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MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£320
  • Avg. price in US: ~$330
  • VRAM: 12 GB
  • Memory bus width: 192 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 170 W

MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

4.9

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.9

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
4.9

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

2.7

Performance

24.0%

4.2

Memory

12.0%

7.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

9.3

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.3

Design

4.0%

9.0

Connectivity & Media

Poor
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 5.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    2.1

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.6
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.5
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    2.1

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.0
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    2.1

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.5
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    2.1

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £320

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming is a mid-range graphics card powered by the NVIDIA Ampere architecture, featuring 3,584 CUDA cores and a substantial 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 192-bit bus. This specific model boasts a factory-overclocked boost clock of 1837 MHz (Gaming X) or 1852 MHz (Gaming X Trio) and utilizes the Twin Frozr 8 or Tri Frozr 2 cooling system with TORX Fan 4.0 for near-silent operation and excellent thermals under load. Main pros include its generous VRAM buffer, which is ideal for both high-texture 1080p/1440p gaming and creative tasks like video editing, alongside robust support for DLSS and Ray Tracing. However, its main cons are the relatively narrow memory interface compared to higher-tier cards and ray tracing performance that can struggle in more demanding modern titles without the aid of AI upscaling.

Technical Specifications of MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

?

Performance

24.0%

?

Memory

12.0%

?

Power & Cooling

11.0%

?

Platform & Features

5.0%

?

Design

4.0%

?

Connectivity & Media

4.9
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a technical score of 4.9 points, which is lower than that of 79% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
1.0
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 55.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.9

Overall score

40.0%

8.8

Price

6.1
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.1 points, which is lower than 79.1% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

?
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

5,072 points
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming scores 5072 points in 3DMark Port Royal, which is lower than 92% of graphics cards and equal to 0.4% of graphics cards.
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

12 GB
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has 12 GB of VRAM, which is more than 45.4% of graphics cards and equal to 15.9% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR6
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR6
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming uses GDDR6 memory, which is newer than on 16.6% of graphics cards and equal to 39.1% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

192 bit
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming uses a 192 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 50.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 18.8% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

360 GB/s
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming reaches 360 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 62.1% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.5% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

4.0
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming supports PCIe 4.0, which is newer than on 22.5% of graphics cards and equal to 52% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

12 Ultimate
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is more advanced than on 12.5% of graphics cards and equal to 87.5% of graphics cards.
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.4
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming supports Vulkan 1.4, which is more advanced than on 26.6% of graphics cards and equal to 73.4% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

4
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 7.8% of graphics cards and equal to 89.2% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

?
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

3
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming offers 3 DisplayPort outputs, which is more than 20.9% of graphics cards and equal to 77.3% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.4a
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming supports DisplayPort 1.4a, which is more advanced than on 22.7% of graphics cards and equal to 44.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

?
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

170 W
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a TDP of 170 W, which is lower than that of 63.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.9% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

170 W
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming draws 170 W under peak load, which is lower than 64.7% of graphics cards and equal to 1.8% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

550 W
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming recommends a 550 W PSU, which is lower than that of 63.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 12.8% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

?
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

170 W
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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

?
Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

276 mm
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming is 276 mm long, which is shorter than 55.7% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.8% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

131 mm
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming is 131 mm tall, which is taller than 57.9% of graphics cards and equal in height to 2.4% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming vs the average graphics card

  • 15.4% lower PSU requirement
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (550 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (550 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.550 W vs 650 W
  • 20.9% lower TDP
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (170 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (170 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.170 W vs 215 W
  • 7.1% faster VRAM clock
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,875 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
    What it is: Speed at which the GPU memory operates
    When it matters: When you want more context on how quickly the card's VRAM can move data.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,875 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.1875 MHz vs 1750 MHz
  • 7.1% faster VRAM clock
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,875 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 15.4% lower PSU requirement
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (550 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 20.9% lower TDP
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (170 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.

