50

RTX 3060 Graphics Card

Ampere · 12 GB GDDR6

$329

MSRP

64

RTX 3070 Graphics Card

Ampere · 8 GB GDDR6

$499

MSRP

Our verdict

The RTX 3070 Graphics Card takes the performance lead with a 28% higher overall score, driven by its 5,888 shader cores, 8 GB of memory, and 20.3 TFLOPS TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 28% more frames per second across demanding titles like Alan Wake 2 and Black Myth Wukong.

However, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card tells a compelling value story. At $329 versus the RTX 3070 Graphics Card's $499 price tag, it costs 52% less while delivering performance that's only 28% behind. Its 12 GB of memory is still more than enough for 1440p and even 4K gaming in most titles.

Our recommendation: for the majority of gamers targeting 1440p or even 4K with upscaling enabled, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card is the smarter purchase. The RTX 3070 Graphics Card only makes sense if you need the absolute maximum performance for native 4K ray tracing, professional 3D rendering, or AI workloads where the extra VRAM and compute power provide a tangible advantage.

Performance winner

RTX 3070 Graphics Card

28% faster overall

Best value for money

RTX 3060 Graphics Card

3% better value per dollar

RTX 3060 Graphics Card best for

Power efficiency

3% better value per dollar

Memory

Memory
12 GB
8 GB
Memory type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory bus
192-bit
256-bit
Memory bandwidth
360 GB/s
448 GB/s

Performance

CUDA cores
3,584
5,888
Boost clock
1,777 MHz
1,725 MHz
Base clock
1,320 MHz
1,500 MHz
FP32 performance
12.7 TFLOPS
20.3 TFLOPS
RT cores
28
46
Tensor cores
112
184

Physical

Transistors
13.3 billion
17.4 billion
Process
8 nm
8 nm
PCIe
PCIe 4
PCIe 4
Card length
228 mm
242 mm

Power

TDP
170W
220W
Power connector
8-pin
12-pin

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1440p ultra)

Alan Wake 2
34 fps
47 fps
Black Myth Wukong
38 fps
52 fps
Counter-Strike 2
240 fps
290 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
42 fps
58 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
43 fps
59 fps
Spider-Man 2
45 fps
62 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Geekbench 6 Compute
85,000 points
115,000 points
3DMark Fire Strike
19,000 points
25,500 points
3DMark Time Spy
11,000 points
15,000 points

Frequently asked questions

Is the RTX 3070 Graphics Card worth $170 more than the RTX 3060 Graphics Card?

It depends on your needs. The RTX 3070 Graphics Card scores 64 overall vs 50 for the RTX 3060 Graphics Card. If you need the extra performance for demanding tasks, the premium is justified. For most users gaming at 1440p or below, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card or RTX 3070 Graphics Card?

The RTX 3070 Graphics Card delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The RTX 3070 Graphics Card provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the RTX 3060 Graphics Card still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the RTX 3060 Graphics Card handle 4K gaming?

The RTX 3060 Graphics Card can handle 4K gaming in less demanding titles and with upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR. For native 4K at ultra settings in demanding games, the RTX 3070 Graphics Card is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card or RTX 3070 Graphics Card?

Choose the RTX 3060 Graphics Card if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the RTX 3070 Graphics Card if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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