GeForce RTX 3060
Model frame rate limits of 76, 55 and 30 FPS at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, assuming the processor never gets in the way.
One of the most common graphics cards in gaming PCs, and unusual for its class in carrying 12GB of memory. It is a capable 1080p card that can handle 1440p at sensible settings.
Its closest Intel rival is the Intel Arc A750, which lands within a few percent of it at 1440p.
Estimated FPS in Popular Games
| Game (settings) | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing) | ~60 | ~45 | ~25 |
| Fortnite (High, DirectX 12) | ~100 | ~70 | ~40 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High) | ~85 | ~65 | ~35 |
| Counter-Strike 2 (High) | ~180 | ~130 | ~70 |
Modelled estimates with a processor fast enough not to hold the card back, rounded to the nearest 5 FPS. Counter-Strike 2 is usually limited by the processor well before these figures. See the methodology for how they are produced.
The slowest CPU that will not hold it back
| Resolution | Minimum processor | Estimated FPS |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | Ryzen 5 1600 | 73 |
| 1440p | Ryzen 5 1600 | 55 |
| 4K | Ryzen 5 1600 | 30 |
Notice how the requirement drops as resolution rises. At 4K this card is working so much harder per frame that a far slower processor keeps up without trouble. The search starts at four cores and eight threads: below that a game stutters whatever the average frame rate says.
The processors it lands closest to
The 24 processors whose frame rate limit sits nearest this card's, fastest first. The tag after each number says which part hits its limit first. For any other combination, use the calculator.
| Processor | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5-11400 | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 5 5500 | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i5-10600K | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 7 3800X | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i7-8700K | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 7 3700X | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 5 3600X | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i5-9600K | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 5 3600 | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 3 3300X | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i5-10400 | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i5-10400F | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i7-7700K | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 5 3500X | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 7 2700X | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i3-10100F | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i5-9400F | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 5 4600G | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i5-8400 | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 5 4500 | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 3 3100 | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 5 2600 | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Core i3-9100F | 76 gpu | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
| Ryzen 5 1600 | 73 even | 55 gpu | 30 gpu |
Written up in detail
GeForce RTX 3060 Compared
- RTX 4060 vs RTX 3060 — The RTX 4060 is about 23% faster than the RTX 3060 at 4K and 20% faster at 1440p.
- RTX 3060 vs RX 6600 — The RTX 3060 is about 11% faster than the RX 6600 at 4K and 10% faster at 1440p.
- Arc A770 16GB vs RTX 3060 — The Arc A770 16GB is about 13% faster than the RTX 3060 at 4K and 11% faster at 1440p.
- RTX 3060 vs GTX 1080 Ti — The GTX 1080 Ti is about 20% faster than the RTX 3060 at 4K and 16% faster at 1440p.
- RTX 3060 vs RTX 2070 Super — The RTX 2070 Super is about 20% faster than the RTX 3060 at 4K and 16% faster at 1440p.
- RTX 5060 vs RTX 3060 — The RTX 5060 is about 47% faster than the RTX 3060 at 4K and 40% faster at 1440p.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | NVIDIA |
| Series | NVIDIA RTX 30 Series |
| Video memory | 12 GB |
| 3DMark Time Spy (graphics) | 8,509 |
| PCI Express | 4.0 ×16 |
| Released | 2021 |
Other Cards in the NVIDIA RTX 30 Series
- GeForce RTX 3050 8GB CPU pairing and bottleneck
- GeForce RTX 3060 Ti CPU pairing and bottleneck
- GeForce RTX 3050 6GB CPU pairing and bottleneck
- GeForce RTX 3070 CPU pairing and bottleneck
Common Questions
What CPU do I need for the GeForce RTX 3060?
In our model the Ryzen 5 1600 is the slowest processor that keeps the GeForce RTX 3060 fully fed at both 1080p and 1440p. Anything faster leaves the card as the limit, which is what you want in a gaming PC.
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 good for 1440p?
Only with reduced settings. It averages around 55 FPS at 1440p on high settings in our model, so it is better suited to 1080p, where it reaches about 76 FPS.
Is 12GB of VRAM enough on the GeForce RTX 3060?
For 1440p, yes. 12GB handles high textures at 1440p today; at 4K with ray tracing a few games already want more.
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 faster than the Intel Arc A750?
They are effectively tied, within 0% at 1440p in our model. Price, memory (12GB against 8GB) and features should decide it.