The Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 3060 Ti graphics cards represent two powerful but distinct options for high-end gaming PCs. The 2080 Ti dominated the market for years as one of the best graphics cards money could buy, while the newer 3060 Ti offers next-gen architecture and excellent price-to-performance.
This in-depth guide will compare all the key specs, real-world gaming benchmarks, and overall value between the RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 3060 Ti to help you decide which is the better choice for your build.
RTX 2080 Ti vs. 3060 Ti: Key Specs Comparison
| **Spec** | RTX 2080 Ti | RTX 3060 Ti |
| GPU Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| CUDA Cores | 4,352 | 4,864 |
| Boost Clock | 1,545MHz | 1,665MHz |
| Memory | 11GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 616GB/s | 448GB/s |
| TDP | 250W | 200W |
At first glance, the RTX 3060 Ti pulls ahead in key next-gen specs like CUDA cores while the 2080 Ti provides brute force with higher memory bandwidth and capacity. But pure specs don‘t tell the full story. Let‘s analyze the architecture and component changes between these GPUs.
Turing vs. Ampere Architecture Comparison
The RTX 2080 Ti was built on Nvidia‘s Turing architecture, which introduced ray tracing support and Tensor cores for the first time in their consumer GPUs. Turing utilized a 12nm manufacturing process.
The newer Ampere architecture in the RTX 3060 Ti delivers significantly improved power efficiency and performance per CUDA core compared to Turing. It uses an improved 8nm Samsung process allowing higher densities.
With Ampere, 2nd gen RT cores provide 2x the ray tracing performance, while 3rd gen Tensor cores deliver 2x the AI processing power. The 3060 Ti‘s unified cache architecture also reduces latency.
Real-World Impact
What does this actually mean for gaming, creative workloads, and overall user experience? Simply put, the 3060 Ti can match or beat the 2080 Ti in many tests despite having less memory bandwidth and capacity. We‘ll analyze some benchmark comparisons next.
Gaming Benchmarks and Performance Comparison
Let‘s see how these two Nvidia titans compare in real-world game testing at 1080p, 1440p, and 4k resolutions.
Data compiled from Technical.City benchmarks.
As you can see, at 1080p and 1440p the 3060 Ti pulls very close to the 2080 Ti and even beats it slightly in many popular games. The architectural improvements clearly outweigh the missing memory bandwidth.
However, at 4K resolution the 2080 Ti does regain a more sizeable lead. Those extra memory resources allow the 2080 Ti to operate more smoothly at higher textures.
Performance Over Time
It‘s also worth considering long term performance. The 3060 Ti‘s Ampere architecture has additional optimization headroom via future driver updates and game patches. So it may gain performance percentage over the now discontinued 2080 Ti cards receiving fewer updates.
Price and Value Comparison
Along with performance, price plays a big role in determining overall value. Let‘s see how much these GPUs cost currently from major retailers:
Pricing data from 1/23/2023 at Amazon, Newegg, Best Buy.
Due to low availability and inflated reseller prices, 2080 Ti cards still shockingly demand ultra premium pricing between $1200-1500 despite being a 4+ year old GPU.
Meanwhile the 3060 Ti delivers 90% of the performance for less than 30% of the price. This insane price-to-performance ratio makes the 3060 Ti the clear winner in value right now. The generally available $400-500 MSRP pricing is expected to continue this year barring a crypto mining resurgence.
Verdict: RTX 3060 Ti Delivers Better Value for Most Gamers
When considering all factors – performance across resolutions, architecture trajectory, pricing, and availability – I believe the RTX 3060 Ti currently provides most gamers better value compared to the venerable but dated 2080 Ti.
However for 4K enthusiasts willing to pay $1400+ the 2080 Ti still holds top benchmark positions currently. As 8K gaming emerges in coming years its extra VRAM may also give it additional staying power. But Ampere optimizations could shift the balance again.
For any resolutions below 4K, or if money is an object, grab a 3060 Ti while market conditions last and don‘t look back. With some Overclocking it reaches original 2080 Ti speeds for a fraction of the cost. And it will only get better with age.
Recommended Models
Here are quick summaries for my top RTX 2080 Ti and 3060 Ti card picks available right now based on performance, cooling, and value:
RTX 2080 Ti
- EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti FTW3 – Fastest triple fan model from trusted brand View on Amazon
RTX 3060 Ti
MSI Gaming X Trio – Excellent cooler and factory overclock View on Amazon
ASUS Dual OC – Dual fan, solid clocks, great price View on Amazon
I hope this guide has helped provide clarity to anyone deciding between these two capable cards. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!
