Best RTX 3090 Graphics Cards

NVIDIA has put an end to wait for the RTX 30 Series 2^nd Gen by releasing RTX 3090, soon after releasing its best 3080 models. It marks the introduction of the long-awaited high-end features in graphics cards. The RTX 3090 is the first-ever GPU for dedicated 8K gaming. This article is dedicated to those looking for the best RTX 3090 GPUs for 4K and 8K gaming in 2022 and beyond. For bit lower gaming, you can go for the Best RTX 2080Ti. Similarly, for even a more lower budget, there is also the RTX 2070 Super, and RTX 2060.

The RTX 3090 is well-suited for contemporary gaming making the card compatible with the latest games featuring advanced graphics and absolute clarity. 4K@60fps and 8K@60fps compatibility is what you must have been dreaming of for months.

The 3^rd Generation Tensor Cores and 2^nd Generation Ray-Tracing Cores are the prime features of the RTX 3090 and RTX 3080. The addition of the VRAM GDDR6X 14GB makes RTX 3090 more desirable than the RTX 3070 GPUs.

Best RTX 3090 2022

1. MSI RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio
2. ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 3090 OC
3. Gigabyte RTX 3090 Gaming OC
4. ZOTAC Gaming RTX 3090 Trinity
5. ASUS ROG Strix 3090 Gaming
6. Gigabyte RTX 3090 AORUS MASTER
7. EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3
8. NVIDIA RTX 3090 Founder’s Edition

There are a list of RTX 3090 Graphics Cards In the market, thus, it is better to look at your requirements and then make a purchasing decision. Subsequently, below – we have listed all the RTX 3090 GPUs, that are recommended, depending on your budget, value, and preferences like cooling, overclocking, gaming, or size.

1. MSI RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio

Best Aftermarket RTX 3090

For optimal airflow, the MSI Gaming GeForce has TRI FROZR 2 Thermal Design. It ensures controlled airflow, flexibility, and zero-sweating.

MSI is known for aesthetically appealing designs, and the design team does a tremendous job once again. You can customize RGB Mystic Light to produce lighting effects. The MSI Gaming GeForce is compatible with the Second Generation RTX Architecture.

For optimal gaming experience, the MSI RTX 3090 comes with a variety of output interfaces. The custom PCB comes with some additional fuses to protect the components from possible electrical hazards. The 2oz Thickened Copper ensures the reliability of the board.

The MSI GeForce RTX 3090 features a dynamic structure of heat pipes to ensure 360 airflows. The key areas of the card are more durable thanks to the anti-bending force. However, it doesn’t mean that you should test the durability by intentionally bending the MSI GeForce Gaming X Trio 24G.

The RTX 3090 design is pretty similar to what we’ve seen in the past, as it still uses the same triple-fan cooling. However, I’ve noticed that the performance of the cooling solution of the RTX 3090 is better than its predecessors.

The core pipes of the RTX 3090 are more efficient. The airflow across the heatsink generates optimal heat dissipation thanks to the Torx Fan 4.0 technology. The machine-designed Core Pipes facilitate a relatively larger area of contact over the GPU, which results in heat dissipation along a larger area of the heatsink. This is what improves the thermal performance of the MSI RTX 3090 to a great extent.

The overall design looks similar to that of the RTX 3080, but the dimensions are slightly different in RTX 3090, i.e., 32.3cm x 14cm x 5.6cm. The MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio 24G is one of the best RTX 3090 available online based on its features and tagged price.

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2. ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 3090 OC

Best Silent RTX 3090

ASUS is surely a reliable name, and here comes its RTX 3090 based TUF Gaming Card. Its similar version under RTX 3080 has already impressed buyers across the globe. The build quality is excellent, and the shroud metal outlook with the backplate demonstrates enhanced durability.

The ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 OC has 2x HDMI 2.1 ports and a total of five video ports. Talking about the thermal performance, AUSUS TUF is not behind the MSI Gaming Trio. What is lacks in terms of design is the RGB lights. At a competitive price, the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 3090 offers impressive performance. The design of this machine is improved for better heat dissipation. The Axial-Tech fans are simple yet effective when it comes to throwing the air in the right direction at the right time.

Dual ball bearings are used to help the fans keep performing consistently. These bearings also contribute to the life of the fans. The reverse rotation of the fan in the center is a good move by the designers. This feature results in suppressing the noise of the fan while producing relatively lesser turbulence. We give the ASUS TUF, the best Silent RTX 3090 award. If you are struggling with Cooling Solutions, check our guide on the Best GPU Coolers.

