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 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅6.0% more average FPS across 39 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 11.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 46.2 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 39 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 46.2 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

2022

Why buy it

✅6.0% more average FPS across 39 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 11.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 46.2 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 39 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 46.2 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 6.0% more average FPS across 39 tracked games in our benchmark data, 11.8% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 12 GB vs 8 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2021 instead of 2022, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 11.8% more raw performance headroom and more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 8 GB. 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 3060 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3060 is in basically the same MSRP band at $329 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 6.0% more estimated average FPS across 39 tracked games in our benchmark data and 11.8% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 11.8%. GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the newer 2022 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce RTX 3060 8GB make more sense than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture and staying closer to $329 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3060. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3060 currently gives you 11.8% higher G3D Mark and 6.0% more estimated average FPS across 39 tracked games in our benchmark data. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 11.8%.

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 3060 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
1080p
low	149 FPS	183 FPS
medium	131 FPS	163 FPS
high	118 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	154 FPS
medium	104 FPS	127 FPS
high	92 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	73 FPS
medium	58 FPS	63 FPS
high	39 FPS	42 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	35 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
1080p
low	354 FPS	350 FPS
medium	310 FPS	298 FPS
high	249 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	185 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	214 FPS
medium	196 FPS	182 FPS
high	160 FPS	149 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	104 FPS
medium	94 FPS	85 FPS
high	77 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	54 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
1080p
low	765 FPS	684 FPS
medium	612 FPS	547 FPS
high	510 FPS	456 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	342 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	513 FPS
medium	432 FPS	411 FPS
high	366 FPS	342 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	257 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	342 FPS
medium	298 FPS	274 FPS
high	221 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	171 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
1080p
low	523 FPS	545 FPS
medium	452 FPS	478 FPS
high	383 FPS	402 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	333 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	434 FPS
medium	371 FPS	382 FPS
high	298 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	248 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	285 FPS
medium	259 FPS	268 FPS
high	225 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	171 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3060

The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. 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: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.

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 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB's 15,208 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 11.8%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) with 112 Tensor cores vs 112.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
G3D Mark Score	16,995+12%	15,208
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	3584	3584
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	12.74 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	1777 MHz
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	112	112
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	3.5 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB	3 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	28	28
Tensor Cores	112	112

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	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 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 240 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) — a 50% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+50%	240 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	3 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) 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 3060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB's 170W — a 0% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
TDP	170W	170W
Recommended PSU	550W	550W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	242mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75	75°C
Perf/Watt	100.0+12%	89.5

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB launched at $329. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 46.2 (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 11.9% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2021).