GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3070
The GeForce RTX 3070 pulls ahead here — in a different league, about 108% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060. But the GeForce RTX 2060 is the better value, undercutting it by $512 USD for the performance you get.
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GeForce RTX 3070 vs GeForce RTX 2060: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3070 vs GeForce RTX 2060
The GeForce RTX 3070 is dramatically faster, around 108% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3070 is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 2060 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3070 packs 5,888 CUDA cores versus 1,920 on the GeForce RTX 2060.
Price & Value
Pricing has the GeForce RTX 2060 at $340 USD, $512 USD under the GeForce RTX 3070's $852 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 2060 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~21% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 3070 still sits about $353 USD above its $499 USD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 160W vs 220W, the GeForce RTX 2060 is the gentler load on your system. The GeForce RTX 3070'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 3070 carries 8GB versus 6GB on the GeForce RTX 2060. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce RTX 3070's memory is also faster — 448 GB/s versus 336 GB/s (256-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2060 or GeForce RTX 3070?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3070 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 2060 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3070 better than the GeForce RTX 2060?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2060 or the GeForce RTX 3070?
Is the GeForce RTX 3070 worth the extra $512 USD over the GeForce RTX 2060?
Does the GeForce RTX 3070 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2060 or GeForce RTX 3070?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,920 | 5,888✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 30 | 46✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 240✓ | 184 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,365 MHz | 1,500 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,680 MHz | 1,725 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 8 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 256-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 14 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 336 GB/s | 448 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 160 W✓ | 220 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Released | Jan 2019 | Sep 2020 |