The dimensions of the ASUS TUF Gaming Card are 29.9cm x 12.6cm x 5.1cm. The size is compact compared to most of the RTX 3090 cards; still, it is by no means minimal hardware. Keeping in mind the cards from the older generations, this card still looks massive.

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3. Gigabyte RTX 3090 Gaming OC

Best Gaming RTX 3090

Talking about gaming GPUs, Gigabyte stands out as a popular option for its build quality and high-end performance. Gigabyte supports RTX 3090 Gaming OC 24G just like its predecessor, the RTX 3080 version. What’s different with the new version is its compatibility with the SLI.

The outlook of the Gigabyte RTX 3090 is impressive. The logo is stamped at the top, where most gaming geeks would love to accommodate the RGB. Even then, the RGB still is pretty bright and contributes to the overall design of the hardware. To me, it is arguably the best gaming RTX 3090 GPU.

The thermal design of the Gigabyte RTX 3090 is still the same it was on the RTX 3080. However, the latest version features reinforced generation to manage additional heat generated by the RTX 3090. The Gigabyte RTX 3090 comes with the WINDFORCE 3X for better cooling and optimal heat dissipation. Like most RTX 3090 GPUs, the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming OC 24G comes with a stop-start thermal design. This technology automatically turns the fans OFF as the temperature reaches under 55o. Although it has now become a standard feature of all GPUs these days still is worth mentioning.

Reaching up to 1755MHz, the Gigabyte RTX 3090 is a fairly impressive performer, and at its maximum capacity, this GPU can even clock beyond 1755MHz.

You can customize the lights to synchronize them as per your desire because this hardware features fusion 2.0. The metal backplate of the Gigabyte RTX 3090 Gaming OC 24C contributes to the durability and safety of the components. It might sound like a silly idea since it puts significant weight on the device, making the card considerably heavy.

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4. ZOTAC Gaming RTX 3090 Trinity

Best Value RTX 3090

In terms of aesthetic appeal, the design of the ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3090 Trinity is outstanding. Keeping in mind the features of the GPU, the price is quite affordable. However, you can’t call it the fastest GPU in processing capabilities; the cooling system and heat dissipation are exceptional. This is what keeps the GPU from overheating to let it perform at its best for hours. This is similar to RTX 2080 Super.

ZOTAC GeForce ITX 3090 is durable, and the cooling solutions are top-notch. It uses the IceStorm 2.0, and the results are impressive. This arrangement comprises three fans backed by the stop-start technology. This is perhaps the only RTX 3090 GPU that comes with the RGB lights on the rear, also the Best Value RTX 3090.

There is an extra metal plate at the rear. It contributes to the durability and robustness of the card. The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce ITX 3090 has three Display Ports (1.4a) and an HDMI 2.1 port. It lets you use the GPU with a variety of displays.

The performance is not bad. The card is compatible with 8K display quality, and the processing is smooth. Like most ITX 3090 cards, this one also features 384-bit 24GB GDDR6X RAM. Overall, ZOTAC is a viable option if you want to enjoy some impressive Graphics features without breaking the bank.

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5. ASUS ROG Strix 3090 Gaming

A flagship implementation of the Ampere 3090 is available in the form of ASUS ROG STRIX. NVIDIA’s new GeForce RTX Ampere represents the top of its class for client GPUs. ASUS builds upon this foundation with a product designed for premium gaming PCs and overclockers alike. This card offers several convenient features for each kind of group.

The Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3090 OC Edition boasts an attractive design apart from the previous generation. The silver accents on a predominantly black plastic shroud add a futuristic look overall, while the vertical cuts and tall heatsink fins further make this design stand out in comparison. Of note is that you will not see this side of it when it’s installed – unless, of course, you use a vertical GPU riser.

The gaming potential of the ASUS ROG Strix is an exception when it comes to power consumption. It uses less power (a total of 335W) than the fellow 3090 competitors, which is impressive. ASUS has utilized a better configuration for power usage while remaining top-notch regarding the performance. The power draw and performance are exceptionally tuned for gamers and enthusiasts, coupled with the massive heatsink and coolers.

ASUS has utilized the fan stop feature in the card. It is similar to the RTX 3090 Founders Edition fan stop, making it easier to control the fan sound. The fan can even stop completely during the idle or when you are not gaming – which is more than helpful if you don’t like excessive fan sound. There should be a quieter setting for the fan noise when gaming, as it seems a bit high due to ASUS’s focus on temperature reduction. However, you can utilize the “quiet” BIOS feature in dual BIOS to reduce the noise.

