GPU Comparison

Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB comes out marginally faster — about 6% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. 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)

VS
Price
€1,004
Performance
17%
VRAM
11 GB GDDR5X
Key Specs Advantage
+83% Memory Bus (352-bit vs 192-bit)
+34% Bandwidth (484 GB/s vs 360 GB/s)
NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Price
€387
Performance
18%
VRAM
12 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+12% Boost Clock (1,777 MHz vs 1,582 MHz)

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1080 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is marginally faster, around 6% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p.

Price & Value

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB currently lists from $387 EUR, $617 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti at $1,004 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB wins on performance-per-dollar by about 175%. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti still sits about $305 EUR above its $699 EUR MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

At 170W against 250W, 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 11GB on the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. The extra 1GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's memory is also faster — 484 GB/s versus 360 GB/s (352-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 4 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 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 Ti if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti?

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is marginally faster, roughly 6% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti worth the extra $617 EUR over the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB comes out ahead.

Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 12GB (vs 11GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce RTX 3060 12GB
ArchitecturePascalAmpere
Process NodeTSMC 16nmSamsung 8nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)3,5843,584
Ray Tracing Cores28
Tensor / AI Cores112

Clock Speeds

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Base Clock1,480 MHz1,320 MHz
Boost Clock1,582 MHz1,777 MHz

Memory

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce RTX 3060 12GB
VRAM Capacity11 GB12 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR6
Memory Bus352-bit192-bit
Memory Speed11 Gbps15 Gbps
Bandwidth484 GB/s360 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce RTX 3060 12GB
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x16
TDP250 W170 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin1x 8-pin
ReleasedMar 2017Feb 2021