RTX 2080 vs RTX 3060
Full specification comparison between the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (2018) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (2021).
RTX 3060
NVIDIA Mid-range
- ✓ More VRAM (12 GB vs 8 GB)
- ✓ Lower power draw (170 W vs 215 W)
- ✓ Cheaper at launch ($329 vs $699)
- ✓ Newer (2021 vs 2018)
- ✓ Better performance per dollar
Verdict: The RTX 2080 and RTX 3060 deliver essentially the same level of performance — the difference is within a few percent and won't be noticeable in real use. The decision comes down to price, power draw and features.
The RTX 3060 also carries more video memory (12 GB vs 8 GB), which matters for high-resolution textures, modern AAA titles and future-proofing.
At launch pricing, the RTX 3060 offers more performance per dollar, and the RTX 3060 is the more power-efficient chip.
Estimated performance
Estimated average 1440p raster gaming performance compiled from publicly available benchmark data. Individual games vary.
Specs side by side
| Specification | RTX 2080 | RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Release year | 2018 | 2021 |
| Est. performance | ||
| Shading units | ||
| Boost clock | ||
| FP32 compute | ||
| VRAM | ||
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | ||
| Board power | ||
| Launch MSRP |
Green bars mark the better value in each row (for power and price, lower wins).
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 2080 better than the RTX 3060?
They perform almost identically (within ~1%). Choose based on price, power consumption and platform rather than raw speed.
How much faster is the RTX 2080 than the RTX 3060?
Roughly 0% on average in raster gaming workloads. The gap varies by title, resolution and settings.
Which graphics card is better value?
Comparing launch prices, the RTX 3060 delivers more performance per dollar. Check current street prices, as market pricing often shifts the value equation.