Overall, ASUS ROG RTX 3090 is the flagship graphics card from the manufacturer. It offers playable 8K with the HDMI 2.1 to fully utilize the potential. The Ampere cooling is fantastic, with a robust PCB design to help you achieve the things that look unachievable with competitors. The overclocking is better, and you can achieve satisfying results without tempering the default power limit.

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6. Gigabyte RTX 3090 AORUS MASTER

Best Cooling RTX 3090

The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3090 AORUS MASTER dimensions might seem slightly bigger than most alternatives, but this is something you must not ignore. Since some gaming geeks are ready to spend whatever it takes to avail premium quality and high-end features. If you are one of these enthusiasts, then the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3090 AORUS MASTER is for you.

Talking about the design, fans feature a creative blade stack design. The MAX-COVERED cooling mechanism features alternate spinning to ensure smoother cooling while increasing the air pressure to minimize heat intensity.

This GPU comes with an extended heatsink design. This design facilitates airflow in a better way. The 3D active fan carries out the semi-passive cooling – we give this the Best Cooling RTX 3090 Award.

The AORUS MASTER RTX 3090 features a couple of 8-Pin power connectors, 3x HDMI 2.1 ports, and 3x Display Ports 1.4a. In addition, it is backed by the NVIDIA NVLINK 2-Way to support SLI.

FPS is the usual victim of poor cooling management and heat dissipation. If you want top-notch performance from your RTX 3090 GPU, then make sure to select the RTX 3090 with exceptional cooling solutions, and AORUS MASTER is a viable option you got right now.

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7. EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3

Best Looking RTX 3090

You can notice that the weight of these RTX 3090 GPUs is slightly heavier due to the metal back-plate that is used for additional protection and the outer dimensions are also slightly bigger than the predecessors.

The copper-plated back panel covers RAM as well as the GPU. Copper is known for its quality to resist and dissipate heat. In this case, the copper plate also reduces the GPU’s heat to 6^oC quite quickly.

The EVGA FTW3 uses micro-thin heat pipes to let the rear get rid of the heat. The card supports QSD BIOS to switch between multiple BIOSES in no time. The card also features an extra fan header for optimal airflow.

There is HDB 2.0 2^nd Gen to keep the rotation quieter. The EVGA FTW3 RTX 3090 comes with an upgraded ARGB design. It controls lighting effects on the back panel, the front panel, and the ARGB header.

The elimination of the hotspots is largely due to the iCX Tech 9 sensors in the EVGA FTW3. There is a noise motor fan HDB 2.0 to contribute to the overall heatsink and cooling performance.

The EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3 comes with 3x 8-PIN power connectors and a PCIe 4.0×16 bus interface. The CUDA Cores are the same as the NVIDIA standard edition. You can also optimize the GPU clock from 1395 MHz to 1695MHz.

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8. NVIDIA RTX 3090 Founder’s Edition

Best Cheap RTX 3090

If you are brand conscious, you need to look at the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Founder’s Edition since I consider it the best AI-backed RTX 3090 GPU. Not only that it carries the most reliable name, but the NVIDIA Founder’s Edition is also known for serious graphics performance and maximum FPS.

The speed of the NVIDIA GeForce Founder’s Edition RTX 3090 ranges from 1395 MHz to 1695 MHz, along with an impressive 2437 MHz memory clocking. The card supports 8K gaming HDR and 2^nd Generation True Ray Tracing.

In terms of communication, the NVIDIA Founder’s Edition prevails with 3x 1.4a DisplayPort, HDMI 2.1, 2x 8-PIN power connectors, and Multiprocessor support. I recommend the NVIDIA Founder’s Edition 3090 to anyone into NVIDIA AI-Based Graphics since you can’t experience the same output with most alternatives.

If you can afford and want the hardcore output to come, what may go for NVIDIA RTX 3090 Founder’s Edition. It is elegant, minimal, and efficient in terms of output and heat management. Not to mention, it’s the best cheapest RTX 3090.

Other previous GPUs and accessories that we’ve reviewed include:

• 2060 Super
• GTX 1660 Ti

Buying Guide for RTX 3090 Graphics Cards

Gaming geeks had to wait for a while to get their hands on something they had been anticipating for so long, and finally, you can choose from the best RTX 3090 GPUs. Before considering different options, it is important to shortlist some important features and specifications to reach the most suitable decision.

