By the FlowUP team, gaming PC assembler in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 28 September 2026
Sortie en février 2021 à 329 dollars, la GeForce RTX 3060 a été l'une des cartes graphiques les plus populaires chez les joueurs. En 2026, elle fait encore tourner les jeux en 1080p et ses 12 Go de mémoire restent un vrai atout, mais elle a désormais deux générations de retard. Voici notre avis d'assembleur : fiche technique, performances mesurées, piège de la version 8 Go et le bon choix si vous achetez maintenant.
In brief
- Ampere architecture, 3,584 CUDA cores, 12GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus and 170W.
- The RTX 4060 is only 7 to 13% faster depending on settings, and the RTX 5060 adds another 21 to 22% (TechSpot, July 2025).
- Avoid the RTX 3060 8GB released in late 2022: around 17% slower on average than the 12GB version (TechSpot, 12 games).
- No image generation DLSS, but DLSS Super Resolution and its transformer-based model work.
- Our advice: if you already have a RTX 3060 installed, keep it for 1080p; for a new PC in 2026, aim for a RTX 5060.
12GB
of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus
170W
graphics card power; a 550W PSU is recommended
+17%
for the 12GB vs the 8GB (TechSpot, 2022)
Contents
- RTX 3060: specifications
- RTX 3060 gaming performance: how many FPS?
- RTX 3060 12GB or 8GB: beware the trap
- RTX 3060 vs RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 4060 and RTX 5060
- DLSS, ray tracing and power requirements
- RTX 3060 review: should you still buy it in 2026?
- RTX 3060 FAQ
RTX 3060: specifications
The GeForce RTX 3060 is based on the GA106 chip from the Ampere architecture. It comes with 3,584 CUDA cores, second-generation RT cores for ray tracing, and third-generation Tensor cores for DLSS.
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere (GA106) |
| CUDA cores | 3,584 |
| Boost clock | 1.78 GHz |
| Memory | 12GB GDDR6, 192-bit bus, 15Gbps |
| Power | 170W |
| Recommended PSU | 550W |
| Launch date and price | February 2021, $329 |
Sources: NVIDIA, GeForce RTX 3060, TechSpot (January 2021) and MSI spec sheet for the RTX 3060 Gaming X 12G.
No Founders Edition for the RTX 3060: all cards are partner models like this one.
RTX 3060 gaming performance: how many FPS?
The RTX 3060 is a 1080p card. In recent games, it handles high settings in Full HD, provided you enable DLSS. In 1440p, it remains playable in many titles, but you’ll need to lower some graphics options.
In July 2025, TechSpot re-tested all NVIDIA “60” cards. Result: the RTX 4060 only has a 7 to 13% lead over the RTX 3060 depending on settings, and the RTX 5060 adds 21 to 22% compared to the RTX 4060. So an RTX 5060 is roughly 30 to 38% faster than an RTX 3060 (our calculation based on these measurements).
How many FPS with an RTX 3060? It all depends on the game. Esports titles like Fortnite, Valorant or CS2 run well above 60 frames per second in 1080p, while recent AAA titles need DLSS to stay smooth. For Fortnite, our guide which gaming PC to play Fortnite details the settings.
In 1080p, the RTX 3060 still feels at home, especially with DLSS enabled.
RTX 3060 12GB or 8GB: beware the trap
At the end of 2022, NVIDIA launched an RTX 3060 8GB under the same name. It has not only less memory: its bus drops from 192 to 128 bits, which is one third less bandwidth. TechSpot measured it as around 17% slower on average than the RTX 3060 12GB across 12 games, with differences of over 30% in some titles.
On the second-hand market, always check that the listing says "RTX 3060 12GB". The 12GB version is the only one still worth buying, and its memory is exactly what keeps it relevant: TechSpot notes that with very detailed textures, its 12GB lets it beat an RTX 5060 limited to 8GB. To find out how much memory you really need, read our guide 8GB, 12GB or 16GB of VRAM.
The memory chips around the GPU: the RTX 3060 12GB has six on its 192-bit bus.
