GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is significantly faster than the GeForce GTX 1070, leading by roughly 38% in our performance index. The GeForce GTX 1070, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $201 GBP cheaper.
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GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1070: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1070
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is significantly faster, around 38% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1070. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 1070 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 1,920 on the GeForce GTX 1070.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 1070 starts at $158 GBP against $359 GBP for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1070 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~64% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 1070 is trading below its $379 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 1070 pulls less power (150W vs 170W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 3060 12GB draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 12GB against 8GB, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 1070's 8GB can fall short.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1070 (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1070 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 1070 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.