Total
Memory
Power & Cooling
  • 20 fewer ray tracing cores
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (28 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.
  • 31.3% lower base clock speed
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,320 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 12 fewer compute units
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (28 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 72 fewer TMUs
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (112 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 47.2% lower texture rate
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (199 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 80 fewer AI cores
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer AI cores than the average graphics card (112 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.
  • 16 fewer ROPs
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (48 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 49% lower ray tracing score
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower ray tracing score than the average graphics card (5,072 points vs 9,938.5 points). The average graphics card has a ray tracing score of 9,938.5 points.
  • 56.8% lower FP16 performance
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower FP16 performance than the average graphics card (12.7 TFLOPS vs 29.5 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP16 performance of 29.5 TFLOPS.
  • 64 bit narrower memory bus
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 21.1% slower memory speed
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (15,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 90.6% smaller L2 cache
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (3 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 19.6% lower memory bandwidth
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (360 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 60% larger process node
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a higher process node than the average graphics card (8 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • 2 older
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,021 vs 2,023).
  • Older encoder generation
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (7 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • Older shader model
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.6 vs 6.8).
  • No AV1 encoding
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 75% lower HDMI bandwidth
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower HDMI bandwidth than the average graphics card (12 Gbps vs 48 Gbps). The average graphics card has HDMI bandwidth of 48 Gbps.
  • 4 mm higher card profile
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming is taller than the average graphics card (131 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 20 fewer ray tracing cores
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (28 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.
    What it is: Number of dedicated ray tracing processing cores or units
    When it matters: When you care about ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows in newer games.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (28 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.28 vs 48
  • 64 bit narrower memory bus
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.192 bit vs 256 bit
  • 31.3% lower base clock speed
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,320 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,320 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1320 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 12 fewer compute units
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (28 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (28 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.28 vs 40
  • 60% larger process node
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a higher process node than the average graphics card (8 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a higher process node than the average graphics card (8 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.8 nm vs 5 nm
  • 72 fewer TMUs
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (112 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (112 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.112 vs 184
  • 47.2% lower texture rate
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (199 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (199 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.199 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 80 fewer AI cores
    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer AI cores than the average graphics card (112 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.
    What it is: Number of tensor or AI processing cores
    When it matters: When AI features, frame generation, or creator tools use dedicated matrix hardware.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming has fewer AI cores than the average graphics card (112 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.112 vs 192
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Design

Graphic comparison of MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming and

Attribute category
Attribute
No results found

Third-party reviews

What customers like about MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming?

  • Exceptional thermal performance, often maintaining temperatures below 60°C even under heavy load.
  • Near-silent operation thanks to the Torx Fan 4.0 technology and zero-RPM mode.
  • Large 12GB VRAM buffer provides future-proofing for textures and a significant advantage in creative apps like Blender and DaVinci Resolve.
  • Sturdy build quality featuring a metal backplate for structural reinforcement and heat dissipation.
  • Excellent for 1080p and capable 1440p gaming, especially when leveraging NVIDIA DLSS.
  • Easy installation and user-friendly software for controlling Mystic Light RGB and performance tuning.

What customers dislike about MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming?

  • Significant physical size (especially Trio models), requiring a large case and potentially blocking other PCIe slots.
  • Limited power target (TGP) overhead of roughly 170-180W can restrict aggressive manual overclocking.
  • Performance gap compared to the RTX 3060 Ti can be as high as 25%, often making the Ti a better value if priced closely.
  • Plastic shroud on some models like the Gaming X, though sturdy, may feel less premium than metal alternatives.
  • The 192-bit memory bus can act as a bottleneck in high-resolution scenarios compared to higher-tier cards.

