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 significantly faster — about 38% 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 significantly faster, around 38% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 1080 is better matched to entry-level 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 $387 EUR, $148 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 1080 at $535 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB wins on performance-per-dollar by about 92%. 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 RTX 3060 12GB's memory is also faster — 360 GB/s versus 320 GB/s (192-bit vs 256-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.