Nvidia RTX 2070 vs RTX 3060

Old vs new in the RTX world

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Last Updated: June 20th, 2022

If you’re considering the current or old generation, we compare the Nvidia RTX 2070 vs 3060. We set side by side to see if you really need to newest option for the best choice. Or if you can save a buck and opt for something a bit older. Capable of more entry-level option performance for 1080p performance potentially pushing to 1440p for the best graphics card spot.

There are some critical differences between the two, with the two being part of two different architectures. As well as releasing at different times of their generation. The RTX 2070 part of the initial lineup came out in October 2018. Whilst the RTX 3060 needed some time to brew and came a few months after its lineup came in January 2021.

ASUS ROG STRIX RTX 2070 8GB Overclocked

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Pros

Brilliant cooling setup

Fantastic out the box performance

RGB lighting

Cons

Very large form

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ASUS ROG Strix NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 OC Edition

Pros

Premium new-age design

Very efficient cooling

Axial-tech fan design

Excellent build quality

Cons

On the expensive side

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Architecture

The fundamental difference between the two GPU options is the architecture they are created with. It sets the basis of how well the parts work and are optimized to work well on the graphics.

So we have the RTX 2070 is built on the Turing architecture, it is the TU106-400A variant. Created with TSMCs 12 nm process it creates a die 445 mm² in size with 10.8 billion transistors. Whilst the RTX 3060 is created with the Ampere architecture, more specifically the GA106-300 variant. Made with Samsungs 8 nm process it creates a die 276 mm² die with 12 billion transistors.

Specifications

	RTX 2070	RTX 3060
GPU	TU106-400A	GA106-300
Shaders	2,304	3,584
RT cores	36	28
TMUs	144	112
Memory	8 GB GDDR6	12 GB GDDR6
Base clock	1,410 MHz	1,320 MHz
Boost clock	1,620 MHz	1,777 MHz
Memory clock	14 Gbps	15 Gbps
Card bus	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x16
Memory bandwidth	448 GB/s	360 GB/s
TDP/TBP	175 W	170 W

We can also look at the rest of the parts of the cards to compare the two. With more options more comparable across generations than some. So we take a look at some of them.

GPU die cores

Die cores are what make up the inside of the GPU. Based on the architecture, the different parts work together to create the graphics you see. With the likes of shaders working on shadows and shading. Or RT cores calculating real-time ray tracing, whilst TMUs create 3D objects from bitmaps.

Comparing the RTX 2070 vs 3060 we see a variance between their numbers with varying architecture. The shaders are where the newer 30 series card leads with over 1,000 more reported. Although they may not behave the same or be reported differently. Whilst the 20 series card leads in RT cores and TMUs with a 29% uplift.

VRAM

The video memory of a graphics card is used as a frame buffer and pixel store. This allows for a more seamless experience utilizing the cards. As well as allowing higher resolutions to work better with their large pixel counts. All in all improving gameplay and performance with capacity and speeds.

Both of these GPUs use the same GDDR6 memory. But vary in capacity and speeds, with 2070 using a lower 8 GB compared to the 12 GB of the 3060. However, the Turing card has a bigger 256-bit bus, which is clocked at 14 Gbps and gives a bandwidth of 448 GB/s. Whilst the Ampere GPU has a 192-bit clocked at 15 Gbps offering a bandwidth of 360 GB/s.

Clock speeds

Also known as the clock rate or the frequency it is how often the silicon crystals flip. A count of how quickly the GPU can process instructions and create the graphics you see. Although not the biggest factor for performance, it is a popular candidate for overclocking to get the most out of them.

Looking at the frequencies between the two cards there are some changes in how fast they run. With the like newer card is able to push further than the older choice. The RTX 3060 comes with a base clock of 1,320 MHz and a boost clock of 1,777 MHz. Whilst the RTX 2070 has a base clock of 1,410 MHz and a boost clock of 1,620 MHz.

Thermal design power

The TDP of a card is the total amount of power the card can consume at max utilization. It gives you an idea of how much electricity will be going into running it. As well as an idea of how much heat it will give off to the system. Between the RTX 2070 vs 3060, there is only a five Watt difference. With the Turing option running slightly higher.

Card bus

The generational difference does also provide a big difference in the PCI express generation. PCIe standard is the interface between your motherboard and graphics card. With different generations offering varying speeds, doubling with each new iteration. So we find it change from Gen 3 to Gen 4 between the 2070 to 3060. This doubles the available throughput from 15.754 GB/s to 31.508 GB/s offering more available performance for the newer card.

RTX 2070 vs RTX 3060 performance

We first compare the RTX 2070 vs 3060 in their 3DMark scores. Gives us an idea of raw performance and price-to-performance metrics for MSRP. It gives us a score of 9,001 for the RTX 2070 with a price-to-performance ratio of 18. Whilst the 3060 achieves a score of 8,766 and a ratio of 26. So although weaker you could get more for your money.

We turn to the TechSpot RTX 3060 review for performance comparisons. There we find how the two fare against each other across 14 different games. At 1080p we see the RTX 3060 achieve an average of 116 whilst the RTX 2070 manages 105. Then at 1440p, we see the same behavior with the 3060 leading at 84 FPS compared to 75.

There is no comparison for 4k but it is likely the 3060 would begin to lose out at that resolution. From its lower memory bandwidth, it would begin to close together in performance. Although we also have a comparison for the cost per frame when comparing its MSRPs. There we find the 2070 with a value of $6.66, whilst the 3060 offers a much better $3.92.

RTX 2070 vs 3060 cost per frame TechSpot

RTX 2070 vs RTX 3060 price

Price is what we compare next as well, looking at the GPUs launch MSRPs. The Turing card came in with an asking price of $499. Whilst the Ampere card has a launch price of $329. This does show where the large price-to-performance differences come from. Saving you plenty of money without a drop in performance.

In the current market, the pricing may be different. Even though the prices have continued to trend down some are still asking for above MSRP for modern cards. While older options may be harder to find in general. Most 3060s can be found for between $399-$499, so mostly above their MSRP. Whilst the 2070 range from $500 to nearly $2000, with the second-hand market offering something less. Although that comes with its own additional price of wear and tear and deteriorated performance.

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GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2070 Super 8GB

Pros

Solid performance

High quality build

Ray tracing

Cool and quiet

Cons

Few RTX-enabled games to enjoy

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MSI RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio 12G

Pros

Quiet triple-fan cooling solution

Gaming Aesthetic

Attractive RGB

Tri Frozr 2 fan design

Cons

On the large side

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Conclusion

Overall for the RTX 2070 vs 3060, there are a lot of factors to consider. However, altogether the 3060 is the better card to pick. With performance higher than the 2070 while costing less. It also offers improved tech, as well as better stock availability, even if it took a while.

Although if you’re thinking of a new card you could hold off for some more choices. With the likes of Intel Arc GPUs expected sometime in the Summer. Whilst Nvidia Ada and AMD RDNA 3 graphics cards are expected in the second half of the yeat. Giving you plenty more choices but also lowering the prices for current choices.