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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£260
  • Avg. price in US: ~$260
  • VRAM: 12 GB
  • Memory bus width: 192 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 170 W

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

5.9

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%

5.4

Technical Score

10.0%

9.6

User score

Good
5.4

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%

8.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

9.3

Platform & Features

5.0%

9.3

Design

4.0%

9.1

Connectivity & Media

Good
9.6

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%

9.4

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(550)
amazon
5.0
(3)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(4448)
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(3)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Exceptional
  • 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

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Best rankings

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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 12GB is a mid-range graphics card built on the 8nm Ampere architecture, featuring 3,584 CUDA cores, a base clock of 1.32 GHz, and a boost clock of 1.78 GHz. It is notably equipped with 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 192-bit memory interface, delivering a bandwidth of 360 GB/s with a 170W TDP. Key advantages include its generous memory capacity, which excels in creative workflows like 3D rendering and video editing, and its solid 1080p and 1440p gaming performance supported by 2nd-gen Ray Tracing and 3rd-gen Tensor cores for DLSS. However, it is held back by a relatively narrow memory bus that limits its 4K capabilities and raw performance compared to the 3060 Ti, and it may struggle to maintain high frame rates in the most demanding titles with ray tracing fully enabled.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

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%

8.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

9.3

Platform & Features

5.0%

9.3

Design

4.0%

9.1

Connectivity & Media

5.4
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has a technical score of 5.44 points, which is lower than that of 72.5% 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%

9.4

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(550)
amazon
5.0
(3)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(4448)
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(3)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

9.6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has a user score of 9.58 points, which is higher than that of 99% of products in this category.
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.
10
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 77.9% 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%

5.9

Overall score

40.0%

9.2

Price

6.8
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.8 points, which is higher than 48% 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

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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

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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 12GB 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 12GB 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

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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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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

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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

1.3
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB supports Vulkan 1.3, which is older than on 73.5% of graphics cards and equal to 22.5% 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 12GB 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 12GB 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

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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 12GB 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 12GB 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

8.1 Gbps
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB supports DisplayPort link rates up to 8.1 Gbps, which is slower than on 50.4% of graphics cards and equal to 40.5% 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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

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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

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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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB vs the average graphics card

  • Includes dual BIOS
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Includes dual BIOS for redundancy or overclocking profiles
    When it matters: When you want a safer recovery path after tweaking fan curves or overclock settings, or you need separate quiet and performance profiles.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 15 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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
  • 19.8% higher user score
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.58 vs 8.000).
    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.
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.58 vs 8.000).9.58 vs 8
  • 20.9% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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
  • 4.34x more popular
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is more popular than the average graphics card (10.00 vs 2.303).
    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.
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is more popular than the average graphics card (10.00 vs 2.303).10 vs 2.3
  • 7.1% faster VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 15.4% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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
Overall
Memory
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 28.9% lower boost clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (112 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 47.2% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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.
  • 48.4% lower pixel rate
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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.
  • Older Vulkan version
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 1.4).
  • 2 older
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,021 vs 2,023).
  • 2 fewer GPUs supported
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 75% lower HDMI bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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.
  • 3 fewer monitors per output type
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (1 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • 1 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • No RGB lighting
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 28.9% lower boost clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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
  • 1 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 12 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB 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 12GB has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (112 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.112 vs 184
Total
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design

Graphic comparison of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
550 Reviews
amazon
5.0
3 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
4448 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
3 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?

  • Large 12GB VRAM capacity provides excellent longevity for gaming and high-resolution textures
  • Outstanding performance for 1080p gaming, capable of running modern titles at high refresh rates
  • Strong value for creative professionals, particularly in 3D rendering (Blender) and video editing
  • Effective cooling systems and quiet operation across most third-party models
  • Supports modern features like DLSS and Ray Tracing for improved visuals and performance
  • Compact designs are widely available, making it suitable for Small Form Factor (SFF) builds
  • Highly power-efficient relative to its performance class

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?

