GeForce GTX 1070 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is dramatically faster than the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, leading by roughly 50% in our performance index. The GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $364 EUR cheaper.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX 1070 Ti is the clear winner, offering 447.1% better value than GeForce RTX 3060 12GB.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1070 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1070 Ti
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is dramatically faster, around 50% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 2,432 on the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti starts at $51 EUR against $415 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar (~447% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 1070 Ti is trading below its $449 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB still sits about $86 EUR above its $329 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB draws just 170W versus 180W for the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 12GB against 8GB, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti's 8GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's memory is also faster — 360 GB/s versus 256 GB/s (192-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1070 Ti or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB worth the extra $364 EUR over the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1070 Ti or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,432 | 3,584✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 28 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 112 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,607 MHz✓ | 1,320 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,683 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit✓ | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 256.3 GB/s | 360 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 180 W | 170 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Nov 2017 | Feb 2021 |
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