RTX 3060 vs RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 4060 and RTX 5060
Here’s how the RTX 3060 stacks up against its big sister and its two replacements.
| Specification | RTX 3060 | RTX 3060 Ti | RTX 4060 | RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ampere | Ada Lovelace | Blackwell |
| CUDA cores | 3,584 | 4,864 | 3,072 | 3,840 |
| Memory | 12GB GDDR6, 192-bit | 8GB GDDR6, 256-bit | 8GB GDDR6, 128-bit | 8GB GDDR7, 128-bit |
| Power | 170W | 200W | 115W | 145W |
| DLSS image generation | No | No | Yes (DLSS 3) | Multi-image (DLSS 4) |
| Release | February 2021 | December 2020 | June 2023 | May 2025 |
The RTX 3060 Ti is significantly faster than the RTX 3060 thanks to its 4,864 cores and 256-bit bus, but it has only 8GB of memory. The RTX 4060 uses much less power for only slightly higher performance, and the RTX 5060 is the card to go for in this budget today. Our detailed tests: RTX 4060 in 2026 and RTX 5060: review, performance and price.
PC Support & Gaming Test’s chain ran the RTX 3060 12GB through 26 games in 2025, with an on-screen FPS counter:
DLSS, ray tracing and power requirements
DLSS: the RTX 3060 makes use of DLSS Super Resolution, including the transformer model of DLSS 4 that NVIDIA opened up to all RTX cards in January 2025. On the other hand, it has no access to image generation (RTX 40 and 50) or multi-image generation (RTX 50). Everything is explained in our article DLSS 4.5 vs FSR Redstone.
Ray tracing: the card can handle it, but the effect is pricey in frames per second. In 1080p, pair it with DLSS every time. To understand what this technology changes, see our article ray tracing and path tracing.
Power supply: the RTX 3060 draws 170 W and manufacturers recommend a 550 W power supply, with an 8-pin PCIe connector on most models. Our guide how to choose your power supply helps you check yours.
An 8-pin PCIe cable is enough for most RTX 3060 cards.
RTX 3060 review: should you still buy it in 2026?
If your PC already has a RTX 3060 12GB, there’s no rush: it runs games in 1080p with DLSS, and its 12GB of memory protects it better than many newer 8GB cards. Upgrade it on the day you move to 1440p, or if you want image generation.
For a purchase in 2026, it’s a different story. A new RTX 3060 is now scarce since the arrival of its replacements, and the RTX 5060, launched at $299, is significantly faster with DLSS 4 as well. In second-hand form, it can be a stopgap for a tight budget, as long as you choose the 12GB version and check the condition of the card.
In our workshop in Genappe, today we build RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 systems into our entry-level PCs. Here are the setups that replace an RTX 3060 PC:
In our workshop in Genappe, the RTX 5050 and 5060 have taken the place of the RTX 3060.
Corvus GeForce RTX 5050 PC
RTX 5050 8GB, Ryzen 5 5500, 16GB of RAM and an M.2 SSD: an entry-level build for gaming in Full HD.
Banger GeForce RTX 5060 PC
The logical replacement for an RTX 3060 PC: RTX 5060, Intel Core i5-12400F and 16GB of RAM for Full HD.
CUBI GeForce RTX 5060 8GB PC
RTX 5060, Ryzen 7 5700X and 240 mm watercooling in a compact case.
Stuck between different budgets? Our comparison best gaming PC in 2026 depending on your budget and our guide how to choose a graphics card help you make a decision.
RTX 3060 FAQ
Is the RTX 3060 still a good graphics card in 2026?
Yes for 1080p, especially in the 12GB version and with DLSS. However, it’s two generations behind: for a new purchase, the RTX 5060 is a better choice.
How many watts for an RTX 3060?
The card consumes 170 W. Manufacturers recommend a quality 550 W power supply for the whole PC.
Does the RTX 3060 have DLSS?
Yes, DLSS Super Resolution, including the transformer model of DLSS 4. Image generation is reserved for RTX 40 and 50.
RTX 3060 12GB or RTX 3060 Ti?
The RTX 3060 Ti is faster, but it only has 8GB of memory. For high textures in recent games, the RTX 3060’s 12GB matter; for the number of frames per second, the Ti comes out on top.
Can you play in 1440p with an RTX 3060?
Yes in many games by lowering settings and enabling DLSS. For comfortable 1440p in 2026, aim instead for a RTX 5060 Ti 16GB or a RTX 5070.
Sources
- NVIDIA, GeForce RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti, specifications
- TechSpot, RTX 3060 announcement (January 2021)
- TechSpot, RTX 3060 8GB vs 12GB, 12 games (December 2022)
- TechSpot, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 review (June 2023)
- TechSpot, six years of tested RTX 60 cards (July 2025)
- NVIDIA, DLSS 4 announcement (January 2025)
- MSI, RTX 3060 Gaming X 12G specification sheet
