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 1080 Ti

2017

Why buy it

✅+9.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 11 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
112.5% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.6 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅3.3% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $370 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 94.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 26.6 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (16,995 vs 18,606).

GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

2017

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅+9.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.

Why buy it

✅3.3% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $370 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 94.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 26.6 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 11 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
112.5% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.6 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (16,995 vs 18,606).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than GeForce GTX 1080 Ti?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3060 averages 3.3% more FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 18,606 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is a 2017 model from an older high-end class with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2021 generation instead of 2017, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 11 GB, better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, and a 8nm process instead of 16nm. 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 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3060 is about $370 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $699 MSRP, and you are getting 3.3% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and a lower G3D Mark (16,995 vs 18,606). It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 94.1%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce GTX 1080 Ti still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1080 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 $699 MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3060 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 1080 Ti Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	153 FPS	149 FPS
medium	136 FPS	131 FPS
high	123 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	131 FPS	126 FPS
medium	107 FPS	104 FPS
high	95 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	67 FPS
medium	63 FPS	58 FPS
high	48 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	42 FPS	32 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	348 FPS	354 FPS
medium	302 FPS	310 FPS
high	225 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	219 FPS	222 FPS
medium	189 FPS	196 FPS
high	154 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	128 FPS
4K
low	106 FPS	110 FPS
medium	89 FPS	94 FPS
high	74 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	60 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	798 FPS	765 FPS
medium	649 FPS	612 FPS
high	558 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	419 FPS	382 FPS
1440p
low	628 FPS	535 FPS
medium	502 FPS	432 FPS
high	419 FPS	366 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	287 FPS
4K
low	419 FPS	367 FPS
medium	335 FPS	298 FPS
high	279 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	176 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	519 FPS	523 FPS
medium	449 FPS	452 FPS
high	386 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	319 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	428 FPS
medium	367 FPS	371 FPS
high	299 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	245 FPS
4K
low	259 FPS	279 FPS
medium	246 FPS	259 FPS
high	214 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	180 FPS	186 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and GeForce RTX 3060

GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 10 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1481 MHz to 1582 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 18,606 points. Launch price was $699.

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.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti scores 18,606 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti leads by 9.5%. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 16 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 11.34 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060). Boost clocks: 1582 MHz vs 1777 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
G3D Mark Score	18,606+9%	16,995
Architecture	Pascal	Ampere
Process Node	16 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	3584	3584
Compute (TFLOPS)	11.34 TFLOPS	12.74 TFLOPS+12%
Boost Clock	1582 MHz	1777 MHz+12%
ROPs	88+83%	48
TMUs	224+100%	112
L1 Cache	1.3 MB	3.5 MB+169%
L2 Cache	2.75 MB	3 MB+9%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
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 1080 Ti comes with 11 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 9.1% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 484 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) vs 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) — a 34.4% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. Bus width: 352-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 2.75 MB (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
VRAM Capacity	11 GB	12 GB+9%
Memory Type	GDDR5X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	484 GB/s+34%	360 GB/s
Bus Width	352-bit+83%	192-bit
L2 Cache	2.75 MB	3 MB+9%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
DirectX	12	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 4th gen (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) vs NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060). Decoder: NVDEC 3rd gen vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) vs AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
Encoder	NVENC 4th gen	NVENC 7th Gen
Decoder	NVDEC 3rd gen	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti draws 250W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 38.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
TDP	250W	170W-32%
Recommended PSU	600W	550W-8%
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	242mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	75
Perf/Watt	74.4	100.0+34%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti launched at $699 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 52.9% less ($370 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 26.6 (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) vs 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 94.4% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2017).