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GIGABYTE

AORUS GeForce RTX 3090

Gigabyte's premium AORUS take on the RTX 3090, an Ampere-era flagship with 24GB of GDDR6X for serious 4K gamers and creators, now a used-market option.

Reference only24GB GDDR6XAmpere architectureAORUS premium buildDLSS 2 supported2nd-gen RT cores
GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX 3090
24GB GDDR6XAmpere architectureAORUS premium buildDLSS 2 supported2nd-gen RT cores
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Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

An ageing flagship Ampere card with 24GB VRAM and strong creator performance, only worth buying second-hand at a clear discount.

What we think

Swipe or tap to explore what we like, what to watch for, and who it's for

+

Generous 24GB VRAM allocation

Massive memory pool that matches modern RTX 4090 and RX 7900 XTX. Genuinely useful for Blender renders, 3D work, video editing, and modded gaming where memory often becomes the bottleneck.

+

Premium AORUS build quality

Gigabyte's flagship AORUS lineup with substantial triple-fan cooling, premium build, and RGB accents. Handles the 3090's substantial heat output well, with quieter operation than budget partner cards.

+

DLSS 2 with broad game support

Supports DLSS 2 upscaling, which works in many current games and substantially improves frame rates with good image quality. No DLSS 3 Frame Generation though, that requires RTX 40 or newer.

+

Capable 4K gaming in older AAA

10496 CUDA cores deliver decent 4K performance in older or moderately demanding titles. With DLSS Quality, even some current AAA games are playable at 4K, though newer releases stretch it.

In our testing

The 3090 still goes toe-to-toe with the RTX 4070 SUPER in raw rasterisation. The 24GB VRAM remains its real selling point, especially for creators where modern 16GB cards can become limiting.

−

No DLSS 3 or DLSS 4 Frame Generation

Limited to DLSS 2 upscaling without Frame Generation, which is exclusive to RTX 40 and 50 series. Modern Nvidia cards roughly double their effective frame rates with Frame Generation, this can't.

−

Heavy 350W TDP

Demands a quality 850W PSU minimum, with 1000W more sensible alongside a high-end CPU. Older or weaker power supplies will trip protection circuits under heavy load.

−

End of driver support coming

Nvidia has phased out new game-day optimisation drivers for the older Ampere architecture. Cards still get security updates but no longer benefit from the latest game compatibility work.

−

Used condition varies dramatically

Used 3090 cards have been through years of heavy use, often including mining periods. Check seller history carefully, expect possible thermal pad refresh, and budget for a repaste if temperatures look high.

Worth knowing

The 3090's main 2026 selling point is the 24GB VRAM at a clear used discount versus modern 24GB cards. For creators on a budget, it can still make sense. For pure gamers, modern alternatives win.

Best for

Budget creators wanting 24GB VRAM

If you find a used 3090 at a meaningful discount and need 24GB VRAM for Blender, 3D work, or video editing, the AORUS variant remains a capable budget creator card with premium cooling intact.

Skip if

Pure gamers shopping new

If you're a pure gamer shopping at full price, modern RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT cards deliver better gaming with DLSS 4 features and current driver support at often-lower prices.

Our take

Only worth considering second-hand at a clear discount. Creator workloads benefit most from the 24GB VRAM, pure gamers should look at modern current-gen cards for similar money.

How it performs & what it pairs with

Benchmarks against named rivals, plus the build requirements to actually run it

Benchmarks
1440p ultra and 4K settings, DLSS Quality where applicable
Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p ultra, RT off)
Gigabyte AORUS 3090
104 fps avg
RTX 4070 SUPER
107 fps avg
RTX 5080
147 fps avg
Cyberpunk 2077 (4K ultra, RT off)
Gigabyte AORUS 3090
62 fps avg
RTX 4070 SUPER
57 fps avg
RTX 5080
116 fps avg
Blender BMW render (lower is better)
Gigabyte AORUS 3090
14 seconds
RTX 4070 SUPER
17 seconds
RTX 5080
9 seconds
Test bench

Tested with a Ryzen 9 7950X, 64GB DDR5-6000, Windows 11 24H2 on a 1000W PSU. Stock clocks, latest available Ampere driver.

