GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is significantly faster than the GeForce RTX 2060, leading by roughly 23% in our performance index. The GeForce RTX 2060, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $399 EUR cheaper.
Market Value Leader
GeForce RTX 2060 is the clear winner, offering 1251.5% better value than GeForce RTX 3060 8GB.
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GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs GeForce RTX 2060: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs GeForce RTX 2060
The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is significantly faster, around 23% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce RTX 2060 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 1,920 on the GeForce RTX 2060.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 2060 starts at $26 EUR against $425 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 2060 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~1252% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 2060 is trading below its $349 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB still sits about $96 EUR above its $329 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 2060 pulls less power (160W vs 170W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 3060 8GB draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 8GB against 6GB, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 2060's 6GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 2060's memory is also faster — 336 GB/s versus 240 GB/s (192-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce RTX 2060 (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2060 or GeForce RTX 3060 8GB?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 2060 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB better than the GeForce RTX 2060?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2060 or the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB worth the extra $399 EUR over the GeForce RTX 2060?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2060 or GeForce RTX 3060 8GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,920 | 3,584✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 30✓ | 28 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 240✓ | 112 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,365 MHz✓ | 1,320 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,680 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 8 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 336 GB/s✓ | 240 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 160 W✓ | 170 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Jan 2019 | Feb 2021 |