GeForce RTX 3060 vs RTX 3080

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce RTX 3080 and GeForce RTX 3060, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

RTX 3080
2020
10 GB GDDR6X, 320 Watt
65.42
+47.5%

RTX 3080 outperforms RTX 3060 by a considerable 48% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking2683
Place by popularitynot in top-1004
Cost-effectiveness evaluation46.3070.81
Power efficiency14.0217.88
ArchitectureAmpere (2020−2024)Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code nameGA102GA106
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Release date1 September 2020 (4 years ago)12 January 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$699 $329

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

RTX 3060 has 53% better value for money than RTX 3080.

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores87043584
Core clock speed1440 MHz1320 MHz
Boost clock speed1710 MHz1777 MHz
Number of transistors28,300 million12,000 million
Manufacturing process technology8 nm8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)320 Watt170 Watt
Texture fill rate465.1199.0
Floating-point processing power29.77 TFLOPS12.74 TFLOPS
ROPs9648
TMUs272112
Tensor Cores272112
Ray Tracing Cores6828

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

InterfacePCIe 4.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x16
Length285 mm242 mm
Width2-slot2-slot
Supplementary power connectors1x 12-pin1x 12-pin

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR6XGDDR6
Maximum RAM amount10 GB12 GB
Memory bus width320 Bit192 Bit
Memory clock speed1188 MHz1875 MHz
Memory bandwidth760.3 GB/s360.0 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI++

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 Ultimate (12_2)12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model6.56.7
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL2.03.0
Vulkan1.21.3
CUDA8.58.6

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

RTX 3080 65.42
+47.5%
RTX 3060 44.34

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

RTX 3080 25208
+47.5%
RTX 3060 17085

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

RTX 3080 53713
+89.3%
RTX 3060 28375

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

RTX 3080 91747
+15.1%
RTX 3060 79706

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

RTX 3080 39257
+83.6%
RTX 3060 21379

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

RTX 3080 188064
+55.8%
RTX 3060 120745

GeekBench 5 OpenCL

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses OpenCL API by Khronos Group.

RTX 3080 167014
+89.2%
RTX 3060 88251

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

RTX 3080 529548
RTX 3060 537787
+1.6%

GeekBench 5 Vulkan

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses Vulkan API by AMD & Khronos Group.

RTX 3080 145176
+61.5%
RTX 3060 89918

GeekBench 5 CUDA

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses CUDA API by NVIDIA.

RTX 3080 202162
+105%
RTX 3060 98715

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04

RTX 3080 165
RTX 3060 175
+5.9%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03

RTX 3080 69
+2.5%
RTX 3060 67

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02

RTX 3080 13
+48.9%
RTX 3060 9

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04

RTX 3080 121
+62.6%
RTX 3060 75

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01

RTX 3080 70
+39.5%
RTX 3060 50

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01

RTX 3080 44
+7.3%
RTX 3060 41

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01

RTX 3080 190
+66.7%
RTX 3060 114

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 energy-01

RTX 3080 17
+74%
RTX 3060 10

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 3dsmax-05

RTX 3080 276
+37.2%
RTX 3060 201

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD167
+33.6%
125
−33.6%
1440p127
+62.8%
78
−62.8%
4K85
+70%
50
−70%

