GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Performance-wise the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 41% up on the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. Value tips toward the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, though: $131 GBP cheaper for what you get.
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GeForce RTX 3060 Ti vs GeForce GTX 1080 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 Ti vs GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is dramatically faster, around 41% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti packs 4,864 CUDA cores versus 3,584 on the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti starts at $195 GBP against $325 GBP for the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar (~18% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is trading below its $699 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is trading below its $399 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti sips power at 200W next to the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's 250W, and still leads on performance-per-watt — quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU. 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 GTX 1080 Ti's 11GB (vs 8GB on the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's memory is also faster — 484 GB/s versus 448 GB/s (352-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti better than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti worth the extra $131 GBP over the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti?
Does the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 3,584 | 4,864✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 38 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 152 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,480 MHz✓ | 1,410 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,582 MHz | 1,665 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 11 GB✓ | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5X | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 352-bit✓ | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 11 Gbps | 14 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 484 GB/s✓ | 448 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 250 W | 200 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Released | Mar 2017 | Dec 2020 |