GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti comes out ahead: well ahead on speed, about 39% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.
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GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is significantly faster, around 39% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti packs 4,352 CUDA cores versus 3,584 on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti currently lists from $334 GBP, $8 GBP less than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB at $342 GBP. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar by about 42%. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is trading below its $999 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 170W against 250W, 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
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB at 12GB versus 11GB on the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti — that extra 1GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti's memory is also faster — 616 GB/s versus 360 GB/s (352-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 Ti (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti better than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB worth the extra $8 GBP over the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 4,352✓ | 3,584 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 68✓ | 28 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 544✓ | 112 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,350 MHz✓ | 1,320 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,545 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 11 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 352-bit✓ | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 616 GB/s✓ | 360 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 250 W | 170 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2018 | Feb 2021 |
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