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 2080 Ti

2018

Why buy it

✅24.2% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅385.7% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (544 vs 112).

Trade-offs

❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
203.6% HIGHER MSRP
$999 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.5 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($999 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌47.1% higher power demand at 250W vs 170W.
❌10.3% longer card at 267mm vs 242mm.

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $670 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 139.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 21.5 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 170W instead of 250W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 267mm, a 25mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 2080 Ti across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 544), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

2018

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅24.2% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅385.7% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (544 vs 112).

Why buy it

✅Costs $670 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 139.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 21.5 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 170W instead of 250W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 267mm, a 25mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
203.6% HIGHER MSRP
$999 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.5 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($999 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌47.1% higher power demand at 250W vs 170W.
❌10.3% longer card at 267mm vs 242mm.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 2080 Ti across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 544), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 2080 Ti better than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 24.2% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data, 26.6% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 544 vs 112 Tensor cores. It also comes from 2018 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 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2021 generation instead of 2018, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 11 GB, 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 2080 Ti is about 203.6% more expensive on MSRP at $999 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 24.2% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 26.6% 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 2080 Ti 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.

When does GeForce RTX 3060 make more sense than GeForce RTX 2080 Ti?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 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, lower power draw (170W vs 250W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $329 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 2080 Ti currently gives you 26.6% higher G3D Mark and 24.2% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. GeForce RTX 3060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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 2080 Ti Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	158 FPS	149 FPS
medium	145 FPS	131 FPS
high	127 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	111 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	133 FPS	126 FPS
medium	111 FPS	104 FPS
high	96 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	75 FPS	67 FPS
medium	63 FPS	58 FPS
high	50 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	32 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	414 FPS	354 FPS
medium	366 FPS	310 FPS
high	312 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	293 FPS	222 FPS
medium	249 FPS	196 FPS
high	215 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	178 FPS	128 FPS
4K
low	136 FPS	110 FPS
medium	120 FPS	94 FPS
high	101 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	60 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	866 FPS	765 FPS
medium	703 FPS	612 FPS
high	614 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	484 FPS	382 FPS
1440p
low	673 FPS	535 FPS
medium	541 FPS	432 FPS
high	460 FPS	366 FPS
ultra	363 FPS	287 FPS
4K
low	457 FPS	367 FPS
medium	370 FPS	298 FPS
high	309 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	176 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	602 FPS	523 FPS
medium	534 FPS	452 FPS
high	449 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	412 FPS	319 FPS
1440p
low	500 FPS	428 FPS
medium	442 FPS	371 FPS
high	372 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	333 FPS	245 FPS
4K
low	315 FPS	279 FPS
medium	286 FPS	259 FPS
high	267 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	236 FPS	186 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and GeForce RTX 3060

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 20 2018. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1350 MHz to 1545 MHz. It has 4352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 68 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 21,513 points. Launch price was $999.

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 RTX 2080 Ti scores 21,513 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti leads by 26.6%. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 4,352 (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 13.45 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060). Boost clocks: 1545 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 68 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060) with 544 Tensor cores vs 112.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
G3D Mark Score	21,513+27%	16,995
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	4352+21%	3584
Compute (TFLOPS)	13.45 TFLOPS+6%	12.74 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1545 MHz	1777 MHz+15%
ROPs	88+83%	48
TMUs	272+143%	112
L1 Cache	4.3 MB+23%	3.5 MB
L2 Cache	5.5 MB+83%	3 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	68+143%	28
Tensor Cores	544+386%	112

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
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 2080 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: 616 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) — a 71.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. Bus width: 352-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 5.5 MB (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
VRAM Capacity	11 GB	12 GB+9%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	616 GB/s+71%	360 GB/s
Bus Width	352-bit+83%	192-bit
L2 Cache	5.5 MB+83%	3 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
DirectX	12.1	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.2	1.3+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 6th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060). Decoder: 4th Gen NVDEC vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
Encoder	6th Gen NVENC	NVENC 7th Gen
Decoder	4th Gen NVDEC	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti draws 250W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 38.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 75.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	GeForce RTX 3060
TDP	250W	170W-32%
Recommended PSU	650W	550W-15%
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	242mm
Height	116mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	85°C	75-12%
Perf/Watt	86.1	100.0+16%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti launched at $999 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 67.1% less ($670 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 21.5 (GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) vs 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 140.5% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2018).