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Picking out an appropriate graphics card when building a high-performance gaming PC or workstation is paramount. NVIDIA GeForce RTX series graphics cards offer some of the highest performance today, featuring cutting-edge features. These may include real-time ray tracing and Deep Learning Super Scalar Technology (DLSS).
However, two popular options from this series are the RTX 2070 Super and its successor, RTX 3060. Though both cards are high-performance solutions, there are key distinctions between them in terms of architecture, CUDA cores, memory capacity, performance, and more.
Our analysis examines the differences between the RTX 2070 Super and RTX 3060 to help you select which card best meets your requirements.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super vs. 3060: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 | |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Base Clock Speed | 1605 MHz | 1320 MHz |
| CUDA Cores | 2560 | 3584 |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit | 192-bit |
| DirectX | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |
| Boost Clock Speed | 1770 MHz | 1777 MHz |
| TDP (W) | 215 | 170 |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 448.0 GB/s | 360.0 GB/s |
| Foundry | TSMC | Samsung |
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super vs. 3060: What’s the Difference?
Many users fail to thoroughly research graphics cards before purchasing one. However, without due diligence, this could lead to them wasting money on unnecessary products while missing out on desired features or amenities.
It’s vitally important that customers take their time studying each product’s unique properties to prevent this scenario from happening. Here are the significant differences between Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super and RTX 3060 to help you make more informed purchase decisions.
Power Consumption
The RTX 3060 boasts a lower thermal design power (TDP) of 170 watts compared to its rival RTX 2070 Super’s 215W. This power difference, therefore, means that the RTX 3060 consumes less power and generates less heat.
- 8 GB RAM
- DisplayPort, HDMI video output interface
- 1605 MHz GPU Clock Speed
- 256-bit memory bus width
Consequently, the lower power consumption by the RTX 3060 can bring many advantages. Your electricity costs could drop significantly, and fan noise would dramatically decrease.
Furthermore, low power consumption ability may make it easier to cool the system, leading to enhanced overall performance and stability of your system.
Clock Frequency
The RTX 3060 features a base clock frequency of 1320 MHz and boost clock frequencies of up to 1777 MHz. At the same time, the RTX 2070 Super boasts a base clock speed of 1605MHz and increased clock speeds of 1770MHz. Clock speeds can significantly impact the performance of each card.
The higher boost clock speed of the RTX 3060 may lead to faster frame rates and smoother performance in specific applications. However, its lower base clock speed could result in slower performance for applications that depend more heavily on base than boost clock speeds.
On the other hand, the RTX 2070 Super’s higher base clock speed allows it to deliver enhanced performance in some applications. Nonetheless, the lower boost clock speed could result in slower performance for applications that rely more heavily on it.
Memory Type and Size
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super and 3060 share the GDDR6 memory type. However, their sizes and interfaces differ considerably. The RTX 3060 features 12GB of GDDR6 memory, while its counterpart (RTX 2070 Super) comes equipped with 8 GB.
RTX 3060 uses a 192-bit memory interface, while the RTX 2070 Super uses 256 bits. Consequently, the larger memory size of the former card could prove beneficial. In addition, bigger memory can enable more complex workloads and increase performance for applications requiring substantial memory resources.
The smaller memory size of the RTX 2070 Super may result in slower performance when used for specific applications. Additionally, its small memory interface may limit bandwidth; however, larger memory sizes can offset this issue.
Gaming and Benchmark Performance
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super and 3060 GPUs offer different levels of gaming performance and benchmark tests. In some, the RTX 3060 outshines its counterpart (RTX 2070 Super). But its performance in other areas tops both GPUs.
- 12GB GDDR6 video memory
- 192-bit memory interface
- 12 GB RAM
- 7680 x 4320 maximum resolution
In 1080p gaming, the RTX 3060 often outpaces its counterpart, the RTX 2070 Super, with higher frame rates in many titles. However, the RTX 2070 Super tends to perform better for 1440p and 4K gaming with higher frame rates and improved performance.
