GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti comes out ahead: well ahead on speed, about 39% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. That said, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the smarter buy on value — $530 EUR less for the performance on offer.
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GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is significantly faster, around 39% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti packs 4,352 CUDA cores versus 3,584 on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB currently lists from $320 EUR, $530 EUR less than the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti at $850 EUR. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers the better performance-per-dollar (~91% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is trading below its $999 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
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
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB at 12GB versus 11GB on the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti — that extra 1GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti's memory is also faster — 616 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 3 years newer than the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Choose the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti better than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti worth the extra $530 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 Ti or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 4,352✓ | 3,584 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 68✓ | 28 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 544✓ | 112 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,350 MHz✓ | 1,320 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,545 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 11 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 352-bit✓ | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 616 GB/s✓ | 360 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 250 W | 170 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2018 | Feb 2021 |
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