  • Significant performance gap compared to the RTX 3060 Ti, which often offers better price-to-performance
  • Struggles to maintain consistent 60 FPS in demanding titles at 1440p without lowering settings
  • Limited 4K gaming capabilities due to the 192-bit memory bus bottleneck
  • Ray tracing performance is often underwhelming without enabling DLSS
  • Launch and market pricing have often been higher than the initial recommended MSRP
  • Modest performance leap for users already owning an RTX 20-series card

Expert reviews

A
au.pcmag.com
26/02/2021
EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Black Gaming 12G - Review 2021

The EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Black Gaming 12G is a compact, dual-slot graphics card tailored for gamers targeting 1080p and 1440p resolutions. Measuring just under 8 inches long, its small form factor serves as a primary selling point for compact PC builders. It features a single 8-pin power connector, three DisplayPort 1.4b outputs, and one HDMI 2.1 port. Built on the Nvidia Ampere...Read more

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

The PCWorld review concludes that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is a solid, albeit unexciting, mainstream graphics card that excels at 1080p gaming with its 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM, making it an excellent, feature-rich choice for users with older systems. Key pros include high-end ray tracing performance, DLSS support, and a generous memory buffer that surpasses higher-end models....Read more

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 offers great budget gaming performance, acting as an excellent upgrade path for players transitioning from older graphics cards like the GTX 1060 or GTX 1660 SUPER. Built on the 8nm Ampere architecture, this GPU features 3,584 CUDA cores, 28 RT cores, and 112 Tensor cores, allowing budget-conscious users to utilize ray tracing and DLSS features. In terms...Read more

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

Executive Summary The EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Black is a highly capable midrange graphics card priced at an MSRP of $329, positioned specifically to target 1080p gamers and creative professionals looking for an accessible entry point into modern visual technologies. Based on the GA106 chip with 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM, it offers a massive 90% performance leap over the older...Read more

P
pcper.com
25/02/2021
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Review: EVGA XC BLACK Tested

The EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC BLACK is a highly compact, dual-slot graphics card built on the Ampere architecture using the GA106 GPU. Performance testing reveals that it delivers a solid gen-over-gen leap, providing frame rates slightly higher than the older RTX 2070 or RTX 2060 Super, with a massive 41.4% improvement in real-time ray tracing over the standard RTX 2060. It handles...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
25/02/2021
EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Review

The TechPowerUp review of the EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC highlights its suitability for compact, small-form-factor (SFF) builds, boasting an ultra-compact dual-slot 20 cm design, idle fan-stop, and a 12 GB GDDR6 frame buffer. Positive performance aspects include a factory overclock to 1882 MHz, native AV1 decoding, and a sub-180W power draw during gaming, although this factory...Read more

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

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is designed as a budget-friendly 1080p gaming graphics card, explicitly targeting users looking to upgrade from older Pascal-based cards like the GTX 1060. Based on the Ampere architecture, it features 3,584 CUDA cores and an unexpectedly large 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM. This hardware configuration allows it to comfortably deliver double the performance of a GTX...Read more

T
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 it as a heavily customized, premium card featuring excellent Tri Frozr 2 cooling, near-silent operation, and a robust factory overclock. Key advantages include its low operating temperatures, idle fan-stop technology, and solid build quality, though it is described as over-engineered for the GA106 GPU. Cons...Read more

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

The KitGuru review written by Dominic Moass provides a comprehensive evaluation of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, specifically focusing on the Gigabyte RTX 3060 Gaming OC 12G custom variant. Based on Nvidia's 276 mm² GA106 Ampere architecture, this mid-range desktop GPU operates with 28 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), yielding 3,584 CUDA cores, 28 RT cores, and 112 Tensor cores. A...Read more

W
wccftech.com
25/02/2021
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB Graphics Card Review Ft. MSI

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB is presented as an efficient mainstream GPU tailored for 1080p and 1440p gaming, featuring 3,584 CUDA cores and a substantial 12 GB GDDR6 memory buffer that provides an edge over higher-tier models. Custom variants like the MSI Gaming X Trio offer excellent thermal performance via a Tri-Frozr 2 cooler, while the GALAX EX provides a compact option...Read more

