If you're new to GPUs or are trying to replace an older card like the GTX 1050 Ti or GTX 1080, the GeForce 30-series GPU is a great choice to start with. Nvidia GeForce GPUs have always had great specs and performance, with the RTX GPU line, especially the 3060 and 3060 Ti, being some of the best in its class.
On the surface, the RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti are very similar; they share the same name, architecture, cooling system and dimensions. However, they still have some differences. Here's a detailed comparison between Nvidia RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti to help you decide which is the right GPU for your gaming PC.
Compare RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti specifications

Both cards use Samsung's 8nm process technology but differ in the number of transistors. The RTX 3060 contains 13.25 billion transistors, while the RTX 3060 Ti has a transistor count of 17.4 billion. More transistors are often a sign of a new and faster processor.
However, the RTX 3060, a slightly newer model, is built on the Ampere GA106 GPU die. On the other hand, the RTX 3060 Ti is based on a physically larger GA104 GPU die, which reduces heat output.
The RTX 3060 contains 3,584 CUDA cores and a core clock performance of 1,320 MHz and a boost clock of 1,777 MHz, while the RTX 3060 Ti has 4,864 CUDA cores, a core clock performance of 1,410 MHz and a boost clock of 1,665 MHz.
Another notable difference between these two GPUs is memory size. The RTX 3060 has 12GB GDDR6, while the RTX 3060 Ti has 8GB GDDR6. With the combination of faster clock speeds and more VRAM, you'd think the Nvidia RTX 3060 would be faster than the RTX 3060 Ti – but that's not the case.
Despite having 8GB of VRAM and a lower boost clock, the RTX 3060 Ti delivers better performance. One reason is that the RTX 3060 has a smaller and slower memory bus than the RTX 3060 Ti. This means data exchange takes longer on the 3060, resulting in lower overall memory bandwidth for the GPU.
The RTX 3060 Ti has a higher 256-bit bus, allowing it to deliver 448GB/s of memory bandwidth. Additionally, the RTX 3060 Ti version launching in January 2023 offers an even faster 608GB/s bandwidth (via upgrade to GDDR6X VRAM). Higher bandwidth allows the GPU to access more memory during operation. On the other hand, the RTX 3060 has a 192-bit memory bus, resulting in a lower available bandwidth of 360GB/s.
Here's a comparison table showing the specs of the two cards (and the 2023 update of the RTX 3060 Ti).
|
RTX 3060 |
RTX 3060 Ti |
RTX 3060 Ti (2023) |
GPU mold |
GA106 |
GA104 |
GA104 |
Architecture |
Ampere |
Ampere |
Ampere |
CUDA core |
3,584 |
4,864 |
4,864 |
RT Core |
28 |
38 |
38 |
Tensor Core |
112 |
152 |
152 |
VRAM |
12GB GDDR6 |
8GB GDDR6 |
8GB GDDR6X |
Memory bus |
196-bit |
256-bit |
256-bit |
Core/Boost Clock |
1,320 MHz/1,777 MHz |
1,410 MHz/1,665 MHz |
1,410 MHz/1,665 MHz |
Transistor |
13.25 billion |
17.40 billion |
17.40 billion |
TDP (W) |
170 |
200 |
225 |
Interface |
PCIe 4.0 |
PCIe 4.0 |
PCIe 4.0 |
Card performance depends on cooling system specifications (temperature and power specifications). The recommended system power and graphics card for RTX 3060 are 550W and 170W respectively, and for RTX 3060 Ti, they are 600W and 200W respectively.
Both GPUs have the same maximum temperature, but the 3060 Ti consumes more power than the 3060. This means the 3060 Ti is less power efficient and can reach its maximum temperature faster.
Compare the performance of RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti
The performance difference between RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti depends on the Add-In Board (AIB) model specifications. For example, a comparison between the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Ventus 3X OC and the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC shows that the 3060 Ti offers slightly better gaming performance, despite having less VRAM.
There aren't many opportunities to use 12GB of VRAM right now, especially given the bandwidth limitations of the RTX 3060, as mentioned previously. Thus, the 8GB VRAM level on the RTX 3060 Ti is more than enough for the target audience of 1440p gamers.

At 1080p and 1440p, both cards delivered above 60 fps and consistently below 50 fps with more GPU-intensive games.
The RTX 30-Series lineup includes some of the best GPUs for 4K gaming and can easily run intensive games without any noticeable difference in performance.
RTX 3060 price and availability compared to RTX 3060 Ti
Recommended retail price for the RTX 3060 is $329 and for the 3060 Ti is $399. At this price, both GPUs offer great value for money. However, supplies of Nvidia's 30-Series GPUs are still limited, so finding these GPUs at suggested retail prices is difficult. You can buy the 3060 through third-party stores for around $350 to $500 and the 3060 Ti for around $550 to $800.
Is RTX 3060 or RTX 3060 Ti better?
Gamers are best looking at the graphics card's VRAM, while for cryptocurrency miners, the GPU's hashrate is more important.
The RTX 3060 has 12GB of VRAM, which although not superior to the 3060 Ti in terms of performance, is quite effective for gaming. This is because the RTX 3060's VRAM advantage is negligible at the resolutions these cards target, 1080 and 1440p.
The RTX 3060 vs RTX 3060 Ti benchmark results show that the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti is the superior GPU – but the victory is very narrow.