GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB comes out noticeably faster — about 13% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
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GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1080: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1080
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is noticeably faster, around 13% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 2,560 on the GeForce GTX 1080.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB currently lists from $33 EUR, $443 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 1080 at $476 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB wins on performance-per-dollar by about 1505%. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is trading below its $329 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 1080 is trading below its $599 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 170W against 180W, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB carries 12GB versus 8GB on the GeForce GTX 1080. The extra 4GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX 1080's memory is also faster — 320 GB/s versus 240 GB/s (256-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1080 (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce GTX 1080 if you find it at a steep discount.