The Best RTX 3060 Ti Graphics Cards In 2022
We scour the web to find only the best RTX 3060 Ti AIBs currently on offer this year
Since the launch of the RTX series stock has been awful but more cards have launched since. AMD and Nvidia have both stepped up their games, releasing some of the best price-to-performance graphics cards we’ve seen in, well, since I can remember, actually.
So far, Nvidia has had huge success with the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090, both offering new levels of gaming and productivity performance at the top end of the price spectrum. That said, today we’ll be looking at a GPU that resides in the lower end of the price spectrum – the new RTX 3060 Ti.
The new graphics card launched just under a week ago and will be coming to shelves equipped with all the performance power you’d need for excellent 1080p gaming and light-medium workflows. Nvidia has said the new card is designed to replace the RTX 2080 Super, only at a much lower price point. It will offer 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, equivalent to that of the 2080 Super, and should offer equal levels of performance in the areas that matter most.
With a tonne of excitement surrounding the new $399 GPUs, we’re going to be researching all the AIBs released to determine which is actually best for your specific needs. We’ll be taking price, performance, build quality, and cooling into consideration as we go, recommending only the best RTX 3060 Tis on offer.
Our Top Picks
Best RTX 3060 TI Graphics Cards
In-depth Review
ASUS GeForce RTX 3060 TI ROG Strix Gaming OC
ASUS GeForce RTX 3060 TI ROG Strix Gaming OC
Whilst ASUS has released several different SKUs, our favorite (and best overall RTX 3060 Ti) has to go to the ROG Strix variant. It comes to the table with all the usual suspects that we’ve come to love from the Republic of Gamers brand – including great build quality, high-end performance, and good value for money.
Like all the cards in this list, the ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3060 offers great cooling, excellent aesthetics, and great 1080p and 1440p gaming right out the box. However, we’ll have to dive a little deeper into the cooling and build quality departments to see where ASUS really excelled.
Equipped with the Axial-tech fan design, the ROG Strix stays cool at all times. Even when pushed to its limit, you’ll be able to set custom fan profiles that ensure optimal temperatures are met at all times.
With a boost clock frequency of 1890MHz (1860MHz Gaming Mode), the ROG Strix is also one of the fastest 3060 Tis on the market.
EVGA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB FTW3 ULTRA GAMING
EVGA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB FTW3 ULTRA GAMING
EVGA is one of the leading brands when it comes to designing high-end GPUs. So, when we got our hands on their RTX 3060 Ti FTW3 Ultra Gaming GPU, it’s safe to say we were instantly impressed.
EVGA has equipped their RTX 3060 with great cooling, excellent build quality, and a high boost clock frequency that really does make gaming (in 1080p and 1440p) a joy. Despite this GPU residing in the higher end of the price spectrum, we still consider it one of the best 3060 Tis on the market.
The cooling solution is EVGA’s own iCX3 triple-fan setup, providing low temps no matter how intense the gaming (or productivity) gets. Despite the FTW3 Ultra gaming being EVGA’s flagship unit, the aesthetics are still extremely humble – with only the EVGA branding being RGB. Unlike the other cards in EVGA’s range, the RTX 3060 Ti seems to have ditched the weird red trim at the end, opting for something a little more stylish – thank god.
MSI GEFORCE RTX 3060 TI VENTUS 3X OC graphics card
MSI GEFORCE RTX 3060 TI VENTUS 3X OC graphics card
Whilst the Ventus 3X OC might not be MSI’s flagship RTX 3060 Ti, it still offers fantastic value for money when compared to other AIBs in today’s market.
It comes equipped with MSI’s classic styling, characterized by sharp edges and subtle RGB that mixes nicely to give a well-rounded gaming aesthetic. The cooling solution on this particular card is, once again, a triple fan setup – providing substantial cooling when needed most. With TORX Fan 3.0 technology, alongside advanced thermal padding, the Ventus 3X cooling solution might be one of the best on offer.
MSI has fitted this particular card with a reinforced backplate, ensuring that build quality will be the last thing that lets this card down. It also offers a custom PCB design that provides greater levels of reliability and power circuitry – allowing users to really push this card to its limits.
Zotac NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Zotac NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
The Zotac Twin Edge is one of two SKUs that Zotac has released since the Dec 2nd launch date. It is one of the cheapest RTX 3060 TIs to be released, offering up great value for money at the lower end of the 3060 TI price spectrum.
Out of this guide, you have to say that the Zotac is one of the most basic-looking cards on offer. Unlike the other RTX 3060 TIs we recommend, this GPU only offers a dual fan setup. However, don’t let that put you off, the 11 blade IceStorm 2.0 cooling solution provides all the efficiency you could want from a budget offering. Furthermore, with a newly improved heatpipe layout that provides direct contact with the GPU itself, you’ll be experiencing all new lows when it comes to temps.
One noticeable difference between this and the other GPUs in this guide is the boost clock frequency. At 1695MHz, it’s one of the lowest we’ve seen. However, as we mentioned earlier, the difference in FPS when comparing these cards is relatively negligible for the most part.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for great performance but don’t have the cash to splash out on one of the more premium options, the Zotac is a great budget offering that ticks a lot of the right boxes.
Final Word
So, there you have it guys, our comprehensive guide to the best RTX 3060 Ti GPUs the market has to offer. Unfortunately, current stock levels are probably going to stall any physical purchase of a new GPU for now. That being said, we always like to give you the latest information as early as possible, allowing you to research in advance what GPU might be best for your specific needs.
With that being said, the only thing left to reflect on is performance. Ultimately, what we have here is an extremely competitive GPU that resides in the ‘lower to mid-range price sector of the market. It is great for playing games in 1080p (some in 1440p) and is a solid replacement for the 2080 Super – at a much lower price point.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you decide which GPU is best for your needs.