RTX 3060 Vs 3060 Ti: We Tested Both

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Uzair Qureshi

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly wear the title of Comparisons Specialist. Focused on CPUs and GPUs, I bring forth a wealth of hands-on experience and a keen eye for detail to provide our audience with the latest insights and analyses.

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Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Process Node: As two graphics cards from the same generation, the RTX 3060 and 3060 Ti use Samsung’s 8nm processing node.
2. Clock Speed: The RTX 3060 Ti has a higher base clock of 1410MHz compared to the RTX 3060’s 1320MHz, but a lower boost clock at 1670MHz versus 1780MHz.
3. TDP: The RTX 3060 Ti has a TDP of 200 watts, while the RTX 3060 takes it down a tad with a TDP of 170 watts.
4. VRAM: Confusingly, the lower tier RTX 3060 has more VRAM than the higher end RTX 3060 Ti, 12GB and 8GB, respectively. The 3060 Ti has a wider 256-bit bus, though, while the RTX 3060 uses a 196-bit memory bus.

With the rising prices of graphics cards, consumers are looking towards older models to keep the cost down. Today, we will pin two cheap cards from the last generation of GPUs to definitively declare a winner between the RTX 3060 vs RTX 3060 Ti.

Benchmarks – 1440p

With the RTX 3060 and 3060 Ti differences clear, it’s time to test their efficiency. It’s crucial to determine if a GPU’s performance justifies its price, and there’s nothing better to do that with than real-world gaming tests.

PC Specifications

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
• Motherboard: MSI B650M Project Zero Motherboard
• Memory: Patriot Viper LED DDR4-3600 16GB RAM
• Storage Drive: CORSAIR MP700 PRO 2TB
• CPU Cooler: Arctic Freezer 34 Esports Duo
• Power Supply: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
• Operating System: Windows 11

Cyberpunk 2077

• In our first test of Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p, the RTX 3060 Ti averaged 44 FPS, outperforming the RTX 3060’s 37 FPS by about 19%.
• The 1% lows were even worse on both cards, around 32 FPS on the RTX 3060 and 38 FPS on the 3060 Ti.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

• In our second game, Shadow Of The Tomb Raider, the RTX 3060 Ti had a 21% advantage, averaging 57 FPS compared to the RTX 3060’s 47 FPS.
• The 1% lows were around 41 FPS, while the RTX 3060 Ti was noticeably less stuttery, with minimums closer to 48 FPS.

Forza Horizon 5

• Testing Forza Horizon 5 was smooth on both cards, with the RTX 3060 Ti outperforming the RTX 3060 by 20%. The 3060 averaged 115 FPS, while the 3060 Ti hit 138 FPS.
• The 1% lows were around 100 FPS on the RTX 3060, while the Ti was once again 20% ahead with lows of 120 FPS.

Horizon Zero Dawn

• In our Horizon Zero Dawn test, the RTX 3060 Ti outperformed the RTX 3060 by 20%, averaging 78 FPS to the 3060’s 65 FPS.
• The 1% lows were 61 FPS on the RTX 3060 and a much smoother 70 FPS on the RTX 3060 Ti.

Battlefield V

• Our test of Battlefield V ran 18.75% better on the RTX 3060 Ti, with an average framerate of 76 FPS, while the RTX 3060 had an average framerate closer to 64 FPS.
• The 1% lows were around 66 FPS, while the RTX 3060 was hitting 56 FPS, which felt noticeably more stuttery.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• In Red Dead Redemption 2, the RTX 3060 Ti averaged 72 FPS, outperforming the RTX 3060’s 60 FPS by 20%, a significant difference.
• The 1% lows dwindled down to around 51 FPS for the lower-end GPU, while the RTX 3060 Ti managed to get a minimum of 57 FPS.

Control

• In our Control test on Ultra settings, the RTX 3060 Ti averaged 67 FPS, once again 20% higher than the RTX 3060’s 56 FPS.
• The 1% lows were around 53 FPS when we tested this game with the 3060, whereas the RTX 3060 Ti gave minimums of around 63 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

Average Framerate

The seven games we tested showed that the RTX 3060 Ti had an average framerate 19% higher than the base RTX 3060. This difference is very noticeable, especially with the numbers we get with these cards at 1440p.

1% Lows

The RTX 3060 had a 19% lower framerate than the RTX 3060 Ti when it came to minimum framerates, meaning the stutters you’d feel with these cards would be 19% higher on the Ti version.

The RTX 3060 Ti has a pretty sizeable lead over its base counterpart, giving it the edge in our performance testing.

Temperatures

The RTX 3060 ran around 6% cooler during the games we tested than the Ti variant. This might seem like a substantial difference, but the temperature difference is negligible, and both GPUs have very manageable temperatures in our run of the games we tested.

Power Consumption

The RTX 3060 Ti took around 20% more power than the RTX 3060, which makes sense with the similar rise in performance while having the same architecture. This means that the performance-per-watt of both GPUs is identical, which is, again, a predictable statement.

Price And Availability

The RTX 3060 Ti, as of September, 2024, is around 35% more expensive than its vanilla counter part, but both GPUs are very cheap when we keep the current prices of PC hardware in mind. Both graphics cards should be readily available in most PC hardware stores near you.

RTX 3060 vs RTX 3060 Ti: What We Recommend

RTX 3060: The price, power consumption, and thermals of this graphics card is better than the RTX 3060 Ti. The framerates were acceptable in our testing, and DLSS can boost the performance to even higher levels.

RTX 3060 Ti: Though the price tag of this card is higher, it still serves to be a pretty decent upgrade over the RTX 3060. If you want to spend a bit more money to get a bit more performance, you can’t go wrong with this card.

After our thorough testing of both cards, it is safe to say that they serve as great budget options in 2024. We would recommend getting the RTX 3060 Ti for the extra headroom it provides.

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Uzair Qureshi

[Comparisons Specialist]

I’m a passionate computer hardware expert specializing in CPUs and GPUs. With a lifelong curiosity for hardware and extensive hands-on experience, I provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth analysis on these components. Engaging with the hardware community, I exchange knowledge and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

Get In Touch: uzair@tech4gamers.com