GeForce RTX 2080 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 2080 pulls ahead here — a touch quicker, about 6% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
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GeForce RTX 2080 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 2080 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 2080 is marginally faster, around 6% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p.
Price & Value
Pricing has the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB at $294 EUR, $3 EUR under the GeForce RTX 2080's $297 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 2080 wins on performance-per-dollar. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is trading below its $329 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 2080 is trading below its $699 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
Power draw favors the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB (170W vs 225W), and it's the more efficient card too, so it's the easy pick if thermals or a smaller PSU matter. 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 RTX 2080. 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 RTX 2080's memory is also faster — 448 GB/s versus 360 GB/s (256-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce RTX 2080 (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2080 or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
The GeForce RTX 2080 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 RTX 3060 12GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 2080 better than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2080 or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 2080 worth the extra $3 EUR over the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2080 or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,944 | 3,584✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 46✓ | 28 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 368✓ | 112 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,515 MHz✓ | 1,320 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,710 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit✓ | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 448 GB/s✓ | 360 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 225 W | 170 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2018 | Feb 2021 |
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