Expert reviews

L
legitreviews.com
27/02/2021
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 GAMING X TRIO Review

The MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X TRIO is a premium flagship graphics card that features a factory overclocked boost clock of 1852 MHz (a 75 MHz increase over stock) and 12GB of GDDR6 memory running at 15 Gbps. It utilizes a massive, over-the-top 2.5-slot design equipped with the TRI FROZR 2 thermal system, which includes double ball bearing TORX 4.0 fans and Zero Frozr technology...Read more

K
kitguru.net
11/03/2021
MSI RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio Review - KitGuru

The MSI RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio is a physically massive mid-range graphics card that Dominic Moass awarded a 7.5 out of 10 rating. Built on Nvidia's GA106 Ampere architecture, it features 3,584 CUDA Cores and an unusually large 12GB of GDDR6 memory, though it operates on a restricted 192-bit bus. The defining characteristic of this specific custom model is its over-engineered...Read more

P
pcgamer.com
03/03/2021
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X 12GGo to product viewer dialogue for this item. Review - PC Gamer

The MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X 12G is a well-balanced mid-range graphics card featuring Nvidia’s GA106 chip, 3,584 CUDA cores, and a factory boost clock of 1,837MHz. In terms of pros, the card stands out due to its Twin Frozr 8 dual-fan cooler, which delivers exceptionally quiet operation and impressive thermals, maintaining a load temperature of just 63°C while boosting clock...Read more

T
tweaktown.com
25/02/2021
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 GAMING X TRIO Review - TweakTown

The TweakTown review identifies the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 GAMING X TRIO as a superior 1080p and 1440p gaming card, featuring 12GB of fast GDDR6 VRAM and exceptional cooling performance. Proponents of the card highlight its silent operation and robust, over-engineered triple-fan design that makes it ideal for competitive gaming with DLSS and ray tracing. However, the card is...Read more

G
guru3d.com
25/02/2021
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X TRIO review

The Guru3D review highlights the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X TRIO as a highly premium, potentially over-engineered graphics card. Built on Nvidia’s Ampere architecture with 3,584 CUDA cores, a 192-bit memory bus, and a generous 12GB GDDR6 VRAM, it targets smooth 1440p (WQHD) gaming. MSI infuses its own signature engineering by adding a factory overclock that elevates the boost...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
25/02/2021
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X TrioGo to product viewer dialogue for this item. Review

The TechPowerUp review of the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio highlights it as a premium, highly engineered card featuring the Tri Frozr 2 cooling solution, which delivers exceptional silence, low temperatures, and idle fan-stop technology. With 12 GB GDDR6, a factory overclock, and a 7-phase VRM, it offers a sturdy, high-quality build aimed at enthusiasts, though it only...Read more

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thinkcomputers.org
25/02/2021
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio Graphics Card Review If you need any performance comparisons between the dual-fan Gaming X and the triple-fan Gamin...

The ThinkComputers review of the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio highlights a high-end, factory-overclocked (1,852 MHz boost) card utilizing NVIDIA's Ampere architecture, 12GB of GDDR6 memory, and the Tri Frozr 2.0 thermal design. Pros include exceptional, quiet cooling performance, a rigid graphene composite backplate, and great-looking, customizable RGB lighting. Key drawbacks...Read more

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computerbase.de
25/02/2021
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB im Test - ComputerBase

Performance and Specifications The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB targeted the mainstream market with an official MSRP starting at €329, delivering performance roughly on par with the older RTX 2070. Built on the 8nm GA106 GPU architecture, it features 3,584 FP32-ALUs, 28 Raytracing cores, and 48 ROPs. Its most notable design feature is a surprisingly generous 12 GB of GDDR6 memory...Read more

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profesionalreview.com
25/02/2021
MSI RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio 12G - Profesional Review

The Professional Review of the MSI RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio 12G highlights this mid-range graphics card as a premium, highly effective option for gamers targeting Full HD (1080p) and 2K (1440p) resolutions. Based on the Ampere architecture with 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, it delivers a notable 30% performance increase over the older RTX 2060, placing it on par with the RTX 2070 and RTX 2060...Read more

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