GeForce GTX 1660 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB pulls ahead here — in a different league, about 80% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1660. But the GeForce GTX 1660 is the better value, undercutting it by $740 AED for the performance you get.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
Comparable or lower specs
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1660: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1660
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is dramatically faster, around 80% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1660. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 1660 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 1,408 on the GeForce GTX 1660.
Price & Value
Pricing has the GeForce GTX 1660 at $775 AED, $740 AED under the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's $1,515 AED. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1660 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~9% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 1660 still sits about $556 AED above its $219 AED MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB still sits about $1,186 AED above its $329 AED MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 120W vs 170W, the GeForce GTX 1660 is the gentler load on your system. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's extra power draw buys more performance per watt, not just more heat — worth it if your PSU has the headroom. 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 6GB on the GeForce GTX 1660. The extra 6GB 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 192 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1660 (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 1660 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than the GeForce GTX 1660?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1660 or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB worth the extra $740 AED over the GeForce GTX 1660?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,408 | 3,584✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 28 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 112 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,530 MHz✓ | 1,320 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,785 MHz✓ | 1,777 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 192 GB/s | 360 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 120 W✓ | 170 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Mar 2019 | Feb 2021 |
Related Reading
How to Run Powerful Local LLMs on a Budget GPU in 2026
An 8GB GPU can now run near-flagship open models locally. Here's how QAT, MoE, llama.cpp offloading and MTP turn a budget PC into a private AI rig in 2026.
Intel Arc Alchemist in 2026: Is a Used A580, A750 or A770 Still Worth Buying?
Every Arc Alchemist card is discontinued, and Battlemage replaced them. So what does a used A580, A750 or A770 still buy you — and at what price does it beat a new Arc B580? An honest retrospective on Intel's first discrete GPUs.