NVIDIA GeForce Benchmark

NVIDIA calls RTX 3090 the “Next HALO GPU.” It is NVIDIA’s Ampere Architecture that has just elevated our expectations to the next level. However, you must be willing to pay the top price to own one of these Graphics Beasts. Take a look at the standard specifications for the RTX 3090 GPU to make sure you don’t miss any of these:

• 10496 Cure Cores
• GDDRX6 24GB Memory Interface
• Ray-Tracing 2^nd Generation
• TFPOPS OF FP32 Compute 35.7
• True 8K compatibility
• 8N Samsung Manufacturing Process
• Second Generation RT Cores

To give you an idea of this powerful GPU concept, it is important to mention that the RTX 3090 is 2x powerful than the RTX 2080 Ti.

Real 8K HDR Gaming

The RTX 3090 is the first-ever Graphics Card to support a real 8K HDR Gaming experience since it is designed to process potent visual effects. Contemporary games feature high-end graphics details, including in-depth shades and texture to make the environment closer to reality, and playing such games requires a mighty graphics processor.

With 7680×4320 pixels compatibility, the RTX 3090 can eliminate blurriness that has been frustrating gaming geeks for years. With the RTX 3090, you are talking 33 million pixels compared to 8 million for 4K and 2 million for 1080p, and such a difference suggests the display quality never experienced before.

Hardware tweaking is no longer required since the RTX 3090 takes care of fully extracting the juice from a high-end game. As far as stability is concerned, the GDDRX6 24GB interface ensures smooth pause-free flow as the gameplay proceeds.

The true 8K HDR gaming experience is possible with additional gaming assets that were not needed for 1080p and 4K. The free VRAM, for instance, enables the card to play 8K HDR quality without delays easily.

Enhanced DLSS AI Acceleration

Thanks to NVIDIA’s AI-Based processor and “Deep Learning Neural Network,” the RTX (Tensor Cores) in 30 Series uses can configure ray-tracing to optimize FPS. Although the standard Anti-Aliasing also optimizes FPS, it doesn’t have the capability to take the gaming performance to the next level that DLSS AI Acceleration achieves for RTX 3090. 

Besides FPS and sharper graphics, the new Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) AI Accelerator is twice as fast as its predecessor. With this upgrade, RTX in particular and GPUs generally face no more restrictions in terms of FPS and speed.  

Heat Management and Power

Powerful and creative cooling features are the prime attraction of the RTX 3090 GPUs available today. Most of these GPUs use multiple heatsinking and cooling options to maintain powerful processing for hours. Fans have been upgraded, noise reduction techniques are improved, and airflow is revised to cover most surface areas.

While selecting the right RTX 3090 GPU for yourself, make sure to consider cooling features since this is going to be the make or break factor. For instance, the automatic Stop-Start and alternate spinning are things you can’t overlook.

The metal plating for the back panel must be lightweight with heatsinking properties. However, I believe that you can compromise on the weight a little since durability is also significant for these high-end GPUs that are going to cost you over two grand. I’ve noticed that most of the RTX 3090 GPUs are slightly heavier as compared to their predecessors.

Besides, make sure to consider the quality and performance of the PSU before shortlisting the RTX 3090 GPU. I’ll recommend a 750-Watt compatible Power Supply to feed to the RTX 3090 to enable it to work at its full potential.

AMPERE Architecture

NVIDIA takes pride in benchmarking its new AMPERE Architecture for the RTX 30 Series. This architecture is more powerful than Turning and Volta. Following are the salient features of the NVIDIA AMPERE Architecture, the RTX 3090 is known for:

• Additional CUDA Cores for optimized performance
• 8nm Custom Samsung Process
• Enhanced Bandwidth
• 24GB GDDRX6 memory interface
• PCI-Express 4.0
• SR-IOV support
• 3^rd Gen FP16 supported Tensor Cores
• Ray-Tracing 2^nd Gen Cores
• NVLINK 3.0
• 5 NVDECS
• Multi-Instance MIG GPU to optimize the performance of all cores

In terms of performance, the NVIDIA A100 Tensor Sore Graphics Processing Unit is 20 times powerful with Tensor Float (TF32) support. It helps compact design around the important interfaces leading to a space-efficient design; however, the RTX 3090 GPUs are still slightly larger than the previous cards.

