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 12GB

2021

Why buy it

✅78.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 152).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (15,935 vs 20,312).
❌
17.8% HIGHER MSRP
$470 MSRPvs$399 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.9 vs 50.9 G3D/$ ($470 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

2020

Why buy it

✅+27.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $71 less on MSRP ($399 MSRP vs $470 MSRP).
✅Delivers 50.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.9 vs 33.9 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $470 MSRP).

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 (152 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 2060 12GB

2021

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

2020

Why buy it

✅78.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 152).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅+27.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $71 less on MSRP ($399 MSRP vs $470 MSRP).
✅Delivers 50.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.9 vs 33.9 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $470 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (15,935 vs 20,312).
❌
17.8% HIGHER MSRP
$470 MSRPvs$399 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.9 vs 50.9 G3D/$ ($470 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

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 (152 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 27.5% higher PassMark G3D performance. It also comes from 2020 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 3060 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 27.5% more raw performance headroom and a 8nm process instead of 12nm. 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 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 $71 cheaper on MSRP at $399 MSRP versus $470 MSRP, and you are getting 27.5% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 50.2%. GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is the newer 2021 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce RTX 2060 12GB make more sense than GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?

Yes. GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture and staying closer to $470 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3060 Ti currently gives you 27.5% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 50.2%.

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 12GB Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
1080p
low	155 FPS	152 FPS
medium	137 FPS	137 FPS
high	124 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	132 FPS	131 FPS
medium	107 FPS	107 FPS
high	95 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	75 FPS	77 FPS
medium	64 FPS	65 FPS
high	49 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	43 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
1080p
low	317 FPS	425 FPS
medium	269 FPS	366 FPS
high	218 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	248 FPS
1440p
low	210 FPS	272 FPS
medium	180 FPS	229 FPS
high	146 FPS	190 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	156 FPS
4K
low	111 FPS	133 FPS
medium	93 FPS	114 FPS
high	77 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	73 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
1080p
low	717 FPS	859 FPS
medium	574 FPS	693 FPS
high	478 FPS	602 FPS
ultra	359 FPS	457 FPS
1440p
low	538 FPS	658 FPS
medium	430 FPS	529 FPS
high	359 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	269 FPS	343 FPS
4K
low	359 FPS	434 FPS
medium	287 FPS	346 FPS
high	239 FPS	275 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	221 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
1080p
low	432 FPS	580 FPS
medium	366 FPS	514 FPS
high	296 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	373 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	478 FPS
medium	308 FPS	427 FPS
high	239 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	198 FPS	290 FPS
4K
low	205 FPS	285 FPS
medium	169 FPS	266 FPS
high	157 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	195 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 2060 12GB

The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 7 2021. 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 184W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 15,935 points.

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 RTX 2060 12GB scores 15,935 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 20,312 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti leads by 27.5%. The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,176 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 4,864 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Raw compute: 7.181 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 16.2 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Boost clocks: 1650 MHz vs 1665 MHz. Ray tracing: 34 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 38 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) with 272 Tensor cores vs 152.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
G3D Mark Score	15,935	20,312+27%
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2176	4864+124%
Compute (TFLOPS)	7.181 TFLOPS	16.2 TFLOPS+126%
Boost Clock	1650 MHz	1665 MHz
ROPs	48	80+67%
TMUs	136	152+12%
L1 Cache	2.1 MB	4.8 MB+129%
L2 Cache	3 MB	4 MB+33%
Ray Tracing Cores	34	38+12%
Tensor Cores	272+79%	152

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
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 12GB comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — a 33.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	448 GB/s+33%
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	3 MB	4 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
DirectX	12.1	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 6.0 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP9 vs NVDEC (Ampere). Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Encoder	NVENC 6.0	NVENC (Ampere)
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP9	NVDEC (Ampere)
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB draws 184W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 200W — a 8.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) 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: 88°C vs 75.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
TDP	184W-8%	200W
Recommended PSU	550W-8%	600W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	229mm	242mm
Height	113mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	88°C	75-15%
Perf/Watt	86.6	101.6+17%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB launched at $470 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti launched at $399. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti costs 15.1% less ($71 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 33.9 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 50.9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 50.1% better value. The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2020).