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 2080 comes out marginally faster — about 6% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
Price
Awaiting Data
Performance
19%
VRAM
8 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+229% Tensor Cores (368 vs 112)
+64% RT Cores (46 vs 28)
+33% Memory Bus (256-bit vs 192-bit)
NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Price
€387
Performance
18%
VRAM
12 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+22% CUDA Cores (3,584 vs 2,944)
+4% Boost Clock (1,777 MHz vs 1,710 MHz)

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.

Power & Efficiency

At 170W against 225W, 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 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 faster card. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce RTX 2080 better than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?

The GeForce RTX 2080 is marginally faster, roughly 6% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2080 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.

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

Its 12GB (vs 8GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

SpecificationGeForce RTX 2080GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
ArchitectureTuringAmpere
Process NodeTSMC 12nmSamsung 8nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)2,9443,584
Ray Tracing Cores4628
Tensor / AI Cores368112

Clock Speeds

SpecificationGeForce RTX 2080GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Base Clock1,515 MHz1,320 MHz
Boost Clock1,710 MHz1,777 MHz

Memory

SpecificationGeForce RTX 2080GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
VRAM Capacity8 GB12 GB
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR6
Memory Bus256-bit192-bit
Memory Speed14 Gbps15 Gbps
Bandwidth448 GB/s360 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationGeForce RTX 2080GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x16
TDP225 W170 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin1x 8-pin
ReleasedSep 2018Feb 2021