G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $120 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 200W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (12,747 vs 20,312).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 45.7 vs 50.9 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

2020

Why buy it

✅+59.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 11.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.9 vs 45.7 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌66.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 120W.

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

2019

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $120 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 200W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅+59.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 11.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.9 vs 45.7 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (12,747 vs 20,312).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 45.7 vs 50.9 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌66.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 120W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 Ti better than GeForce GTX 1660 Ti?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 59.3% higher PassMark G3D performance, DLSS 2 Super Resolution, and 8 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2020 instead of 2019, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 generation instead of 2019, 59.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is about 43.0% more expensive on MSRP at $399 MSRP versus $279 MSRP, and you are getting 59.3% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 11.4%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce GTX 1660 Ti still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $279 MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
1080p
low	98 FPS	152 FPS
medium	88 FPS	137 FPS
high	76 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	63 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	90 FPS	131 FPS
medium	77 FPS	107 FPS
high	66 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	45 FPS	77 FPS
medium	41 FPS	65 FPS
high	30 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	43 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
1080p
low	269 FPS	425 FPS
medium	227 FPS	366 FPS
high	170 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	248 FPS
1440p
low	183 FPS	272 FPS
medium	156 FPS	229 FPS
high	124 FPS	190 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	156 FPS
4K
low	106 FPS	133 FPS
medium	89 FPS	114 FPS
high	72 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	56 FPS	73 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
1080p
low	574 FPS	859 FPS
medium	459 FPS	693 FPS
high	382 FPS	602 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	457 FPS
1440p
low	430 FPS	658 FPS
medium	344 FPS	529 FPS
high	287 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	215 FPS	343 FPS
4K
low	287 FPS	434 FPS
medium	229 FPS	346 FPS
high	191 FPS	275 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	221 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
1080p
low	401 FPS	580 FPS
medium	326 FPS	514 FPS
high	263 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	373 FPS
1440p
low	330 FPS	478 FPS
medium	268 FPS	427 FPS
high	206 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	164 FPS	290 FPS
4K
low	158 FPS	285 FPS
medium	119 FPS	266 FPS
high	107 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	195 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1660 Ti and GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 22 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1770 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,747 points. Launch price was $279.

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1410 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 4864 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 38 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $399.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti scores 12,747 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 20,312 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti leads by 59.3%. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,536 (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 4,864 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Raw compute: 5.437 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 16.2 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Boost clocks: 1770 MHz vs 1665 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
G3D Mark Score	12,747	20,312+59%
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1536	4864+217%
Compute (TFLOPS)	5.437 TFLOPS	16.2 TFLOPS+198%
Boost Clock	1770 MHz+6%	1665 MHz
ROPs	48	80+67%
TMUs	96	152+58%
L1 Cache	1.5 MB	4.8 MB+220%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	4 MB+167%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 288 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — a 55.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	288 GB/s	448 GB/s+56%
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	4 MB+167%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
DirectX	12	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Decoder: NVDEC 4th gen vs NVDEC (Ampere). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	NVENC (Ampere)
Decoder	NVDEC 4th gen	NVDEC (Ampere)
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti draws 120W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 200W — a 50% difference. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 600W (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 229mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
TDP	120W-40%	200W
Recommended PSU	450W-25%	600W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	229mm	242mm
Height	111mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	75
Perf/Watt	106.2+5%	101.6

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti launched at $279 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti launched at $399. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti costs 30.1% less ($120 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 45.7 (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 50.9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 11.4% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2019).