3080 delivers about a 15% to 70% performance increase compared to the RTX 2080. At 4K, performance is nearly double in some games compared to the RTX 2080.
Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart sell RTX 3080 cards ranging from around $700 to $1,700, which matches its starting $700 MSRP but beware of price gouging. Newegg hosts a "Shuffle" event that helps avoid scalping. Pick a product from a set list and enter a draw to select who can buy them. Shuffles happen regularly, so check back often.
It's the card to get if you plan on gaming at 4K or 1440p. Check out our guide to NVIDIA RTX 3090 vs. RTX 3080 vs. RTX 3070 performance for a better idea about how these GPUs stack up. And be sure to look at our in-depth NVIDIA RTX 3080 review for much more information.
4K or 1440p Gaming
Want to enjoy 4K at stable 60 FPS or top-tier 1440p gaming? NVIDIA's RTX 3080 is the GPU for you thanks to DLSS and ray-tracing capabilities.
Where to buy the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3080 Ti debuted at the Computex expo in 2021 alongside the RTX 3070 Ti, twice as fast as the previous-generation GeForce GTX 1080 Ti in its rasterization performance. It outperforms the standard GeForce RTX 3080 thanks to an extra 2GB of VRAM, more CUDA cores, RT cores, Tensor cores, and a higher TDP. Unfortunately, it also sat about $500 more than the standard RTX 3080 at launch due to scalping and price gouging.
Anyone lucky enough to grab an RTX 3080 Ti at launch had fast reflexes. Many saw "out of stock" badges and required more manual work, with availability routinely updated on the official NVIDIA store page, but opportunities soon followed at major retailers.
Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart sell RTX 3080 Ti cards from various manufacturers. At the time of writing, prices have settled between $1,000 to $1,500, which suitably matches the MSRP of $1,119. Newegg often hosts a "Shuffle" that helps people get their hands on hardware. The event lets you pick a product from a set list, followed by a draw to select who gets to buy. Shuffles happen regularly, so check back often.
Almost a 3090
NVIDIA has boosted some of the RTX 3080's key specs for the Ti version, making it a more powerful alternative at a considerably higher price.
Where to buy the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
The NVIDIA RTX 3090 was the second GPU in the 30-series range to release, and just like the RTX 3080, they immediately sold out. Third-party sellers jacked up prices and made for a miserable buying experience. Re-stock notifications were initially available from retailers, but that dry spell has mostly ended.
The 3090 is NVIDIA's overkill GPU, taking over for the Titan RTX, that's comparatively about 50% slower. It's an enormous hardware piece that can push an 8K resolution at 60 FPS thanks to 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM, 10,496 CUDA cores, and a 384-bit memory interface. It's the right choice if you want one of the best graphics cards and have a budget to match. Ensure your PC is ready to handle the RTX 3090 system requirements.
Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart list the RTX 3090 with various manufacturers. Prices range from its $1,500 MSRP to $5,000, making it more than a little expensive. Newegg's "Shuffles" help avoid price gouging by using a draw to select who can buy. Shuffles happen regularly, so check back often.
Big and beastly
Are you looking to push an 8K resolution at 60 FPS or any lower resolution at an even higher frame rate? The RTX 3090 might be expensive, but it's an absolute beast that will make every gamer you know jealous.
Where to buy the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
The RTX 3070 Ti launched just a week after the RTX 3080 Ti, with plenty of manufacturers offering their variations, like the ASUS TUF Gaming 3070 Ti, as an affordable option. Pushing performance only a little further than the stock 3070, the Ti acts as a successor to the RTX 2070 from the previous generation, allowing for a reasonable amount of 4K gaming but is far more comfortable in the 1440p range.
Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart still offer choices for the 3070 Ti with prices ranging from around $700 to $1,200, all higher than its $600 MSRP, so it's worth checking local outlets for a deal. Newegg's "Shuffles" avoid this kind of price gouging by using a draw to select who can buy the card. Shuffles happen regularly, so check back often.
Solid 1440p gaming
While the RTX 3070 has been considered the sweet spot for 1440p PC gaming, the Ti version adds just a bit more power, allowing you to dabble in 4K.
Where to buy the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
The RTX 3070 was the last of the three initial GeForce RTX 30-series cards released. It's an affordable way to get your hands on the performance that rivals the RTX 2080 Ti. This card is for anyone looking for stellar 1440p performance or who wants to dabble in 4K. Check out our NVIDIA RTX 3070 review for what makes this GPU great.
With a lower MSRP of $500, it should be a more affordable RTX card sitting closer to the mid-range. Shop around Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart, though, and you'll see variants of the RTX 3070 from around $700 to $1,000. It's a steep increase over its recommended price, so check local retailers for more deals. Again, keep an eye on Newegg's "Shuffles" to avoid this kind of price gouging with their draw system. They happen regularly, so check back often.
The best deal
The NVIDIA RTX 3070 should prove to be quite popular thanks to an incredibly attractive price and performance that rivals the current RTX 2080 Ti.
Where to buy the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
The NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti is a popular budget card intended for high-end 1080p and 1440p gaming, with a performance that rivals the last-gen RTX 2080 Super. It's also the most affordable RTX 30-series GPU, which should keep it popular for a long time.
MSRP drops again to $399, which would make for a reasonably priced 30-series card. Checking Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart shows various manufacturer offerings from around $550 to $800, above the recommended price. Another shame, but it's worth searching around for the right deal. As usual, keep an eye on Newegg's "Shuffle" deals for a chance to nab the 3060 Ti.
Rivals the RTX 2080 Super
This affordable RTX 30-series GPU rivals the RTX 2080 Super at 1080p and 1440p. It's a super piece of hardware for those on a budget.
Where to buy the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Announced at CES 2021, the NVIDIA RTX 3060 is twice as fast as the GTX 1060 and costs just $329. This latter desktop 30-series GPU revealed by NVIDIA is still available. Like its older siblings, it was initially almost impossible to find at a reasonable price. It features 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM and will be able to handle ray tracing at 60 FPS.
With the cheapest MSRP of the bunch, it should be the entry-level 30-series GPU of choice. Unfortunately, checking recent prices at Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart says otherwise. The RTX 3060 sells from around $450 to $600, far above the $330 MSRP. As usual, check local retailers for in-store deals that might not appear online, and keep an eye out for Newegg "Shuffle" events.
Budget gaming
If you'd like to stick to a budget and still enjoy 1080p gaming with 60 FPS ray tracing, the RTX 3060 is the way to go.
