If you want to upgrade your GPU but can’t choose between the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 and 3060Ti, this article will help you decide.
This is one of the best times to buy a graphics card. Cryptocurrencies have fallen, and many gamers can afford to buy a mid-range or budget-class GPU. What’s more, NVIDIA recently introduced GeForce RTX 40 Series Graphics Cards. That’s why prices should drop even more.
In general, both GeForce RTX 3060 and 3060Ti are some of the best in their weight class. Although the names of these GPUs are similar, they are actually at different performance levels.
Let’s talk more about their capabilities.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 vs 3060Ti: What are the main differences?
A brief comparison of the 3060 and 3060Ti shows that they are different graphics cards, which by the will of the marketing service, received similar names. The junior series model belongs to the budget segment. It has a reasonably simple processor, forced to work at high frequencies to maintain acceptable performance.
GeForce RTX 3060 has only one significant advantage – 12 GB of memory. But if you look closely, these chips are connected to a slow 192-bit bus. The conclusion – such volume is needed more for mining and to stand against the eternal competitor, AMD. The latter has always offered a lot of memory in its budget GPUs, which couldn’t go unnoticed by NVIDIA.
GeForce RTX 3060Ti is a lighter version of the 3070 model than an improved 3060 version. It offers the same memory subsystem as the RTX 3070 – 8 GB chips connected to a 256-bit bus. The graphics processor with more streaming cores is faster in standby mode, but it doesn’t reach record frequency under high loads. This means that it will be more stable and cooler in real-world conditions.
Specifications
| GPU model | RTX 3060 | RTX 3060Ti |
| CUDA Cores | 3 584 | 4 864 |
| Core Clock | 1320 MHz | 1410 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1777 MHz | 1665 MHz |
| VRAM | 12GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192 Bit | 256 Bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 360.0 GB/s | 448.0 GB/s |
| Thermal design power (TDP) | 170 W | 220 W |
| Recommended power supply | 550 W | 600 W |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
According to the table, we can conclude that the GeForce RTX 3060Ti is still significantly superior to its competitor, even despite the smaller amount of VRAM. For a more detailed performance comparison, visit the Technical City website.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 vs 3060Ti: Gaming tests
What GPU is better for gamers – RTX 3060 or 3060Ti? There is no significant difference in “light” games. For example, according to the Testing Games Youtube channel, in Horizon Zero Dawn on the 3060 model, the average frame rate will be 65 FPS at high graphics settings in Full HD. The 3060Ti showed a slightly better result – 78 FPS. But in single-player adventures without an emphasis on hurricane dynamics, it doesn’t matter much. More important is how the GPU will act in “heavy” games.
“Heavy” AAA projects draw a clear dividing line. Especially with raytracing effects enabled, which is why we love RTX generation. In Cyberpunk 2077 with ultra graphics settings, RTX 3060Ti shows a relatively comfortable 44 FPS in 2K. The 3060 only gives out 37 FPS. And in action moments, it can drop even lower. At such moments it becomes almost impossible to play. But this is a 2K resolution. With Full HD, the picture will be smoother, and FPS will be higher.
The 3060Ti and 3060 GPUs can’t handle 4K gaming. But both models can work with QHD 2K resolution. The Ti version allows you to choose maximum graphics settings in relatively “light” games, while the regular 3060 is limited to medium settings for stable and high FPS in 2K.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 vs 3060Ti: How much do they cost?
Although the component deficit is almost a thing of the past, the hardware cost is still unstable. Therefore, we will focus on the manufacturer’s recommended retail prices (RRP).
The price difference between the 3060Ti and the 3060 is 21.5%. The manufacturer prices the upgraded model at $399 and the basic model at $329. For a long time, both of these graphics cards were elusive for average users – miners bought them in bulk because of the favorable ratio of cost and hash rate.
Now, these GPUs are well represented in retail. Moreover, you can buy them at reasonable prices on the secondary market. But you should remember that GPUs used on mining farms require additional testing. Often they are characterized by a low remaining lifespan.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 vs 3060Ti: Which one is better?
Gamers often look at GPUs VRAM, but for cryptocurrency miners, it is the hash rate that matters most. The benchmark results of the 3060 vs 3060Ti show that Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti is still better.
I have an NVIDIA GeForce 3060 Ti from Asus on my PC. And I have never regretted the fact that I bought it. All games run smoothly, and the FPS doesn’t drop (on medium-high settings at 2K resolution).
That’s why I think that it will be better to buy 3060Ti. However, you shouldn’t forget that to enjoy the gameplay, you also need other powerful components such as CPU and RAM.
