GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Only verified data for GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is available. Benchmarks for other models are currently being processed.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop comes out dramatically faster — about 56% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the cheaper option by $1,200 USD.
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GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop is dramatically faster, around 56% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is better matched to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop packs 6,144 CUDA cores versus 3,584 on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. The GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop also has more RT cores (48 vs 28) and more AI cores (192 vs 112), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB currently lists from $300 USD, $1,200 USD less than the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop at $1,500 USD. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is trading below its $329 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 150W against 170W, the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop carries 16GB versus 12GB on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. 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 RTX 3080 Laptop's memory is also faster — 448 GB/s versus 360 GB/s (256-bit vs 192-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 Laptop?
The GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop is the faster card by about 56%. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop better than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop worth the extra $1,200 USD over the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which is better for ray tracing, the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ampere |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 3,584 | 6,144✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28 | 48✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 112 | 192✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz✓ | 1,110 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz✓ | 1,545 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB | 16 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 256-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps✓ | 14 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 360 GB/s | 448 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 170 W | 150 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | None |
| Released | Feb 2021 | Jan 2021 |
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