RTX 3060 Vs RTX 3070: Is The Difference Worth It?

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Abde Manaf

At Tech4Gamers, I began as a comparison writer, analyzing GPU and CPU performance. Now, I focus on writing reviews and contributing to the best-ofs section, sharing personal insights after hands-on testing.

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Clock Speed: The RTX 3060 has a base clock of 1320MHz, slightly lower than the 1500MHz base of the RTX 3070. The boost clock has a smaller difference, going from 1777MHz on the 3060 to 1750MHz on the 3070.
2. VRAM: The 3060 surprisingly has a higher VRAM buffer of 12GB instead of the 8GB video memory of the 8GB.
3. Bus Width: The RTX 3060 has a 192-bit bus, which is substantially narrower than the 256-bit bus of the 3070.
4. Process Size: Both the RTX 3070 and the 3060 use 8nm processing nodes from Samsung.
5. TDP: The RTX 3060 is rated for a TDP of 170 watts, 50 watts lower than the RTX 3070’s rated 220-watt TDP.

Even with all the new and shiny GPUs on the market, there is almost no competition in the low-end GPU market. Most consumers flirt with the concept of buying older GPUs at times like these, which is why we have compared the RTX 3060 vs RTX 3070 toe-to-toe to help you in your purchasing decision.

Gaming Benchmarks – 1080p

We rigorously tested the RTX 3060 vs RTX 3070 on our controlled test bench at 1080p, ensuring fairness to their respective markets. For our review of the RTX 3070 used in the test, please refer to our article on the subject.

Benchmarks Rig

• Processor: Ryzen 5 5600X
• Motherboard: Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro Wifi
• RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro (2x16GB) – 3200MHz
• CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S SE-AM4
• PSU: DeepCool PX1000P 80 PLUS Platinum
• SSD: Teamgroup T-Force Z540 2TB Gen5 NVMe SSD

Far Cry 6

• The RTX 3070 had a 24% advantage in our test of this game, with an average framerate of 112 FPS against the 3060’s average of 90 FPS.
• 1% lows shared a 20% difference, with the RTX 3070 hovering around 89 FPS while the 3060 stayed closer to 74 FPS.

Kena: Bridge Of Spirits

• This game saw a 53% difference in performance, with the RTX 3070 getting an average framerate of 118 FPS, while the RTX 3060 had an average of around 77 FPS.
• We saw a 36% advantage for the 3070 in the 1% lows, with the card hovering around 94 FPS instead of the 69 FPS of the 3060.

F1 2021

• We saw a 42% victory in our test of F1 2021, with the RTX 3070 getting an average framerate of 135 FPS while the 3060 had an average of 95 FPS. This game was tested with RT on medium.
• The 1% lows were separated by 24% in our testing, with the 3070 hovering close to 83 FPS, while the 3060 had lows closer to 67 FPS.

New World

• Like all the games before this, the RTX 3070 was around 45% ahead with an average framerate of 156 FPS, while the RTX 3060 hovered closer to 109 FPS.
• The 1% lows were around 95 FPS on the RTX 3070, whereas the 3060 had lows closer to 81 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

• The RTX 3070 enjoyed a 53% advantage in our test of Cyberpunk 2077, with an average framerate of 80 FPS against the 3060’s average of 52 FPS.
• Both cards stood 62% apart in terms of 1% lows, with the RTX 3070 getting minimums of around 68 FPS, while the 3060 had lows of 42 FPS.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

• The difference between the two cards mellowed out in MS Flight Sim 2020, with the RTX 3070 getting an average framerate of 74 FPS, only 16% higher than the 64 FPS of the 3060.
• The 1% lows of this game marked the first victory for the RTX 3060, with its 51 FPS lows being around 8.5% higher than the 47 FPS lows of the RTX 3070.

Watch Dogs Legion

• Watch Dogs Legion had an average framerate of 80 FPS on the RTX 3070, which was 33% higher than the RTX 3060’s average framerate of 60 FPS.
• The 1% lows of the RTX 3060 dipped to around 44 FPS, whereas the RTX 3070 was 43% faster with lows of around 63 FPS.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

• There was a 33% difference in the performance of both cards in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, with the RTX 3070 getting an average framerate of 96 FPS, while the RTX 3060 had an average framerate of 72 FPS.
• The difference grew to 48% in the 1% lows, with the RTX 3070 hovering around 74 FPS, while the RTX 3060 shot down to 50 FPS for its lows.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• The average framerate of the RTX 3070 was at an advantage of 34% at 95 FPS against the 71 FPS average of the RTX 3060.
• The last game of our testing showed a difference of 30% in the lows of the two cards, with the RTX 3070 getting an average framerate of 85 FPS, while the RTX 3060 had an average of 65 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

There was a 37% difference between the averages of these two cards, with the RTX 3070 being in the win. There is no doubt that the RTX 3070 is overkill for rasterized 1080p gaming, even in 2024. The RTX 3060 still managed to be adequate, giving an enjoyable gameplay experience.

Power Consumption

As was expected, the RTX 3060 consumed around 34% less power than the RTX 3070, roughly matching up with its decrement in performance. The lower power consumption of the RTX 3060 can allow you to get away with a less robust power supply, concurring even more savings.

Price And Availability

Both the RTX 3070 and RTX 3060 have become substantially cheaper since launch, though the RTX 3070 is still quite a bit more expensive than the RTX 3060. Regardless, both cards have an entry-level price in today’s market.

What We Recommend

RTX 3060: Being a cheaper card, the RTX 3060 falls as the default choice for most budget gamers looking for a new GPU. It gives adequate performance of modern games at 1080p and nothing more. Technologies like DLSS can push its performance to the 1440p bracket, which makes it a versatile card.

RTX 3070: The RTX 3070 has almost the same value proposition as the RTX 3060, just coming in at a higher price. If your budget allows for it, we would recommend purchasing this card over the RTX 3060 because of its better gaming headroom.

To conclude, the decision between these cards falls on your budget as both contenders give you almost equal performance per dollar you spend. If your target is 1080p, get the RTX 3060, whereas if you want to go beyond, the RTX 3070 is a great choice.

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Abde Manaf

[Comparisons Expert]

Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.

Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.

As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.

Get In Touch: manaf@tech4gamers.com