G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce RTX 2060

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 160W instead of 350W, a 190W reduction.
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 12GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (240 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌
6.1% HIGHER MSRP
$349 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅52.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
✅Delivers 26.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
✅16.7% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 240).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌118.8% higher power demand at 350W vs 160W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 52.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 18.9% in PassMark G3D (16,777 vs 14,114), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM, a 8nm process instead of 12nm, 70 vs 30 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2022 generation instead of 2019. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $20 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $349, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 26.1% (51.0 vs 40.4), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce RTX 2060

The GeForce RTX 2060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 7 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1365 MHz to 1680 MHz. It has 1920 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 30 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 14,114 points. Launch price was $349.

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,777 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 2060 scores 14,114 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's 16,777 — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB leads by 18.9%. The GeForce RTX 2060 is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,920 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Raw compute: 6.451 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Boost clocks: 1680 MHz vs 1710 MHz. Ray tracing: 30 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 70 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) with 240 Tensor cores vs 280.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
G3D Mark Score	14,114	16,777+19%
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1920	8960+367%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.451 TFLOPS	30.64 TFLOPS+375%
Boost Clock	1680 MHz	1710 MHz+2%
ROPs	48	96+100%
TMUs	120	280+133%
L1 Cache	1.9 MB	8.8 MB+363%
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%
Ray Tracing Cores	30	70+133%
Tensor Cores	240	280+17%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 2060 has 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) — a 7.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 2060 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	12 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	360 GB/s+7%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
DirectX	12 Ultimate (12_2)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Turing) (GeForce RTX 2060) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Decoder: NVDEC (Turing) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,VP8,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Encoder	NVENC (Turing)	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Turing)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9,VP8,MPEG-2,VC-1	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 2060 draws 160W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's 350W — a 74.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 2060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 229mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 72 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
TDP	160W-54%	350W
Recommended PSU	500W-9%	550W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	229mm	242mm
Height	113mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	72-4%	75°C
Perf/Watt	88.2+84%	47.9

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 2060 came in at $349, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB launched at $329. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 12GB was 5.7% cheaper ($20 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 51.0 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers 26.2% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 12GB (2022 vs 2019).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
MSRP	$349	$329-6%
Performance per Dollar	40.4	51.0+26%
Codename	TU106	GA102
Release	January 7 2019	January 11 2022
Ranking	#168	#38

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