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

The MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio serves as a highly capable entry-level addition to NVIDIA’s Ampere lineup, delivering robust 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming performance. Based on the new GA106 silicon, it features 3584 CUDA cores combined with a surprisingly generous 12GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus. The review highlights the card's premium structural quality, heavily...Read more

C
comptoir-hardware.com
25/02/2021
Test • NVIDIA GeFORCE RTX 3060 - Le comptoir du hardware

The Gigabyte RTX 3060 Eagle review highlights Nvidia's rollout of its scaled-down Ampere architecture, specifically introducing the smaller GA106 GPU designed for mass volume production. Tested under the Gigabyte Eagle iteration, the card targets mainstream performance, operating close to Nvidia's baseline reference specifications. The review delves deeply into real-world gaming...Read more

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C
cowcotland.com
25/02/2021
Test carte graphique GIGABYTE RTX 3060 Gaming OCGo to product viewer dialogue for this item., une version custom pour débuter !

The Gigabyte RTX 3060 Gaming OC, featured on Cowcotland, is a capable triple-fan card boasting 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, providing excellent performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming. Key strengths include the Windforce 3X cooling system, which keeps the card at a cool 61°C under load, alongside high power efficiency with a maximum consumption of 175W. However, the review notes the lack of...Read more

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L
lesnumeriques.com
17/03/2021
Test Carte graphique Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

The Les Numériques review evaluates the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 as a decent, mid-range graphics card that targets solid performance for 1080p and QHD/1440p gaming. Built on the 8nm Ampere architecture with the GA106 chip, it features 3,584 CUDA cores and an unexpected 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, which was a deliberate design choice to prevent VRAM bottlenecks during...Read more

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F
frandroid.com
14/03/2021
Test de la Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 : un beau mirage

Based on the Frandroid review, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 earns a solid 7/10 score as a highly capable mid-range graphics card. Built around 3,584 CUDA cores paired with 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, the tested Zotac Twin Edge variant serves as an excellent hardware choice for maximizing performance on Full HD (1080p) and QHD (1440p) displays. Benchmark tests reveal that it delivers strong...Read more

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H
hardwarecooking.fr
25/02/2021
Test : MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X TRIO : ça vaut quoi ?

The MSI RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio 12G is a heavily customized graphics card built on NVIDIA's 8nm Ampere architecture, featuring 3,584 CUDA cores and a surprising 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 192-bit bus. Designed for 1080p and 1440p gaming, this specific model comes factory overclocked out of the box with a boost clock of 1,852 MHz (a 4% increase over reference speeds). It features an...Read more

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E
elchapuzasinformatico.com
10/03/2021
Review: EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC

The EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC is a compact, dual-fan graphics card based on NVIDIA's Ampere architecture, featuring 12GB GDDR6 VRAM and a high factory overclock of 1,882 MHz, making it an excellent choice for 1080p and 1440p gaming. It boasts a robust metal backplate and, at only 20 cm in length, is ideal for Small Form Factor (SFF) builds. Conversely, the compact cooling solution...Read more

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

The Multiplayer.it review highlights the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming OC as a high-tier custom variant of NVIDIA's mid-range Ampere GPU, scoring it an 8.9 out of 10. The reviewer emphasizes its strong performance in raw rasterisation and DLSS 2.0 at 1080p, yielding impressive framerates like 146 fps in Death Stranding and 115 fps in The Witcher 3, while maintaining a cool...Read more

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M
multiplayer.it
23/04/2021
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X, la recensione - Multiplayer.it

The Multiplayer.it review of the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X evaluates this entry-level Ampere GPU, highlighting its target of delivering uncompromised 1080p gaming performance with ray tracing, alongside decent 1440p capabilities in heavier titles. Built with 3,584 CUDA cores and a boosted core clock of 1,837 MHz, the card differentiates itself by featuring 12 GB of GDDR6 memory...Read more

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