GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, leading by roughly 100% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster, around 100% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3080 is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is better matched to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3080 packs 8,704 CUDA cores versus 3,584 on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. The GeForce RTX 3080 also has more RT cores (68 vs 28) and more AI cores (272 vs 112), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB starts at $359 GBP against $387 GBP for the GeForce RTX 3080. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3080 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 85%. The GeForce RTX 3080 is trading below its $699 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB pulls less power (170W vs 320W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 3080 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 12GB against 10GB, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 3080's 10GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 3080's memory is also faster — 760 GB/s versus 240 GB/s (320-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or GeForce RTX 3080?
The GeForce RTX 3080 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.