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 3080 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 3080 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

✅Costs $901 less on MSRP ($349 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 90.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($349 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Draws 160W instead of 350W, a 190W reduction.
✅Measures 229mm instead of 285mm, a 56mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 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 3080 12GB is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅61.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅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).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
258.2% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$349 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
❌118.8% higher power demand at 350W vs 160W.
❌24.5% longer card at 285mm vs 229mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 61.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 88.2% in PassMark G3D (26,569 vs 14,114), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 3080 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 2060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $901 cheaper on MSRP at $349 vs $1,250, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 90.3% (40.4 vs 21.3), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and lighter 1440p, GeForce RTX 2060 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and strong 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3080 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 3080 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3080 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: 26,569 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 2060 scores 14,114 versus the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB's 26,569 — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB leads by 88.2%. The GeForce RTX 2060 is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,920 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Raw compute: 6.451 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Boost clocks: 1680 MHz vs 1710 MHz. Ray tracing: 30 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 70 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) with 240 Tensor cores vs 280.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
G3D Mark Score	14,114	26,569+88%
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 3080 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 3080 12GB carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 3080 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 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — a 171.4% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 2060 and 384-bit on the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	12 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	912 GB/s+171%
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
DirectX	12 Ultimate (12_2)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Turing) (GeForce RTX 2060) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 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 3080 12GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080 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 3080 12GB's 350W — a 74.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 2060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 229mm vs 285mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 72 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
TDP	160W-54%	350W
Recommended PSU	500W-33%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	229mm	285mm
Height	113mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	72-10%	80°C
Perf/Watt	88.2+16%	75.9

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 2060 came in at $349, while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB launched at $1250. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 2060 was 72.1% cheaper ($901 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce RTX 2060) vs 21.3 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 2060 offers 89.7% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3080 12GB (2022 vs 2019).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
MSRP	$349-72%	$1250
Performance per Dollar	40.4+90%	21.3
Codename	TU106	GA102
Release	January 7 2019	January 11 2022
Ranking	#168	#38

Search GeForce RTX 2060 on Amazon

Search GeForce RTX 3080 12GB on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.