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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£290
  • Avg. price in US: ~$280
  • VRAM: 12 GB
  • Memory bus width: 192 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 170 W

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

5.2

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%

5.2

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Good
5.2

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%

3.5

Performance

24.0%

4.2

Memory

12.0%

6.1

Power & Cooling

11.0%

9.4

Platform & Features

5.0%

9.6

Design

4.0%

9.0

Connectivity & Media

Good
?

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

  • 3.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    2.8

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    2.1

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.5
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    2.8

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.7
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    2.8

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    2.1

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.4
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    2.8

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    4.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    2.1

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.4
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    2.8

    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~ £290

Best rankings

?

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

Verdict

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is a mid-range graphics card based on the Ampere architecture, featuring 3,584 CUDA cores, a base clock of 1.32 GHz, and a boost clock of 1.78 GHz. It is most notable for its generous 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 192-bit memory interface, though a later 8GB variant with a narrower 128-bit bus was also released. Main characteristics include 2nd Gen RT Cores and 3rd Gen Tensor Cores, which enable advanced features like real-time ray tracing and AI-powered DLSS. Pros include excellent 1080p and capable 1440p gaming performance, high VRAM capacity for its class that benefits creative workloads and deep learning, and great power efficiency with a 170W TDP. However, cons include limited 4K gaming capabilities, a significant performance gap compared to the RTX 3060 Ti, and a slower memory bandwidth that can bottleneck performance in high-resolution ray-tracing scenarios.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

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

5.2
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a technical score of 5.19 points, which is lower than that of 75.8% 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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%

5.2

Overall score

40.0%

9.0

Price

6.3
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.3 points, which is lower than 71.7% 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

?
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

8,438 points
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 scores 8438 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is higher than 76.9% of graphics cards.
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

12.74 TFLOPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 delivers 12.74 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 73.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.5% of graphics cards.
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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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

7680x4320
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320, which is higher than that of 44.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 55.6% of graphics cards.
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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

32.4 Gbps
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 supports DisplayPort link rates up to 32.4 Gbps, which is faster than on 58.3% of graphics cards and equal to 24% of graphics cards.
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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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

170 W
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a board power limit of 170 W, which is lower than that of 65.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.4% of graphics cards.
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

242 mm
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is 242 mm long, which is shorter than 73% of graphics cards and equal in length to 1.8% 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

112 mm
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is 112 mm tall, which is shorter than 84.4% of graphics cards and equal in height to 2.8% 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 vs the average graphics card

  • 15 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is shorter than the average graphics card (112 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is shorter than the average graphics card (112 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.112 mm vs 127 mm
  • 43.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is shorter than the average graphics card (242 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is shorter than the average graphics card (242 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.242 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 15.4% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (170 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 15 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is shorter than the average graphics card (112 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 43.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is shorter than the average graphics card (242 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.

Total
Memory
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 28.9% lower boost clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,777 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 20 fewer ray tracing cores
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (28 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 72 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (112 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 47.1% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (199.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 48.4% lower pixel rate
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (85.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 80 fewer AI cores
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has fewer AI cores than the average graphics card (112 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.
  • 16 fewer ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (48 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 44.3% lower FP32 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (12.7 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 56.8% lower FP16 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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.
  • 57.2% lower FP64 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower FP64 performance than the average graphics card (0.2 TFLOPS vs 0.4651 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP64 performance of 0.4651 TFLOPS.
  • 64 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,021 vs 2,023).
  • 2 fewer GPUs supported
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 supports fewer GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (0 vs 2). The average graphics card supports 2 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.
  • Older encoder generation
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (7 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • No AV1 encoding
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 75% lower HDMI bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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.
  • 28.9% lower boost clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,777 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,777 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1777 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 20 fewer ray tracing cores
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (112 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.112 vs 184
  • 47.1% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (199.4 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

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (199.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.199.36 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media

Graphic comparison of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 and

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060?

  • Excellent 1080p performance with high/ultra settings in most modern titles
  • Generous 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM provides good longevity for textures and content creation
  • Support for DLSS and Ray Tracing provides extra value and smoother frame rates in supported games
  • High energy efficiency and relatively cool/quiet operation in most partner models
  • Strong performance for creative tasks like video editing and 3D rendering (Blender)
  • Significant upgrade path for users coming from older cards like the GTX 1060 or 1650

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060?

