GuidesComparisonsGeForce GTX 1080 Ti Vs RTX 3060: We Tested 7 Games

GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Vs RTX 3060: We Tested 7 Games

In this article we will compare and analyze the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Vs GeForce RTX 3060, on the basis of performance and specs.

Expert Verified By

Nvidia Geforce GTX 1080 Ti

Rated: 8.5/10

Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060

Rated: 9/10


Pros And Cons

FeaturedPros Cons
GTX 1080 ti✅ Commendable performance.
✅ Generous 11 Gb Vram.
❌ Old architecture.
RTX 3060✅ Budget Friendly. 
✅ DLSS and Ray Tracing.
❌Runs hotter.
Key Takeaways
  • The GTX 1080 Ti performed 2.42% better during my testing than the RTX 3060 on 1440p resolution. 
  • Better thermals were observed throughout the benchmark on the GTX 1080 Ti, but the difference was not significant enough to make it a deal breaker. 
  • The GTX 1080 Ti is approximately 72% more expensive at launch price than the RTX 3060. 
  • The features offered by the RTX 3060 force us to recommend it over the GTX 1080 Ti.
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  • Shehryar is our comparison expert who has been benchmarking graphics cards, and processors.
  • 100+ components tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 100+ hours spent testing different components for our comparisons.
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Comparison Table

Technical SpecsNVIDIA RTX 3060NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti 
GPU NameGA 106GP 102
ArchitectureAmperePascal
Transistors12,000 million11,800 million
CUDA Cores35843584
Tensor Cores112None
RT Cores28None
TMUs112224
ROPs4888
Memory Bus192 bit352 bit
Memory Speed360.0 GB/s484.4 GB/s
Launch Price$329$699
Release DateJan 12th, 2021Mar 10th, 2017
Best VariantsBest 3060 Variants

Architectural Details

  1. Process Node: The RTX 3060 utilizes an 8nm process node, showcasing technological progress compared to the GTX 1080 Ti’s 16nm process node from an earlier era.
  2. Clock Speed: Moreover, the RTX 3060 boasts a Base Clock of 1320 MHz and a Boost Clock of 1777 MHz, showcasing enhanced performance potential. In contrast, the GTX 1080 Ti features a Base Clock of 1481 MHz and a Boost Clock of 1582 MHz.
  3. VRAM: With 12GB of GDDR6 memory, the RTX 3060 surpasses the GTX 1080 Ti’s 11GB GDDR5X VRAM, promising improved data handling capabilities.
  4. TDP: In addition, the RTX 3060 maintains a power-efficient stance with a 170W TDP, contrasting the GTX 1080 Ti’s higher 250W TDP, which may impact power consumption considerations.
  5. Supported Technologies: Lastly, the RTX 3060 introduces DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology, enhancing performance and visual quality, a feature that the GTX 1080 Ti lacks.

Today, we shall compare a relatively new budget GPU with an older flagship and see if you’re better off spending money on a newer GPU, or if the older flagships still have any juice left in them in 2024. The graphics cards in the equation are GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Vs RTX 3060.


GTX 1080 Ti Vs RTX 3060 Gaming Benchmarks

After we’ve gone over the specifications and differences between these GPUs, let’s take a closer look at them by comparing them in some gaming benchmarks. 

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 1440p benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • Right from the start, the 3060 delivered an average of 37 fps in Cyberpunk 2077, while the 1080 Ti was only 3 frames behind, providing an average of 34 fps.
  • When it came to 1% lows, the difference was just a single frame difference in favor of the 3060. It maintained 29 fps for 1% lows, while the 1080 Ti trailed slightly behind at 28 fps.

Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 1440p benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Forza Horizon 5 1440p benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • In my thorough testing, I observed a shift in performance in Forza Horizon 5. The GTX 1080 Ti provided an average of 69 fps, while the RTX 3060 was slightly behind, delivering an average of 67 fps, trailing by a mere 2 frames.
  • This difference extended to the 1% lows as well, with the 1080 Ti holding an advantage of only 2 frames. It consistently maintained an average of 60 fps for 1% lows, whereas the RTX 3060 averaged nearly 58 fps for the same metric.  

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 remake 1440p benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Resident Evil 4 remake 1440p benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • In my hands-on evaluation, I observed that the 1080 Ti consistently delivered an average of 53 fps in this demanding title, while the 3060, in contrast, lagged behind by 5 frames, maxing out at 48 fps.
  • Although the gap in 1% lows narrowed slightly, the 1080 Ti still maintained an advantage of 6.25%. It achieved 33 1% low fps, with the 3060 closely trailing at 31 1% low fps, lagging by just 2 frames.