Cost per frame, $

1080p4.192.63
1440p5.504.22
4K8.226.58

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 120−130
+59.5%
79
−59.5%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 130−140
+45.2%
90−95
−45.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 111
+8.8%
102
−8.8%
Battlefield 5 200−210
+47.2%
140−150
−47.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 110−120
+30.3%
85−90
−30.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 138
+76.9%
78
−76.9%
Far Cry 5 110−120
+23.7%
90−95
−23.7%
Far Cry New Dawn 150−160
+47.2%
100−110
−47.2%
Forza Horizon 4 230−240
+14.8%
200−210
−14.8%
Hitman 3 116
−3.4%
120
+3.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn 240−250
+35.2%
170−180
−35.2%
Metro Exodus 144
+5.9%
130−140
−5.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2 131
+32.3%
95−100
−32.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 270−280
+63.3%
160−170
−63.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion 248
+83.7%
130−140
−83.7%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 130−140
+45.2%
90−95
−45.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 96
+12.9%
85
−12.9%
Battlefield 5 200−210
+47.2%
140−150
−47.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 110−120
+30.3%
85−90
−30.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 134
+78.7%
75
−78.7%
Far Cry 5 110−120
+23.7%
90−95
−23.7%
Far Cry New Dawn 150−160
+47.2%
100−110
−47.2%
Forza Horizon 4 230−240
+14.8%
200−210
−14.8%
Hitman 3 118
+1.7%
116
−1.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn 240−250
+35.2%
170−180
−35.2%
Metro Exodus 144
+5.9%
130−140
−5.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2 120−130
+21.2%
95−100
−21.2%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 326
+81.1%
180
−81.1%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 130−140
+52.7%
90−95
−52.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion 238
+76.3%
130−140
−76.3%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 130−140
+45.2%
90−95
−45.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 88
+17.3%
75
−17.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 110−120
+30.3%
85−90
−30.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 131
+105%
64
−105%
Far Cry 5 110−120
+23.7%
90−95
−23.7%
Forza Horizon 4 230−240
+14.8%
200−210
−14.8%
Hitman 3 110
+8.9%
101
−8.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn 182
+28.2%
142
−28.2%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 287
+86.4%
154
−86.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 149
+104%
73
−104%
Watch Dogs: Legion 101
+71.2%
59
−71.2%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 131
+32.3%
95−100
−32.3%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 150−160
+73.6%
85−90
−73.6%
Far Cry New Dawn 100−110
+51.5%
65−70
−51.5%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 75−80
+55.1%
45−50
−55.1%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 76
+26.7%
60
−26.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 75−80
+48.1%
50−55
−48.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 86
+121%
39
−121%
Far Cry 5 75−80
+51%
50−55
−51%
Forza Horizon 4 270−280
+12.4%
240−250
−12.4%
Hitman 3 112
+64.7%
68
−64.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn 151
+42.5%
106
−42.5%
Metro Exodus 107
+20.2%
89
−20.2%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 219
+90.4%
115
−90.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 110−120
+73.1%
65−70
−73.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion 247
+20.5%
200−210
−20.5%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 130
+71.1%
75−80
−71.1%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 75−80
+75.6%
45−50
−75.6%
Far Cry New Dawn 65−70
+71.1%
35−40
−71.1%
Hitman 3 57
+26.7%
45
−26.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn 220−230
+14.9%
190−200
−14.9%
Metro Exodus 142
+141%
55−60
−141%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 115
+82.5%
63
−82.5%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 50−55
+71%
30−35
−71%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 52
+36.8%
38
−36.8%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 45−50
+65.5%
27−30
−65.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 43
+139%
18
−139%
Far Cry 5 45−50
+70.4%
27−30
−70.4%
Forza Horizon 4 100−110
+71.4%
60−65
−71.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 135
+101%
67
−101%
Watch Dogs: Legion 54
+100%
27
−100%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 95
+138%
40−45
−138%

This is how RTX 3080 and RTX 3060 compete in popular games:

  • RTX 3080 is 34% faster in 1080p
  • RTX 3080 is 63% faster in 1440p
  • RTX 3080 is 70% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Metro Exodus, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the RTX 3080 is 141% faster.
  • in Hitman 3, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the RTX 3060 is 3% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • RTX 3080 is ahead in 71 test (99%)
  • RTX 3060 is ahead in 1 test (1%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 65.42 44.34
Recency 1 September 2020 12 January 2021
Maximum RAM amount 10 GB 12 GB
Power consumption (TDP) 320 Watt 170 Watt

RTX 3080 has a 47.5% higher aggregate performance score.

RTX 3060, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 4 months, a 20% higher maximum VRAM amount, and 88.2% lower power consumption.

The GeForce RTX 3080 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce RTX 3060 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
GeForce RTX 3080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
GeForce RTX 3060

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

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