Build compatibility
What your PC needs
✓
Power supply
850W is the realistic floor recommendation for the 350W TDP. With a high-end CPU, step up to 1000W for transient spike headroom.
!
Case clearance
Substantial triple-fan AORUS cooler. Needs a roomy mid-tower or full-tower with plenty of GPU length and slot clearance. Won't fit ITX or compact mATX builds.
✓
Motherboard slot
Standard PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. Works on PCIe 5.0 boards with no performance difference at this card's bandwidth.
!
Check used condition
Mining-era 3090 cards may have worn fans or dried thermal pads from heavy 24/7 use. Inspect before buying, ideally test under load, and budget for a possible repaste.
!
Driver support is limited
Nvidia has phased out new driver optimisation for Ampere cards. Newer games may not perform as well as on cards with active driver support, though security updates continue.

Performance breakdown

Scored relative to the class, not against flagship models

vs. other ageing used flagship GPUs
Best in class scored 88
Class average 72
Lowest in class 55
1440p rasterisation82 / 100
Strong 1440p performance, comparable to modern RTX 4070 SUPER
4K rasterisation70 / 100
Capable in older AAA, stretched in newer releases
Ray tracing65 / 100
2nd-gen RT cores, capable in older RT titles, stretched in newer
Creator workloads85 / 100
24GB VRAM and strong CUDA core count excel in Blender and similar

Who this is right for

Picture yourself in these scenarios. How well does this fit?

Budget creator with 24GB needs
Uses the card for serious Blender, 3D rendering, or video editing where 16GB cards become limiting. The 24GB VRAM at used pricing makes the 3090 attractive against expensive new 24GB cards.
Good fit
1440p high-refresh gamer
Plays modern AAA at 1440p with everything cranked. The 3090 handles this well with DLSS Quality where supported, though without the DLSS 3 Frame Generation of newer cards.
Good fit
Used-only enthusiast builder
Finds a 3090 used at a clear discount versus new mid-range cards. The 24GB VRAM and 1440p gaming performance make it a sensible deal for enthusiast budgets.
Okay fit
Modern AAA full RT enthusiast
Wants Cyberpunk path tracing or Alan Wake 2 with full RT cranked at 4K. The 3090's 2nd-gen RT cores trail modern equivalents significantly, will need heavy DLSS to stay playable.
Look elsewhere

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

chipRTX 3090

Nvidia's Ampere flagship from 2020, originally a halo gaming and creator card. Performance now sits at high-1440p tier roughly comparable to the modern RTX 4070 SUPER.

VRAM24GB GDDR6X

Massive memory pool that matches the modern RTX 4090 and RX 7900 XTX. Genuinely useful for creator workloads and modded gaming where 16GB cards start to struggle.

architectureAmpere

Nvidia's second generation with hardware ray tracing and DLSS support. Older than current Ada Lovelace and Blackwell, with weaker RT performance and missing DLSS 3/4 Frame Generation.

brandGigabyte AORUS

Gigabyte's flagship gaming brand, premium build and cooling for halo-tier cards. Substantial triple-fan cooler, RGB accents, and durable construction.

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

Is the RTX 3090 still worth buying in 2026?

Only at a clear used discount and only if you need the 24GB VRAM. For pure gamers, modern RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT cards offer better gaming with DLSS 4 features at often-lower prices.

How does the RTX 3090 compare to the RTX 4070 SUPER?

Similar 1440p gaming performance, with the 4070 SUPER winning in DLSS 3 Frame Generation support and current driver optimisation. The 3090 wins on VRAM at 24GB vs 12GB.

What PSU do I need for the AORUS 3090?

Nvidia recommends 750W as a minimum, but 850W is more realistic. With a power-hungry CPU like a Core i9 or Ryzen 9, step up to 1000W for transient spike headroom.

Is the 3090 good for Blender and 3D work?

Yes, the 24GB VRAM is genuinely useful for Blender renders and 3D work, especially compared to modern 16GB cards. Used 3090s remain a sensible budget creator pick for VRAM-bound workloads.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

Current-gen alternative
nvidia geforce rtx 5080
Faster gaming performance with DLSS 4 multi-frame generation and current driver support. Trade-off is 16GB versus 24GB VRAM, fine for pure gamers but creators may prefer the 3090.
See review →
Cheaper Ampere sibling
nvidia geforce rtx 3080
Slower than the 3090 but at significantly lower used prices, with the trade-off of less VRAM at 10GB or 12GB depending on variant.
See review →
Step up for serious creators
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
Significantly more performance with DLSS 3 Frame Generation and same 24GB VRAM. The serious choice for creators with budget to spend.
£4,283
See review →
Compare Electronic editors
Independent graphics cards comparison since 2025
Every product is scored against its own product class, not against flagship models. Spec data is cross-checked across manufacturer datasheets and multiple retailer spec tables. Prices are verified daily. We never rank by affiliate commission.
Read our methodology