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 3060 Ti 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 3060 Ti 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 3060 Ti

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $851 less on MSRP ($399 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 139.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.9 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Draws 200W instead of 350W, a 150W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 285mm, a 43mm 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 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (152 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

✅13.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅84.2% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 152).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
213.3% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$399 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 50.9 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
❌75% higher power demand at 350W vs 200W.
❌17.8% longer card at 285mm vs 242mm.

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 13.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 30.8% in PassMark G3D (26,569 vs 20,312), 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 8 GB of VRAM, 70 vs 38 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2022 generation instead of 2020. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti makes the most sense to buy today. It is $851 cheaper on MSRP at $399 vs $1,250, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 139.5% (50.9 vs 21.3), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and strong 1440p, GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 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 3060 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1410 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 4864 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 38 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $399.

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 3060 Ti scores 20,312 versus the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB's 26,569 — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB leads by 30.8%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 4,864 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Raw compute: 16.2 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Boost clocks: 1665 MHz vs 1710 MHz. Ray tracing: 38 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 70 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) with 152 Tensor cores vs 280.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
G3D Mark Score	20,312	26,569+31%
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	4864	8960+84%
Compute (TFLOPS)	16.2 TFLOPS	30.64 TFLOPS+89%
Boost Clock	1665 MHz	1710 MHz+3%
ROPs	80	96+20%
TMUs	152	280+84%
L1 Cache	4.8 MB	8.8 MB+83%
L2 Cache	4 MB	6 MB+50%
Ray Tracing Cores	38	70+84%
Tensor Cores	152	280+84%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	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 3060 Ti has 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB gives you 50% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — a 103.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and 384-bit on the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) 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 3060 Ti	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	12 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	448 GB/s	912 GB/s+104%
Bus Width	256-bit	384-bit+50%
L2 Cache	4 MB	6 MB+50%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) 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 3060 Ti	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 (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Decoder: NVDEC (Ampere) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
Encoder	NVENC (Ampere)	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Ampere)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti draws 200W versus the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB's 350W — a 54.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 285mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
TDP	200W-43%	350W
Recommended PSU	600W-20%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	242mm	285mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	101.6+34%	75.9

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti came in at $399, while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB launched at $1250. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 Ti was 68.1% cheaper ($851 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 50.9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 21.3 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 139% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3080 12GB (2022 vs 2020).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
MSRP	$399-68%	$1250
Performance per Dollar	50.9+139%	21.3
Codename	GA104	GA102
Release	December 1 2020	January 11 2022
Ranking	#73	#38

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