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 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $921 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 143% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Draws 170W instead of 350W, a 180W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 285mm, a 43mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 12GB across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅31.1% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅150% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 112).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
279.9% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 350W vs 170W.
❌17.8% longer card at 285mm vs 242mm.

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $921 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 143% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Draws 170W instead of 350W, a 180W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 285mm, a 43mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅31.1% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅150% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 112).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 12GB across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌
279.9% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 350W vs 170W.
❌17.8% longer card at 285mm vs 242mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3080 12GB better than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 31.1% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data, 56.3% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 280 vs 112 Tensor cores. It also comes from 2022 instead of 2021, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2021, 56.3% more raw performance headroom, and 150.0% more ray-tracing hardware. That extra performance headroom should help it hold higher settings and newer game demands for longer.

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

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is about 279.9% more expensive on MSRP at $1,250 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 31.1% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 56.3% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3060 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

Is GeForce RTX 3060 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $329 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 3080 12GB earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

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 3060 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
1080p
low	149 FPS	165 FPS
medium	131 FPS	150 FPS
high	118 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	113 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	139 FPS
medium	104 FPS	115 FPS
high	92 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	80 FPS
medium	58 FPS	67 FPS
high	39 FPS	51 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	45 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
1080p
low	354 FPS	553 FPS
medium	310 FPS	473 FPS
high	249 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	345 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	415 FPS
medium	196 FPS	344 FPS
high	160 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	233 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	198 FPS
medium	94 FPS	168 FPS
high	77 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	120 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
1080p
low	765 FPS	892 FPS
medium	612 FPS	724 FPS
high	510 FPS	631 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	551 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	705 FPS
medium	432 FPS	567 FPS
high	366 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	416 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	485 FPS
medium	298 FPS	394 FPS
high	221 FPS	331 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	275 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
1080p
low	523 FPS	456 FPS
medium	452 FPS	413 FPS
high	383 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	295 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	366 FPS
medium	371 FPS	334 FPS
high	298 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	233 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	245 FPS
medium	259 FPS	226 FPS
high	225 FPS	191 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	166 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

GeForce RTX 3060

The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3080 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: 26,569 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB's 26,569 — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB leads by 56.3%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1710 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 70 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) with 112 Tensor cores vs 280.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
G3D Mark Score	16,995	26,569+56%
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	3584	8960+150%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	30.64 TFLOPS+141%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+4%	1710 MHz
ROPs	48	96+100%
TMUs	112	280+150%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	8.8 MB+151%
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	70+150%
Tensor Cores	112	280+150%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 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)

Both cards feature 12 GB of video memory. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — a 153.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Bus width: 192-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	12 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	912 GB/s+153%
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB's 350W — a 69.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 285mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
TDP	170W-51%	350W
Recommended PSU	550W-27%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	242mm	285mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0+32%	75.9

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB launched at $1250. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 73.7% less ($921 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 21.3 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 142.7% better value. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2021).