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 vs GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 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 vs GeForce RTX 3080 Ti: 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

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $870 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 130.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 22.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).
✅Draws 170W instead of 350W, a 180W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 285mm, a 43mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 Ti across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 320), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

2021

Why buy it

✅42.2% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅185.7% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (320 vs 112).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
264.4% HIGHER MSRP
$1,199 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.4 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($1,199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 350W vs 170W.
❌17.8% longer card at 285mm vs 242mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 42.2% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 58.1% in PassMark G3D (26,861 vs 16,995), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 80 vs 28 ray-tracing units. That still leaves it as the safer long-term option on hardware alone.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $870 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $1,199, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 130.6% (51.7 vs 22.4), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and lighter 1440p, GeForce RTX 3060 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and strong 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Technical Specifications

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

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 3080 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 31 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1365 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 10240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 80 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,861 points. Launch price was $1,199.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's 26,861 — the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti leads by 58.1%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 10,240 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 34.1 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1665 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 80 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) with 112 Tensor cores vs 320.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
G3D Mark Score	16,995	26,861+58%
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	3584	10240+186%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	34.1 TFLOPS+168%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+7%	1665 MHz
ROPs	48	112+133%
TMUs	112	320+186%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	10 MB+186%
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	80+186%
Tensor Cores	112	320+186%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
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)

Both cards ship with 12 GB of video memory. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) — a 153.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 and 384-bit on the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	12 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	912 GB/s+153%
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
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 3080 Ti). 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,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
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,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's 350W — a 69.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 285mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
TDP	170W-51%	350W
Recommended PSU	550W-27%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	242mm	285mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75-12%	85°C
Perf/Watt	100.0+30%	76.7

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti launched at $1199. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 was 72.6% cheaper ($870 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 22.4 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 130.8% better value.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
MSRP	$329-73%	$1199
Performance per Dollar	51.7+131%	22.4
Codename	GA106	GA102
Release	January 12 2021	May 31 2021
Ranking	#114	#33

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