GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB comes out noticeably faster — about 13% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080. But the GeForce GTX 1080 is the better value, undercutting it by $215 USD for the performance you get.
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GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1080: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce GTX 1080
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is noticeably faster, around 13% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 2,560 on the GeForce GTX 1080.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 1080 currently lists from $165 USD, $215 USD less than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB at $380 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1080 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~105% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 1080 is trading below its $599 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 170W against 180W, 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
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB carries 12GB versus 8GB on the GeForce GTX 1080. The extra 4GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX 1080's memory is also faster — 320 GB/s versus 240 GB/s (256-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1080 (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 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 1080 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.