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 significantly faster — about 20% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060. But the GeForce RTX 2060 is the better value, undercutting it by $185 USD for the performance you get.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 2060: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 2060
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is significantly faster, around 20% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 1,920 on the GeForce RTX 2060.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 2060 currently lists from $195 USD, $185 USD less than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB at $380 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 2060 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~62% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 2060 is trading below its $349 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
On power, the GeForce RTX 2060 is the gentler choice at 160W versus 170W. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 170W draw means more heat and a bigger 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 RTX 3060 12GB carries 12GB versus 6GB on the GeForce RTX 2060. The extra 6GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce RTX 2060's memory is also faster — 336 GB/s versus 240 GB/s (192-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 2 years newer than the GeForce RTX 2060 (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2060 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 RTX 2060 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.