NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti in 2025: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying
Despite the release of new generations of graphics cards, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti remains one of the most powerful graphics accelerators for gaming and professional tasks. In 2025, its price dropped to $1200–1500 for new models, making it attractive for those seeking a balance between performance and cost. Let's explore whether it's worth your attention today.
1. Architecture and Key Features
The RTX 3090 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture, released in 2020. Despite its age, this architecture still demonstrates impressive efficiency thanks to:
- 8nm manufacturing process by Samsung (not the newest in 2025, but optimized).
- 10,752 CUDA cores — 10% more than the RTX 3090.
- Third-generation RT cores for ray tracing and fourth-generation tensor cores for AI computing.
Unique technologies:
- DLSS 3.0 (Deep Learning Super Sampling) — artificial intelligence enhances image resolution with minimal quality loss, increasing FPS by 50–100% in supported games.
- Ray Tracing (RTX) — realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. In 2025, over 90% of AAA games support this technology.
- NVIDIA Reflex — reduces latency in competitive gaming projects.
2. Memory: Speed and Capacity
24 GB GDDR6X — the main advantage of the RTX 3090 Ti.
- 384-bit bus and a bandwidth of 1 TB/s ensure lightning-fast texture loading.
- For 4K gaming, this amount is sufficient even for high-resolution mod projects (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077 with 8K textures).
- In professional tasks (rendering, neural networks), 24 GB allows for working with large models without memory overload.
3. Gaming Performance
As of 2025, the RTX 3090 Ti still handles most games at ultra settings:
- 4K (3840×2160):
- Cyberpunk 2077 (with RTX Ultra + DLSS 3.0): 65–75 FPS.
- Alan Wake 2 (with ray tracing): 55–60 FPS.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare V (without RTX): 110–120 FPS.
- 1440p (2560×1440):
- Average FPS in the latest titles — 120–144 FPS, ideal for high refresh rate monitors.
- 1080p:
- Excess power, but relevant for streamers using NVENC encoding.
Ray tracing reduces FPS by 30–40%, but DLSS 3.0 compensates for losses. For example, in Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, enabling RTX + DLSS provides stable 60 FPS in 4K.
4. Professional Tasks
The RTX 3090 Ti is not just for gamers:
- 3D Rendering (Blender, Maya): CUDA cores speed up rendering by 2–3 times compared to the RTX 3080.
- Video Editing (DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro): 24 GB of memory allows for processing 8K footage without lag.
- Scientific Computing (PyTorch, TensorFlow): CUDA support and optimization for AI algorithms.
However, for specialized workstations, the NVIDIA RTX A6000 series is better suited due to certified drivers.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
- TDP 450 W — requires a well-thought-out cooling system.
- Recommendations:
- Case with 6–7 fans or liquid cooling.
- Minimum power supply: 850 W (preferably 1000 W with 80+ Platinum certification).
- Temperature under load: 75–80°C with stock cooler, 65–70°C with liquid cooling.
Avoid compact cases — the RTX 3090 Ti occupies 3 PCIe slots and is 336 mm long.
6. Comparison with Competitors
In 2025, primary competitors are the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX and NVIDIA RTX 4080:
- RX 7900 XTX ($1000–1300):
- Better in Vulkan games (Red Dead Redemption 2), but weaker in ray tracing.
- 24 GB GDDR6 compared to GDDR6X — lower bandwidth.
- RTX 4080 ($1100–1400):
- Ada Lovelace architecture, higher energy efficiency, but only 16 GB of memory.
Conclusion: The RTX 3090 Ti outperforms competitors in tasks that require a large amount of memory.
7. Practical Tips
- Power Supply: Corsair HX1000, Be Quiet! Dark Power 12 — at least 850 W.
- Compatibility:
- PCIe 4.0 x16 (backward compatible with 3.0).
- Recommended processor — Intel Core i7/i9 12th generation or AMD Ryzen 7/9 5000/7000.
- Drivers: Use the Studio Driver for professional software and the Game Ready Driver for gaming.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 24 GB GDDR6X — a reserve for years to come.
- Best-in-class performance in 4K.
- Support for DLSS 3.0 and RTX.
Cons:
- High power consumption.
- Size and weight (the graphics card requires support).
- Noise under load (in models with reference cooling).
9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the RTX 3090 Ti?
This graphics card is a choice for:
- Gamers wanting to play in 4K with maximum settings.
- Professionals working with 3D graphics, video, and AI.
- Enthusiasts who are not ready to overpay for the latest models (the RTX 4090 starts at $1800).
If you need a versatile and time-tested card with a massive memory reserve — the RTX 3090 Ti is still relevant in 2025. However, for those seeking maximum energy efficiency, it’s worth looking into the RTX 4080 or AMD RX 7900 XTX.