Hey everyone! I’m trying to figure out which graphics card would be the better investment for the long haul. I’m considering either the RTX 5080 Palit Gamerock OC, priced at about $1816, or a used RTX 4090 MSI Gaming Trio for around $2390, which still has about a year of warranty left. I can manage the price difference, but I’m really wondering which card will hold up better over time, especially as we move towards the 70xx generation. My main concern is how the VRAM of each card—16GB for the 5080 versus 24GB for the 4090—will affect their longevity. I plan on gaming at 4K, but I’m not looking to maximize FPS, despite having a 4K 240hz OLED monitor. I currently game with a 3070 8GB and I’m keen on sticking with Nvidia for features like DLSS and ray tracing. Would love to hear your thoughts!
3 Answers
I’ve been gaming at 4K for a while, and aside from specific scenarios like heavy mods or AI tasks, I haven’t run into many situations where I’ve needed more than 16GB of VRAM. But some games, like the new Indiana Jones, do push that limit, so it’s a balancing act. With the DLSS capabilities of the RTX 5080, it might still get you a good experience for years to come!
If you’re going 4K, I’d definitely lean towards the 4090. Its 24GB of VRAM means it should have a much better lifespan, especially since some recent games are already pushing the limits of 16GB. The 5090 might be cheaper, but for future-proofing, the 4090 looks like the safer bet.
The 4090 also tends to give you a performance edge, around 15-20% depending on the source. Unless some major innovations happen in game rendering, it should age better. Just keep in mind it’s a used card, so factor in how much you trust that seller.
Good point! I’ll definitely consider that when making my decision.
Yeah, I’ve noticed a few modern games really creep up in VRAM usage, so I’m with you on the 4090 being the better long-term choice.