GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3080
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster than the GeForce RTX 2060, leading by roughly 169% in our performance index. The GeForce RTX 2060, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $769 EUR cheaper.
Market Value Leader
GeForce RTX 2060 is the clear winner, offering 1055.7% better value than GeForce RTX 3080.
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Comparable or lower specs
GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 2060: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 2060
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster, around 169% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3080 is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 2060 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3080 packs 8,704 CUDA cores versus 1,920 on the GeForce RTX 2060.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 2060 starts at $26 EUR against $795 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3080. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 2060 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~1056% 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 3080 still sits about $96 EUR above its $699 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 2060 pulls less power (160W vs 320W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 3080 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 10GB against 6GB, the GeForce RTX 3080 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 3080's memory is also faster — 760 GB/s versus 336 GB/s (320-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2060 or GeForce RTX 3080?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3080 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 3080 better than the GeForce RTX 2060?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2060 or the GeForce RTX 3080?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 worth the extra $769 EUR over the GeForce RTX 2060?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2060 or GeForce RTX 3080?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,920 | 8,704✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 30 | 68✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 240 | 272✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,365 MHz | 1,440 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,680 MHz | 1,710 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 10 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 320-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 19 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 336 GB/s | 760 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 160 W✓ | 320 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Released | Jan 2019 | Sep 2020 |