  • Underwhelming 1440p and 4K performance compared to higher-tier 30-series cards
  • Overshadowed by the RTX 3060 Ti, which offers significantly better performance for a modest price increase
  • Narrower 192-bit memory bus can limit the effectiveness of the large 12GB VRAM in some scenarios
  • Minor performance jump over the previous generation RTX 2060 Super
  • 8GB variant of the card exists which has significantly reduced performance and should be avoided
  • Historically difficult to find at its suggested MSRP due to market conditions and scalping

Expert reviews

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windowscentral.com
07/06/2021
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 review: Good budget gaming

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is an affordable Ampere-architecture graphics card built for budget-conscious gamers upgrading from older architectures like the GTX 1060. Powered by the GA106 chipset with 3,584 CUDA cores, 28 RT cores, and 112 Tensor cores, this compact GPU delivers incredible performance at 1080p and can reliably handle games at 1440p settings. Reviewers highlighted...Read more

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pcworld.com
12/03/2021
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 review: It's fine - PCWorld

The PCWorld review positions the EVGA XC Black Gaming variant of the GeForce RTX 3060 as an excellent, cool, and quiet option for 1080p gaming, highlighting its generous 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM, native support for DLSS and ray tracing, and low power requirements. It is noted as a strong upgrade path for older hardware, delivering on its promises for high-refresh 1080p gaming. However,...Read more

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babeltechreviews.com
26/02/2021
The Mega 50+ Game RTX 3060 Launch Review – Part 2

The EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Black is a highly capable midrange graphics card that delivers a substantial generational leap for gamers upgrading from older Pascal architecture, performing roughly 90% faster than the widely popular GTX 1060. Priced at a base MSRP of $329, it features 12GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit interface, providing a distinct advantage for creative workstations...Read more

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techpowerup.com
25/02/2021
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio Review

The TechPowerUp review of the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio highlights its exceptional Tri Frozr 2 cooler, which achieves a quiet 30 dBA and a cool 62°C under load, alongside a factory-overclocked boost of 1852 MHz. The card features a robust 13 phase power design, 12 GB GDDR6, and full idle fan-stop, though its massive 2.5-slot size and 32 cm length may limit case...Read more

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techradar.com
23/07/2022
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is designed as a budget-friendly, mid-range graphics card targeting gamers upgrading from older Pascal-based cards like the GTX 1060, delivering roughly double the performance at 1080p resolution. Built on Nvidia's Ampere architecture, it features 3,584 CUDA cores and an unexpectedly large 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM, which provides a massive shader boost but...Read more

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hothardware.com
25/02/2021
GeForce RTX 3060 Review: NVIDIA's Most Affordable Ampere Yet

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card is evaluated as the most affordable Ampere-based GPU of its generation, offering a massive leap forward for users upgrading from older hardware. In synthetic DirectX 12 and DirectX 11 testing like 3DMark Time Spy and Fire Strike Ultra, as well as VR benchmarks, the RTX 3060 routinely finishes just behind the previous-generation GeForce RTX...Read more

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kitguru.net
25/02/2021
Nvidia RTX 3060 Review ft. Gigabyte Gaming OC

The KitGuru review of the Nvidia RTX 3060 evaluates the Gigabyte RTX 3060 Gaming OC 12G, which scored an overall rating of 8.0/10. Based on the new, smaller GA106 Ampere silicon measuring 276 mm², this desktop GPU features a cut-down architecture with 28 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), 3,584 CUDA Cores, 28 RT Cores, and 112 Tensor Cores. While the reference specification features a...Read more

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techspot.com
08/03/2021
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Review - TechSpot

The TechSpot review of the GeForce RTX 3060 identifies it as a capable 1080p gaming card featuring a generous 12GB GDDR6 VRAM, excellent power efficiency (170W), and robust DLSS/Ray Tracing support. However, the card is criticized for underwhelming generational performance gains compared to the RTX 2060 Super and limited native 1440p capabilities due to a narrow 192-bit bus. While...Read more

I
igorslab.de
25/02/2021
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB Review with a custom card...

