GeForce GTX 1660 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is dramatically faster than the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, leading by roughly 45% in our performance index. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $667 EUR cheaper.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the clear winner, offering 76.2% better value than GeForce RTX 3060 8GB.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is dramatically faster, around 45% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 1,536 on the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti starts at $427 EUR against $1,094 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar (~76% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti still sits about $148 EUR above its $279 EUR MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB still sits about $765 EUR above its $329 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti pulls less power (120W 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 GTX 1660 Ti's 6GB can fall short. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti's memory is also faster — 288 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 GTX 1660 Ti (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 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 GTX 1660 Ti stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB better than the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB worth the extra $667 EUR over the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 Ti or GeForce RTX 3060 8GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,536 | 3,584✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 28 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 112 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,500 MHz✓ | 1,320 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,770 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 8 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 12 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 288 GB/s✓ | 240 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 120 W✓ | 170 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Feb 2019 | Feb 2021 |