GeForce RTX 2060
GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Performance Spectrum
About G3D Mark
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 8GB 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 8GB: 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
2019Why buy it
- ✅114.3% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (240 vs 112).
- ✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 8GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
- ❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
- ❌GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
- ❌6.1% HIGHER MSRP$349 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
- ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 40.4 vs 46.2 G3D/$ ($349 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
2022Why buy it
- ✅15.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
- ✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 14.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 46.2 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
- ✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
- ✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
Trade-offs
- ❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 240), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
Quick Answers
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GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 8GB 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 8GB
The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 12 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 15,208 points.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 2060 scores 14,114 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB's 15,208 — the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB leads by 7.8%. The GeForce RTX 2060 is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,920 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB). Raw compute: 6.451 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB). Boost clocks: 1680 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 30 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) with 240 Tensor cores vs 112.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 14,114 | 15,208+8% |
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | 12 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 1920 | 3584+87% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 6.451 TFLOPS | 12.74 TFLOPS+97% |
| Boost Clock | 1680 MHz | 1777 MHz+6% |
| ROPs | 48 | 48 |
| TMUs | 120+7% | 112 |
| L1 Cache | 1.9 MB | 3.5 MB+84% |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB | 3 MB |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 30+7% | 28 |
| Tensor Cores | 240+114% | 112 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 8GB carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 8GB gives you 33.3% 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 240 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) — a 40% advantage for the GeForce RTX 2060. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 2060 and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 8 GB+33% |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 336 GB/s+40% | 240 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 192-bit+50% | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB | 3 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB). 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 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 8GB). 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 (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce RTX 2060 draws 160W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB's 170W — a 6.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 2060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB). 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 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 160W-6% | 170W |
| 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 | 89.5+1% |
Value Analysis
At launch, the GeForce RTX 2060 came in at $349, while the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB launched at $329. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 8GB was 5.7% cheaper ($20 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 46.2 (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB offers 14.4% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 8GB (2022 vs 2019).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 2060 | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $349 | $329-6% |
| Performance per Dollar | 40.4 | 46.2+14% |
| Codename | TU106 | GA106 |
| Release | January 7 2019 | October 12 2022 |
| Ranking | #168 | #147 |
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