Three times faster and better GPU performance is achieved using PCI-Express 4.0, NVIDIA NVSwitch, NVIDIA NVLINK, and MIG technology.

SLI, RTX IO, and PCI-Express 4.0

Facilitating all directions simultaneously, the PCI-Express 4.0 enhances bandwidth speed to a maximum of 32GB/sec, twice the speed of the RTX 20 series. Some geeks anticipated eliminating the SLI in the RTX 30 series, but it didn’t happen. The RTX 3090 uses the NVLink 3 to support SLI. These powerful features let the RTX 3090 serve all directions equally with faster bandwidth.

Talking about the IO algorithm, the NVIDIA RTX IO is super-fast and much improved. Loading is almost instant, and navigation is shutter-free, and you can anticipate no lags whatsoever. To some, the RTX IO is not a serious requirement in the presence of the Gen4 NVMe SSDs. But let’s be clear that the upgraded algorithm actually doubles the loading speed.

Form Factor

Dimensions of the RTX 3090 are bigger and might make the card look bulkier. It is important to consider the form factor of the PC you are using to select the right GPU depending on the compatibility of your PC. If you still are interested in buying the GPU you like the most, then think about the additional cost of bringing in a right-sized PC.

Is RTX 3090 Worth It?

What makes RTX 3090 different from RTX 3080

RTX 3080 VS RTX 3090 is a popular debate. Enormous additional VRAM for gaming is the major difference that gives RTX 3090 an edge over RTX 3080. It contributes to a great extent when it comes to playing 8K graphics and workstation compatibility. However, is the additional VRAM worth the extra bucks you need to pay for RTX 3090? You can answer this question only after experiencing the difference yourself.

RTX 3080 is also NVIDIA’s Flagship that supports Ultrawide 3440×1440 pixels and 4K at 1140p refresh rate @60FPS. The DLSS lets the 3080 easily and consistently support 60FPS, making it much better than the RTX 20 Series. The RTX 3080 is an excellent choice for all gaming geeks who are not worried about content creation and other stuff.

What if you are a professional? Go for the RTX 3090 to create stunning content along with high-end gaming. In terms of speed, the RTX 3090 is from 10% to 15% faster than the RTX 3080, but this difference is in the case of 3440 Ultrawide 4K gaming.

The 3090 costs almost twice as much as the 3080 does. This is something frustrating for most price-conscious buyers.

But you need to consider the 8K compatibility of the 3090. It supports 32 million pixels in comparison to 8 million pixels of 3080. Don’t forget that the 8K compatibility is mainly useful for the NVIDIA DLSS 2.1 based eSports games. Most games don’t even seem to be approaching 8K at 60FPS.

Value-added features of the RTX 3090 are mainly meant for professionals. The RTX 3090 is far ahead of AMD’s Radeon VII and RTX 2080 Ti for content creation. The impressive GDDR6X 24GB RAM puts the RTX 3090 ahead of the competition. The 10GB RAM or the RTX 3080 can’t keep up with the demanding AI research and content creation. For instance, the RTX 3090 is the only GPU to finish the challenging DaVinci Resolve content-creation tasks. Moreover, the 3090 comes with the NVIDIA NVLink for significantly improved performance.

For gaming only, go for the RTX 3080, but I recommend spending more money on professional tasks.

How much PSU do I need for RTX 3090?

For the RTX 3090, you will most probably need a new power supply unit – at least 750W is recommended by NVIDIA. Considering overclocking and high-end hardware specs, you might even need a PSU above 750W, so you must consider it.

Final Verdict

As mentioned above, the RTX 3080 does the job if you are only interested in gaming. But it lacks the juice your professional undertakings require. Once you conclude that 3090 GPU is what you actually need, make sure to shortlist all the necessary components and the additional hardware you might need to run the GPU properly. For instance, the new Power Supply Unit and a PC with the right form factor.

Talking about the RTX 3090 GPU doesn’t mean that you need to stick to just one option. Depending on the requirements and budget, the priorities may differ. But make sure to consider everything carefully since this is going to be a 2-Grand+ purchase, not a frequent 50$ purchase. This is why I always recommend avoiding premature shortlisting and decision-making.

I’ve listed the 7 best 3090 GPUs available in 2022, and my overall choice is the MSI Gaming GeForce, but you need to go for what suits your PC and needs. Gigabyte RTX 3090 AORUS Master and NVIDIA Founder’s Edition are excellent GPUs, but most of us can only afford one.