GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB pulls ahead here — substantially quicker, about 38% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060. But the GeForce RTX 2060 is the better value, undercutting it by $110 USD for the performance you get.
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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 38% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce RTX 2060 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 1,920 on the GeForce RTX 2060.
Price & Value
Pricing has the GeForce RTX 2060 at $190 USD, $110 USD under the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's $300 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 2060 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~14% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 2060 is trading below its $349 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is trading below its $329 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 160W vs 170W, the GeForce RTX 2060 is the gentler load on your system. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's extra power draw buys more performance per watt, not just more heat — worth it if your PSU has the headroom. 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than the GeForce RTX 2060?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2060 or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB worth the extra $110 USD over the GeForce RTX 2060?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2060 or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,920 | 3,584✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 30✓ | 28 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 240✓ | 112 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,365 MHz✓ | 1,320 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,680 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 336 GB/s | 360 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 160 W✓ | 170 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Jan 2019 | Feb 2021 |
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