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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 2060

2019

Why 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 38 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
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

2022

Why buy it

✅12.4% more average FPS across 38 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).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform 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.

GeForce RTX 2060

2019

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

2022

Why 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.

Why buy it

✅12.4% more average FPS across 38 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).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 8GB across 38 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
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).

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

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 8GB better than GeForce RTX 2060?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. GeForce RTX 3060 8GB averages 12.4% more FPS across 38 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 14,114 vs 15,208 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, DLSS Super Resolution.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2019, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, and a 8nm process instead of 12nm. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is about $20 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $349 MSRP, and you are getting 12.4% more estimated average FPS across 38 tracked games in our benchmark data and 7.8% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 14.3%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce RTX 2060 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 2060 is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $349 MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce RTX 2060 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
1080p
low	108 FPS	183 FPS
medium	98 FPS	163 FPS
high	82 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	154 FPS
medium	83 FPS	127 FPS
high	69 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	47 FPS	73 FPS
medium	43 FPS	63 FPS
high	31 FPS	42 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	35 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
1080p
low	290 FPS	344 FPS
medium	247 FPS	295 FPS
high	197 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	155 FPS	184 FPS
1440p
low	192 FPS	215 FPS
medium	164 FPS	187 FPS
high	131 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	123 FPS
4K
low	108 FPS	106 FPS
medium	91 FPS	89 FPS
high	75 FPS	76 FPS
ultra	57 FPS	58 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
1080p
low	635 FPS	684 FPS
medium	508 FPS	547 FPS
high	423 FPS	456 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	342 FPS
1440p
low	476 FPS	513 FPS
medium	381 FPS	411 FPS
high	318 FPS	342 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	257 FPS
4K
low	318 FPS	342 FPS
medium	254 FPS	274 FPS
high	212 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	159 FPS	171 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
1080p
low	428 FPS	545 FPS
medium	354 FPS	478 FPS
high	286 FPS	402 FPS
ultra	244 FPS	333 FPS
1440p
low	357 FPS	434 FPS
medium	302 FPS	382 FPS
high	235 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	248 FPS
4K
low	204 FPS	285 FPS
medium	166 FPS	268 FPS
high	154 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	171 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 2060 and GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

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 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 240 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) — a 40% advantage for the GeForce RTX 2060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit.

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

The GeForce RTX 2060 launched at $349 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB launched at $329. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB costs 5.7% less ($20 savings) on MSRP. 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 GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2019).