In addition, benchmark tests typically demonstrate that the RTX 3060 provides superior synthetic benchmark performance. At the same time, gaming benchmark performance favors the RTX 2070 Super.
Architecture
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super and 3060 feature different architectures, with the latter using Ampere while the former uses Turing architecture.
The Ampere architecture of the RTX 3060 boasts several advantages over the Turing architecture of the RTX 2070 Super. Ampere utilizes more advanced manufacturing processes that improve performance and power consumption.
Furthermore, the Ampere architecture boasts more CUDA cores than the Turing architecture. This functionality leads to faster processing speeds and greater performance improvements for some applications.
On the other hand, the Turing architecture used in the RTX 2070 Super continues to deliver impressive performance and features. Additionally, it boasts higher memory bandwidth and clock speeds than its RTX 3060 counterpart, making it more suitable for applications requiring faster processing power.
Price and Value for Money
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super and 3060 offer differing prices and value propositions. RTX 3060 graphics cards tend to be priced lower than their rival, the RTX 2070 Super. As such, this option may offer greater affordability to budget-minded consumers. However, this could provide better value overall, depending on specific user requirements.
In addition, the RTX 3060’s cost-conscious pricing makes it an appealing option for users seeking high-performance graphics cards on a budget. At the same time, the RTX 2070 Super may offer greater value than its cheaper rival to users needing increased processing power or memory bandwidth.
Processor
The RTX 3060 features a GA106 processor based on the Ampere architecture. In addition, the GA106 processor boasts more CUDA cores and uses an innovative manufacturing process compared to its counterpart, the TU104, found on the RTX 2070 Super. Accordingly, this results in improved performance and power efficiency.
On the other hand, the TU104 processor found in the RTX 2070 Super offers excellent performance, considering its age. This makes it suitable for users requiring higher memory bandwidth or ray-tracing capabilities.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super vs. 3060: 7 Must-Know Facts
- The RTX 2070 Super employs the older Turing architecture, while the RTX 3060 features more recent Ampere technology.
- The RTX 3060 features an improved GA106 processor with more CUDA cores than the TU104 processor used in its counterpart on the RTX 2070 Super.
- The RTX 3060 features lower TDP and power consumption than its rival, the RTX 2070 Super.
- The RTX 3060 features higher boost clock speeds than its counterpart. However, its base clock speed falls short in comparison.
- The RTX 3060 features a larger memory size but a reduced interface than its RTX 2070 Super counterpart.
- In 1080p gaming and synthetic benchmark tests, the RTX 3060 generally outshines its counterpart, the RTX 2070 Super. However, 1440p and 4K performance benefits more from an RTX 2070 Super GPU.
- The RTX 3060 tends to be priced less than its rival, the RTX 2070 Super, making it more suitable for users on tight budgets.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super vs. 3060: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Choosing between an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super and an RTX 3060 can be daunting since both cards offer distinct advantages, depending on your requirements. At the core, choosing one or both cards depends upon several considerations, such as budget constraints, performance demands, and anticipated usage scenarios.
The RTX 3060 is an updated video card with improved power efficiency, larger memory sizes, and superior gaming performance in 1080p and synthetic benchmarks. However, the RTX 2070 Super may provide better performance for 1440p and 4K gaming, as well as applications requiring increased processing power or memory bandwidth.
Additionally, the RTX 2070 Super may provide more value to some users. Therefore, users should consider their needs and usage scenarios before selecting either card.
For example, users looking for maximum power efficiency and affordability may benefit from the RTX 3060 card. And users seeking additional processing power or higher memory bandwidth might benefit from the RTX 2070 Super.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Founders Edition
- 8 GB RAM
- DisplayPort, HDMI video output interface
- 1605 MHz GPU Clock Speed
- 256-bit memory bus width
- GeForce RTX 3060
- 12GB GDDR6 video memory
- 192-bit memory interface
- 12 GB RAM
- 7680 x 4320 maximum resolution
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