The release of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-series graphics cards must have been the most exciting event for the gaming community in 2020. And rightfully so: RTX 30-series GPUs take the game to the next level. Still, they are also highly regarded among digital creators. These cards work on Ampere architecture and have new RT and Tensor cores for a vivid ray-traced image paired with AI features.
What’s even better is that gaming laptops support RTX 30-series graphics. In this post, we will focus on the hottest RTX 3080 configuration models. Several brands, including Alienware, Razer, and MSI, have very attractive, lightweight (and very expensive!) GeForce RTX 3080-based gaming models.
Yes, as you can imagine, the RTX 3080-based laptops are not cheap. If you are an aspiring gamer on a tight budget, we suggest checking our Best Gaming Laptop Under $500 post.
Without further ado, let’s explore some of the most popular gaming laptops on the market to feature the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics.
Alienware X15 Gaming Laptop with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Graphics
This one comes with the latest i9-11900H 8-Core up to 4.9GHz model, 32GB RAM, a 4TB SSD drive, and, of course, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB GDDR6 video card.
It’s hard to grasp how such a slim, lightweight (only 5 lbs) model can sport such powerful hardware. Yet, the Alienware X15 is capable of replacing your gaming desktop while giving you the mobility you always wanted. And suppose you are wondering how it is going to hold up without overheating. In the X15 model, Alienware uses a proprietary Element 31 technology, an “encapsulated gallium-silicone thermal interface material.” It is supposed to slow heat dissipation, offering up to a 25% increase in heat resistance.
Needless to say, the Alienware X15 is aggressively expensive: its base configuration starts at $3,859.99 + tax. And for those wanting to upgrade their previous model, we have put together a few pointers on how to sell a used Alienware laptop for the most value.
MSI GE76 Raider Dragon Edition TIAMAT with RTX 3080
The laptop looks gorgeous and unique in its elaborately etched chassis. It is a 17.3-inch model with 10th generation Intel Core i7-10870H 2.2GHz base frequency, 64GB RAM, and 2TB SSD storage. Unlike Alienware, its RTX 3080 offers 16GB GDDR6 video memory. Quite an upgrade from the MSI GE75 Raider model we reviewed a few months back. MSI GE76 runs AAA titles like Fortnite, Halo 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Warzone seamlessly, allowing you to truly enjoy the game. We also have the RTX 3080 architecture to thank for it.
Some other cool features are a per-key RGB gaming keyboard, a better cooling system, a 99.9Whr battery, and Dragon Center with exclusive gaming mode 2.0.
MSI GE76 Raider with RTX 3080 graphics can be pre-ordered for $3,399.99 + tax.
Razer Blade 15 Advanced RZ09-0409CEC3-R3U1
With this one, you get your traditional Razer Blade design, but there are no significant updates. Still, it’s the hardware that matters the most. This powerful gaming laptop has the 11th generation 8-core Intel i7-11800H processor, FHD 360Hz display, and mandatory 8GB VRAM RTX 3080 discrete video. You also get 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD storage with this one; plus, there is an Open M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot for easy expansion.
The model is currently available on the Razer website for $3099.99 + tax.
Used RTX 3080-Based Laptops Resale Value
We are going to see more laptop models sporting this top-of-the-line NVIDIA video hardware. For now, it is still quite tricky to get your hands on the RTX 3080 configurations in stores and online. Best Buy is either out of stock or expected to get them sometime in July. Razer keeps stock, but the MSI GE76 is a rare find. Alienware X15 is ready to ship in mid-July.
But say you were lucky enough to score yourself an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080-based gaming laptop earlier this year. What if you did not love it enough to keep using it? We have a few price pointers to give you an idea of how much a used model can go for online.
- For example, a used ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 with an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and RTX 3080 graphics gets up to $1401 in estimated value. Not bad.*
- Used Alienware M15 R4 with Core i7 10th generation processor yields up to $1325 offer*
We will continue adding new models as they become available. And if you have any other laptop to sell, punch in your brand and model into the search bar to get an instant free estimate.
Final Thoughts
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080-based laptops are super powerful and capable of replacing a desktop PC. Not only gamers but creative professionals will love everything RTX 3080 has to offer. Unfortunately, these laptop models come with a price tag. In many instances, it will make more sense to upgrade your desktop graphics instead of investing in a new fancy RTX 30-series-based laptop.
*Priced on 06/23/2021. Subject to change.