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

✅Costs $350 less on MSRP ($349 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 12.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 35.9 G3D/$ ($349 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 160W instead of 320W, a 160W reduction.
✅Measures 229mm instead of 285mm, a 56mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (14,114 vs 25,071).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 10 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (240 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3080 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 3080

2020

Why buy it

✅+77.6% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅13.3% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 240).
✅66.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (10 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
100.3% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$349 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 35.9 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 320W vs 160W.
❌24.5% longer card at 285mm vs 229mm.

GeForce RTX 2060

2019

GeForce RTX 3080

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $350 less on MSRP ($349 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 12.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 35.9 G3D/$ ($349 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 160W instead of 320W, a 160W reduction.
✅Measures 229mm instead of 285mm, a 56mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅+77.6% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅13.3% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 240).
✅66.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (10 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (14,114 vs 25,071).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 10 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (240 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3080 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌
100.3% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$349 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 35.9 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 320W vs 160W.
❌24.5% longer card at 285mm vs 229mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3080 better than GeForce RTX 2060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3080 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 77.6% higher PassMark G3D performance, 272 vs 240 Tensor cores, and 10 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2020 instead of 2019, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

GeForce RTX 3080 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 generation instead of 2019, 77.6% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 10 GB instead of 6 GB, and 126.7% more ray-tracing hardware. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

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

GeForce RTX 3080 is about 100.3% more expensive on MSRP at $699 MSRP versus $349 MSRP, and you are getting 77.6% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 2060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 3080 is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 2060 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 2060 is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $349 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 3080 earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

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 3080 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
1080p
low	108 FPS	164 FPS
medium	98 FPS	150 FPS
high	82 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	113 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	139 FPS
medium	83 FPS	116 FPS
high	69 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	47 FPS	85 FPS
medium	43 FPS	72 FPS
high	31 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	50 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 Open GeForce RTX 3080

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
1080p
low	290 FPS	579 FPS
medium	247 FPS	493 FPS
high	197 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	155 FPS	338 FPS
1440p
low	192 FPS	386 FPS
medium	164 FPS	322 FPS
high	131 FPS	257 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	219 FPS
4K
low	108 FPS	178 FPS
medium	91 FPS	153 FPS
high	75 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	57 FPS	110 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 Open GeForce RTX 3080

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
1080p
low	635 FPS	869 FPS
medium	508 FPS	706 FPS
high	423 FPS	617 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	539 FPS
1440p
low	476 FPS	686 FPS
medium	381 FPS	555 FPS
high	318 FPS	475 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	318 FPS	472 FPS
medium	254 FPS	386 FPS
high	212 FPS	325 FPS
ultra	159 FPS	270 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 Open GeForce RTX 3080

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
1080p
low	428 FPS	647 FPS
medium	354 FPS	588 FPS
high	286 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	244 FPS	455 FPS
1440p
low	357 FPS	524 FPS
medium	302 FPS	472 FPS
high	235 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	358 FPS
4K
low	204 FPS	344 FPS
medium	166 FPS	314 FPS
high	154 FPS	289 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	261 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 Open GeForce RTX 3080

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 2060 and GeForce RTX 3080

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 3080

The GeForce RTX 3080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1440 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8704 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 320W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 68 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 25,071 points. Launch price was $699.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 2060 scores 14,114 versus the GeForce RTX 3080's 25,071 — the GeForce RTX 3080 leads by 77.6%. The GeForce RTX 2060 is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3080 uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,920 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 8,704 (GeForce RTX 3080). Raw compute: 6.451 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 29.77 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080). Boost clocks: 1680 MHz vs 1710 MHz. Ray tracing: 30 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 68 (GeForce RTX 3080) with 240 Tensor cores vs 272.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
G3D Mark Score	14,114	25,071+78%
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1920	8704+353%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.451 TFLOPS	29.77 TFLOPS+361%
Boost Clock	1680 MHz	1710 MHz+2%
ROPs	48	96+100%
TMUs	120	272+127%
L1 Cache	1.9 MB	8.5 MB+347%
L2 Cache	3 MB	5 MB+67%
Ray Tracing Cores	30	68+127%
Tensor Cores	240	272+13%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
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 3080 has 10 GB. The GeForce RTX 3080 offers 66.7% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 760 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080) — a 126.2% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080. Bus width: 192-bit vs 320-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 5 MB (GeForce RTX 3080) — the GeForce RTX 3080 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	10 GB+67%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	760 GB/s+126%
Bus Width	192-bit	320-bit+67%
L2 Cache	3 MB	5 MB+67%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3080). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
DirectX	12 Ultimate (12_2)	12 Ultimate (12_2)
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 (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3080). Decoder: NVDEC (Turing) vs NVDEC (Ampere). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,VP8,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
Encoder	NVENC (Turing)	NVENC (Ampere)
Decoder	NVDEC (Turing)	NVDEC (Ampere)
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9,VP8,MPEG-2,VC-1	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 2060 draws 160W versus the GeForce RTX 3080's 320W — a 66.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 2060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 3080). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 229mm vs 285mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 72 vs 75.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080
TDP	160W-50%	320W
Recommended PSU	500W-33%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	229mm	285mm
Height	113mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	72-4%	75
Perf/Watt	88.2+13%	78.3

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 2060 launched at $349 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3080 launched at $699. The GeForce RTX 2060 costs 50.1% less ($350 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 35.9 (GeForce RTX 3080) — the GeForce RTX 2060 offers 12.5% better value. The GeForce RTX 3080 is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2019).