Nvidia is a dominating participant in AAA games, well recognized for its high-end graphics cards with superior performance and functionality. The firm has always been a leader in developing new graphics technology that have now become standard features in PC and console gaming. The RTX 20 series of cards is one such example. They introduced hardware-based ray-tracing, among other innovative capabilities, to mainstream gaming for the first time.
The 2080 and 2080 Super were among the top models in the RTX 20 series, with the latter providing a modest performance gain over the former.
The RTX 20 series was followed by the RTX 30 series, with the GeForce RTX 3060, which was introduced in 2021, serving as the mid-range alternative. It uses the newest Ampere architecture, which outperforms the Turing architecture used in the RTX 20 series in terms of performance and efficiency. The RTX 3060 also supports real-time ray tracing and DLSS technology, which enhances gaming graphics and performance significantly.
Let’s see how they match up against each other to assist you pick which one to go with.
In terms of performance, how does the RTX 3060 compare to the RTX 2080 and 2080 Super?
In this comparison, we will examine the performance of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 in comparison to the previous generation flagships, the RTX 2080 and 2080 Super. We will examine their important specifications in depth and evaluate their genuine performance, including ray tracing and DLSS capabilities.
We’ll also look at their price vs. value proposition, with the goal of assisting budget-conscious gamers in finding the best bang for their cash. Is the RTX 3060 the greatest option for gamers looking to save money while maintaining performance and quality? Let us investigate.
First, we’ll get into the specifics of our comparison. The important characteristics for each card are listed in the table below:
|
SPECIFICATION |
RTX 3060 |
RTX 2080 |
RTX 2080 Super |
|
CUDA Cores |
3584 |
2944 |
3072 |
|
Boost Clock |
1777 MHz |
1710 MHz |
1815 MHz |
|
Memory Size |
12 GB |
8 GB |
8 GB |
|
Memory Type |
GDDR6 |
GDDR6 |
GDDR6 |
|
Memory Bandwidth |
360 GB/s |
448 GB/s |
496 GB/s |
|
TDP |
170 W |
215 W |
250 W |
As you can see, the RTX 3060 has a higher boost clock and more CUDA cores than the 2080 and 2080 Super, but it has somewhat less memory bandwidth and a lower TDP.
When it comes to real-world performance, the RTX 3060 often equals its predecessors; however, certain differences may be seen in some applications or video games.
Ray tracing and DLSS: the gaming graphics of the future
Ray tracing capabilities is one of the most crucial features of both cards. In comparison to rasterization, this technology simulates real-time light behavior for more realistic lighting and reflection in-game. But, keep in mind that running this option places a significant strain on your graphics hardware.
The main difference between models like the 3060, 2080, and 2080 Super is performance: when compared to other cards in this price range, the 3060 trails somewhat behind them in terms of ray tracing capabilities.
The RTX 30 series has a feature that sets it apart from the competition: DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). This artificial intelligence-powered software upscales lower-resolution photos to higher resolution in real time without sacrificing image quality.
The 3060 supports DLSS 2.0 for enhanced performance, which dramatically improved both performance and graphics over its predecessor.
Nvidia card pricing vs. value comparison – Getting the most bang for your money
Finally, let us discuss pricing. The RTX 3060 has a suggested retail price of $400, which is much lower than the RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Super launch prices. The prices of the 2080 and 2080 Super have dropped since their initial release, although they still sell for more than $500 and $600, respectively.
Given the performance and price differences, the RTX 3060 represents excellent value for gamers on a tight budget. It can give comparable performance to the previous generation’s flagships while costing less than half the price at launch.
The Nvidia RTX 3060 is the greatest option for budget-conscious gamers.
If you’re a budget gamer, the RTX 3060 may be your best pick, since it provides excellent value and performance for the price. This model retains all of its predecessors’ hallmark features, but at a more affordable price point, providing excellent value for money. If money is not an issue, you may consider the 3060’s higher-end models, such as the RTX 3070 or RTX 3080.
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