3080 10GB vs 3080 12GB opinions?

greg_82000392

I am currently rendering with a RTX 2080 Super and a GTX 1060. It is time to swap out the 1060. The question is whether the relativley small increase in clocks and CUDA cores of a RTX 3080 12GB is worth the 30% higher price over a regualr RTX 3080 10GB considering it will be used exclusibvly for rendering. (One pro on the 12GB side is that I know where I can get the model I would go for while the 3080 10GB model I want is nowhere to be found at the moment.

Any opinions are appreciated.

FirstBastion

Since the entire iray scene must fit on the graphics card or the entire render will switch to cpu rendering, the 12 GB card allows you the comfort of bigger scenes fitting and rendering with GPU. Long run bigger is better.

Matt_Castle

VRAM is by a large margin the most important criteria for an Iray card; if the scene doesn't fit, it doesn't matter how powerful the card is, it's not being used.

And the difference between 10 GB and 12 GB can make a significant difference in the extra stuff you can fit in the scene.

Matt_Brown

I usually work with large scenes so for me VRAM is everything. I would not swap my 3060 12GB for a 3080 10GB! As others have said, if the scene exceeds your VRAM the GPU drops it and sits idle.

greg_82000392

OK, the US/Canadian exchange rate is kiling me but the 12GB is ordered. I was focused on the marginal performance improvements and forgot to even consider the larger scene capability.

Thank for the reminders!

nicstt

2GB extra is essential imo.

Gator

If it makes you feel any better, when I had a render box with the 11 GB 1080 Tis and my main box had the 12 GB Titans, occaisionally I ran into times where scenes fit on the Titan but didn't on the 1080 Ti.