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 RTX 2060 SUPER

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 175W instead of 350W, a 175W reduction.
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (272 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
21.3% HIGHER MSRP
$399 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 41.3 vs 51.0 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $70 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.0 vs 41.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅2.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 272).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌100% higher power demand at 350W vs 175W.

GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

2019

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 175W instead of 350W, a 175W reduction.
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅Costs $70 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 23.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.0 vs 41.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅2.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 272).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (272 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
21.3% HIGHER MSRP
$399 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 41.3 vs 51.0 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌100% higher power demand at 350W vs 175W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 16,477 vs 16,777 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, DLSS Super Resolution.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2019, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 8 GB, 105.9% more ray-tracing hardware, and a 8nm process instead of 12nm. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB can still make sense if you find it at the right price, especially around $329 MSRP. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is still the smarter buy for most people, though, because the raw performance is close while the overall package is cleaner. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is about $70 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $399 MSRP, and you are getting 1.8% higher G3D Mark. Moving to $329 MSRP gets you newer hardware, and DLSS Super Resolution.

Is GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is still a strong gaming card in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. Price is really the swing factor here. If you find it at or below $399 MSRP, it remains a very sensible buy. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is still the safer recommendation for most fresh builds because it offers a cleaner overall package with newer hardware and DLSS Super Resolution.

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 RTX 2060 SUPER Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
1080p
low	193 FPS	166 FPS
medium	174 FPS	151 FPS
high	151 FPS	133 FPS
ultra	114 FPS	113 FPS
1440p
low	164 FPS	139 FPS
medium	134 FPS	116 FPS
high	114 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	80 FPS
medium	68 FPS	67 FPS
high	52 FPS	51 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	45 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER Open GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
1080p
low	323 FPS	494 FPS
medium	272 FPS	425 FPS
high	219 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	178 FPS	323 FPS
1440p
low	209 FPS	372 FPS
medium	174 FPS	310 FPS
high	140 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	115 FPS	219 FPS
4K
low	108 FPS	193 FPS
medium	89 FPS	167 FPS
high	72 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	120 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER Open GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
1080p
low	741 FPS	755 FPS
medium	593 FPS	604 FPS
high	494 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	377 FPS
1440p
low	556 FPS	566 FPS
medium	445 FPS	453 FPS
high	371 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	278 FPS	283 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	377 FPS
medium	297 FPS	302 FPS
high	247 FPS	252 FPS
ultra	185 FPS	189 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER Open GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
1080p
low	472 FPS	445 FPS
medium	401 FPS	396 FPS
high	320 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	288 FPS
1440p
low	385 FPS	366 FPS
medium	332 FPS	328 FPS
high	254 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	231 FPS
4K
low	220 FPS	237 FPS
medium	182 FPS	217 FPS
high	167 FPS	186 FPS
ultra	130 FPS	160 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER Open GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER and GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

The GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 9 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1470 MHz to 1650 MHz. It has 2176 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 175W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,477 points. Launch price was $399.

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,777 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER scores 16,477 and the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB reaches 16,777 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,176 (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Raw compute: 7.181 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Boost clocks: 1650 MHz vs 1710 MHz. Ray tracing: 34 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs 70 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) with 272 Tensor cores vs 280.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
G3D Mark Score	16,477	16,777+2%
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2176	8960+312%
Compute (TFLOPS)	7.181 TFLOPS	30.64 TFLOPS+327%
Boost Clock	1650 MHz	1710 MHz+4%
ROPs	64	96+50%
TMUs	136	280+106%
L1 Cache	2.1 MB	8.8 MB+319%
L2 Cache	4 MB	6 MB+50%
Ray Tracing Cores	34	70+106%
Tensor Cores	272	280+3%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	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 RTX 2060 SUPER comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) — a 24.4% advantage for the GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER. Bus width: 256-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	12 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	448 GB/s+24%	360 GB/s
Bus Width	256-bit+33%	192-bit
L2 Cache	4 MB	6 MB+50%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Decoder: NVDEC 4th Gen vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,VP8 (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC 4th Gen	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9,VP8	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER draws 175W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's 350W — a 66.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 229mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 70 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
TDP	175W-50%	350W
Recommended PSU	550W	550W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	229mm	242mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	70-7%	75°C
Perf/Watt	94.2+97%	47.9

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER launched at $399 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB launched at $329. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB costs 17.5% less ($70 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 41.3 (GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER) vs 51.0 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers 23.5% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2019).