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB Review on igor'sLAB highlights the custom MSI RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio as a premium, heavily-engineered version of NVIDIA’s entry-level Ampere architecture. Built on the GA106 GPU with 3,584 CUDA cores, 28 RT cores, and 112 Tensor cores, the card noticeably outperforms the older RTX 2060 Super and targets smooth gaming performance in Full-HD (1080p)...Read more

E
eurogamer.net
24/01/2022
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 review: Ampere goes mainstream

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is designed as a mainstream Ampere-architecture graphics card that aims to deliver RTX 2070 performance at an affordable $330 launch price point, serving as a successor to popular mid-range cards like the GTX 1060 and RTX 2060. Built on the smaller GA106 GPU die using an 8nm process, it manages to pack three times the transistors of the GTX 1060 into a...Read more

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hardwareluxx.de
01/04/2021
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 Vision OC im Test - Hardwareluxx

The Hardwareluxx review of the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 Vision OC highlights this graphics card as a unique, sleekly styled alternative tailored heavily toward content creators and gamers preferring minimal aesthetics. Powered by the NVIDIA Ampere GA106 GPU architecture, the card features a generous 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 192-bit bus and comes with a factory boost clock of 1,837...Read more

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hardwarecooking.fr
28/02/2021
Test : ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3060 O12G GAMING, pour jouer sans se ruiner ?

The ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3060 O12G GAMING is a custom graphics card designed primarily for high-performance 1080p gaming, built on NVIDIA's 8nm Ampere architecture. Featuring a factory-overclocked boost clock of 1912 MHz and a memory frequency of 1875 MHz, the card stands out by offering a large 12 GB pool of GDDR6 VRAM across a 192-bit bus. Structurally, it mimics the premium...Read more

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elchapuzasinformatico.com
10/03/2021
Review: EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC - El Chapuzas Informático

The EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC, reviewed by El Chapuzas Informático, is a compact, dual-slot, 202 mm graphics card ideal for ITX builds that offers strong 1080p and 1440p gaming performance. It features excellent thermal and acoustic efficiency with a high-capacity cooler and provides strong overclocking potential, achieving a 2,175 MHz boost clock with substantial gains. Conversely,...Read more

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profesionalreview.com
21/03/2021
Gigabyte RTX 3060 Vision OC Review en Español (Análisis completo)

The Gigabyte RTX 3060 Vision OC is a premium graphics card built on Samsung's 8nm process with a GA106 chipset, 3584 CUDA cores, and 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Operating on a PCIe 4.0 interface, it features an upgraded factory overclock with a boost clock of 1837 MHz. In benchmark and gaming tests, it delivers identical performance to the Gaming OC model, offering excellent frame rates in...Read more

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

The MSI RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio 12G is a highly capable mid-range graphics card that delivers an estimated 30% performance increase over the older RTX 2060, placing its benchmarks on par with the RTX 2070 and RTX 2060 Super. Built on Samsung's 8nm Ampere architecture, this GA106 GPU configuration features 3584 CUDA cores, 112 Tensor cores, 28 RT cores, and a generous 12 GB of GDDR6...Read more

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thegamesmachine.it
21/04/2026
ASUS ROG Strix Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 OC Recensione

The ASUS ROG Strix Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 OC Edition review evaluates this mid-range graphics card as a highly balanced option for 1440p (2K) and ultra-wide UWQHD gaming, and an absolute powerhouse for 1080p Full HD setups. Based on Nvidia's 8nm Ampere architecture (GA106 chip), the card boasts 3,584 shading units, 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 192-bit bus, and full support for DirectX...Read more

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multiplayer.it
23/04/2026
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X, la recensione - Multiplayer.it

The Multiplayer.it review evaluates the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X, an entry-level Ampere-based GPU built for uncompromising 1080p gaming with potential for 1440p using DLSS upscaling. This premium custom card scales down from the larger TRIO series by utilizing a dual-fan TWIN FROZR 2 cooling system rather than three fans, resulting in a shorter physical profile while still...Read more

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multiplayer.it
25/02/2021
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming OC, la recensione

The review by Multiplayer.it evaluates the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming OC as a high-quality custom graphic card that delivers excellent 1080p gaming performance without compromises. Equipped with an Ampere architecture, 3,584 CUDA cores, and a 170W TDP, it successfully handles demanding titles at maximum settings, yielding high framerates like 146 fps in Death Stranding and 75...Read more

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