Call Of Duty Warzone 2.0

Call Of Duty Warzone 2.0 1440p benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Call Of Duty Warzone 2.0 1440p benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • At Call of Duty Warzone 2.0, both GPUs impressively delivered a solid 60 fps gaming experience. The 3060 led the way with an average of 64 fps, while the 1080 Ti followed closely, maintaining an average of around 61 fps.
  • The 1% lows echoed a similar narrative in my opinion, with the 3060 now ahead by a margin of 6.6%. It consistently provided 31 1% low fps, whereas the 1080 Ti lagged slightly with an average of 29 fps for 1% lows.  

The Witcher 3 (Next Gen Patch)

The Witcher 3 (Next Gen Patch) 1440p benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
The Witcher 3 (Next Gen Patch) 1440p benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • In my experience, I found that The Witcher 3 favored the GTX 1080 Ti over the RTX 3060, offering 7.7% more average frames. The 1080 Ti provided an impressive average frame rate of 40 fps, while the 3060 maxed out at 37 fps.
  • The difference there ballooned to a substantial 9.5% in favor of the 1080 Ti. The 1% lows generated by the RTX 3060 averaged around 30, whereas the 1080 Ti led by a margin of 3 frames, yielding an average of 33 1% low fps.  

A Plague Tale Requiem

A Plague Tale Requiem1440p benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
A Plague Tale Requiem1440p benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • My time spent playing A Plague Tale Requiem confirmed that the 1080 Ti excelled with an impressive average of 53 frames, while the 3060 faced some struggles, falling slightly below the 50 fps mark with an average of 49.
  • For 1% lows, the RTX 3060 hovered around 31, while the 1080 Ti held a slight lead with an average of 32 for 1% low frame rate.

Spiderman Miles Morales

Spiderman Miles Morales 1440p benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Spiderman Miles Morales 1440p benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • While testing the Spider-Man: Miles Morales, I observed one of the smallest differences. The 1080 Ti consistently delivered an average of 64 frames, while the 3060, this time, was not far behind, offering an average of 63 frames.
  • However, the 1% lows told a different story altogether. The 3060 now provided a 54% boost in 1% low frame rates. It managed to maintain an average of 56 frames for 1% lows, while the 1080 Ti struggled to reach 32 frames for the same metric.  

Overall Gaming Performance 

FeaturedGTX 1080 TiRTX 3060
Average FPS53.42 📈52.14 📈
1% lows35.28 📉38 📉
Winner: Nvidia's GTX 1080 Ti

From what I saw, the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1080 Ti ended up outperforming the Geforce RTX 3060 by an average of about 2.42% at 1440p in terms of average fps. 1% lows were in favor of the RTX 3060.  On average, I observed a 7.4% difference.


Editor`s Note
Image

In terms of RAW performance, the 1080Ti may seem to give competition to the RTX 3060, but the Pascal architecture has started showing its age. The new games will make use of the shaders that 1080 Ti can not provide.

– Shehryar Khan


Thermal Efficiency

GameRTX 3060 (°C)GTX 1080 Ti (°C)
Cyberpunk 207765🌡️63🌡️
Forza Horizon 560🌡️58🌡️
Resident Evil 4 Remake64🌡️62🌡️
Call Of Duty Warzone 2.067🌡️61🌡️
The Witcher 3 (Next Gen Patch)65🌡️65🌡️
A Plague Tale Requiem65🌡️65🌡️
Average Temperature64.33🌡️62.33🌡️
Winner: GTX 1080 Ti

During the course of the benchmark, the Geforce RTX 3060 ran marginally hotter than the Geforce GTX 1080 Ti. The difference in thermals roughly came down to 3.14% in favor of the GTX 1080 Ti. 


Pricing And Availability

GPUMSRPCurrent Price
RTX 3060💲329💲239
GTX 1080 Ti 💲699💲250
Price Difference 72%4.5%

This makes the GTX 1080 Ti a whopping 72% more expensive than the RTX 3060 at the launch price. However, luckily, this GPU has been out for a while now, and it does not sell anywhere near this price, and you can find it for much cheaper at around $400.

Which One Would I Recommend?

RTX 3060: At launch price, the RTX 3060, in my opinion, is a much easier recommendation out of the two since it provides much more value for the price it’s being sold at. It is roughly 72% cheaper than the GTX 1080 Ti, and on average, it performs 2% worse in games. It can also get by on a smaller PSU as it consumes 38% less power. Lastly, it boasts a superior architecture, with additional perks such as Ray Tracing, DLSS, and longer driver support. 

GTX 1080 Ti: For 1080 Ti to be worth getting, you must find it for a much lower price than what it was released for. That should not be a problem, as it has been out for a while, so you should be able to find it for cheaper. On average, it goes anywhere between $300-500 depending on the variant. However, I’d only recommend you to consider it if you can find it around $300 cause only then it starts to become a good recommendation compared to the 3060. 

The GeForce RTX 3060 and Geforce GTX 1080 Ti, as of now, are two of the most popular GPUs that you could find between the $300-400 price range in their respective series. However, which one you should get will depend greatly on your use case and how much you are willing to spend.


More from GTX 1080 Ti:

More from RTX 3060:

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