GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB pulls ahead here — in a different league, about 64% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
Comparable or lower specs
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is dramatically faster, around 64% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 1,408 on the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER.
Price & Value
Pricing has the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER at $190 EUR, $104 EUR under the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's $294 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB wins on performance-per-dollar by about 6%. The GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is trading below its $229 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is trading below its $329 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 125W vs 170W, the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is the gentler load on your system. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's extra power draw buys more performance per watt, not just more heat — worth it if your PSU has the headroom. 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 6GB on the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER. The extra 6GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 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 1660 SUPER if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB worth the extra $104 EUR over the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,408 | 3,584✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 28 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 112 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,530 MHz✓ | 1,320 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,785 MHz✓ | 1,777 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 336 GB/s | 360 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 125 W✓ | 170 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Oct 2019 | Feb 2021 |
Related Reading
Why Amazon Is Flooded With Cheap, Off-Brand RX 580 Graphics Cards
Brands like AISURIX, Peladn, and MLLSE sell an 8GB RX 580 for under $100. Here's the truth about ex-mining silicon, the 'RX 580 2048SP' trick, and whether you should buy one.
How to Run Powerful Local LLMs on a Budget GPU in 2026
An 8GB GPU can now run near-flagship open models locally. Here's how QAT, MoE, llama.cpp offloading and MTP turn a budget PC into a private AI rig in 2026.
Intel Arc Alchemist in 2026: Is a Used A580, A750 or A770 Still Worth Buying?
Every Arc Alchemist card is discontinued, and Battlemage replaced them. So what does a used A580, A750 or A770 still buy you — and at what price does it beat a new Arc B580? An honest retrospective on Intel's first discrete GPUs.