Modified Versions of GeForce RTX 3080 with 20 GB Are Back on the Market

In the middle of surging prices for modern GeForce RTX 50 graphics cards, unusual modifications of older models return to the secondary market. 

This time, it’s the GeForce RTX 3080 featuring 20 GB of GDDR6X memory, which is double the capacity of the standard version. Chinese manufacturers are modifying older GPUs and offering them for around $445, making the six-year-old RTX 3080 a potentially attractive alternative to expensive modern models.

RTX 3080 Gets Double the Video Memory, and It Doesn’t Fix Everything

The modified GPUs keep the specifications of the original GeForce RTX 3080: 8,704 CUDA cores, a 320-bit memory bus, and the Ampere architecture. 

The primary upgrade lies in the video memory, expanding from the standard 10 GB to 20 GB of GDDR6X. VRAM capacity was previously one of the most noticeable limitations of the original RTX 3080. The extra 10 GB can be particularly beneficial for modern games at high settings or for running certain AI workloads.

Despite the increased memory capacity, the modified RTX 3080 comes with several significant drawbacks. First, the card consumes around 320 W, requiring a high-wattage power supply and efficient cooling. Second, buyers are essentially dealing with an unofficially modified product backed by no standard manufacturer warranty.

Why Is The Old RTX 3080 Attractive Again?

The primary reason behind the comeback of RTX 3080 cards isn't a sudden technological revival for Ampere, but the high pricing of current-generation graphics cards: the average price of the GeForce RTX 5070 reached around $900 in August (roughly 64% above NVIDIA's suggested retail price of $549), and the 16 GB version of the RTX 5060 Ti hit roughly $780 on Newegg.

In this market environment, an RTX 3080 with 20 GB for $445 no longer seems like an odd choice.