Running games at 1440p with a GeForce RTX 3060 is a solid performer with higher resolution modern gaming. This graphics card can also bump up to 4K gaming regularly with the latest games still being capable of high or ultra graphics settings at this level.
From the benchmarks alone, it is evident that the RTX 3060 12GB delivers a far superior gaming experience than the 8GB version across most modern AAA titles. Furthermore, for games that benefit from a higher memory capacity, the performance margin between these GPUs can increase by as much as 35%.
Ultimately, this means the 8GB RTX 3060 is going to be slower than the 12GB model – and spoiler alert, it's ~15% slower on average – but in some instances we're seeing margins of over 30%, so it's a big enough deal for us to bring it to your attention.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 3060 8GB and 12GB – Final Verdict
The RTX 3060 12GB that we are talking about is an aftermarket version, so it is going to perform a lot better than the RTX 3060 8GB Founders Edition Card. And the higher VRAM will help in your content creation tasks as well.
The GPU equivalent to the RTX 3060 is the AMD RX 6600 XT.
Is RTX 3060 future proof? Yes. The RTX 3060 is more than adequate for gaming, and also, the RTX 3080 is better. You should buy what you have the budget for.
At 1080p resolution with 12 games tested, the performance difference between 12GB and 8GB model goes up to 17%. With higher resolution, the gap widens by 1% in favor of the original 12GB model.
If you're OK gaming at 1080p and are trying to watch your spending, the RTX 3060 is a fantastic GPU. It delivers high frame rates, good-looking games, and is a bit easier on the wallet. But if you have a few more dollars to spend and want even faster frames (or to game in 1440p), the RTX 3070 is money well spent.
At 1080p resolution with 12 games tested, the performance difference between 12GB and 8GB model goes up to 17%. With higher resolution, the gap widens by 1% in favor of the original 12GB model.
I can say with confidence that it will definitely last for 6 years or more if your target is at high, 1080p, and 60fps. The RTX 3060 Ti can play most AAA games on ultra, 1080p, and still get > 140fps. If you will be staying with 1080p, and only aiming for 60fps, I'd say it's a damn good card.
Graphics cards with 8GBs of VRAM were once considered high-end, but in today's world, they're barely enough to handle modern gaming titles.
Get a card with at least 6GB, and preferably 8GB or more for gaming at 1080p. You'll need more memory if you play with all the settings turned up or you install high-resolution texture packs. And if you're gaming at very high resolutions such as 4K, more than 8GB is ideal.
Most newer graphics cards are starting to come out with more RAM nowadays, rather than less. You regularly see 20 and 24 GB models at the high-end, and in the mid-levels you see 12 and 16 GB models. 8 GB is now generally entry level, and anything less is just old obsolete models.
8GB of RAM is the minimum amount of RAM for any gaming PC. With 8GB RAM, you will be able to play most released games without many problems, but some games might not play at the highest quality, and you might have to shut down other applications.
Essentially 8GB of VRAM is good enough for modern games on low to medium settings and some older games on higher ones. This means it's good enough for 1440p but likely not 4K.
At the lower end of the series sits the humble RTX 3060. While we won't be seeing steady 4K resolution and high-performance frame rates from this GPU, it still has a place in someone's PC. It's more than capable of 1080p gaming, which is enough for some players.
System Suggestions GeForce RTX 3060 is best suited for resolutions up to and including 3840x2160. We recommend a high-end processor and 16GB of RAM for optimal performance.
8Gb of ram is sufficient enough for some decent gaming along with most tasks. 12Gb of ram will help you smooth out things alot more and maybe max out games too.
Why does RTX 3060 have 12GB RAM? The 3060 uses a 192-bit memory bus which is slower than the 3060 Ti's 256-bit memory bus. The reason the 3060 uses 12GB is because 192-bit cards have 6 memory chips used over six lanes (32×6=192). A 256-bit card uses 8 chips on 8 lanes (8×32=256).
What's up with the cheaper RTX 3060 having 12GB of VRAM? They went with the cheaper 192-bit memory interface, instead of 256-bit like in the RTX 3060 Ti and RTX 3070. This means they need to use 6 chips (since each memory chip provides 32 bits width). So they either had to go with 6 GB (6 x 1 GB) or 12 GB (6 x 2 GB).
It features the latest NVIDIA architecture and offers impressive performance for its price range. With its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 3584 CUDA cores, the RTX 3060 can easily handle demanding games and applications. Without a doubt, the RTX 3060 can run games at 4k, with a medium graphics setting.
NVIDIA confirms 8GB of VRAM isn't enough to run some games at 1080p max settings. GeForce RTX 4060 benchmarks show that not all games can run with max settings, image credit: NVIDIA. Titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake require more than 8GB of VRAM for advanced effects and RT, image credit: Capcom.
12GB RAM is the best thing you will ever use in your System, probably if you are running Video Edits or Playing Games. 16GB is the best, but 4GB+8GB is way profitable to manage. I have great experience with 12GB RAM and pretty much did everything with it.
4K gaming. 4K is way more intense than the other two resolutions. At the bare minimum, we would recommend a card with 12 GB of VRAM for the resolution. However, one should look at 12 GB models from the latest Ada Lovelace or RX 7000 series cards.
A powerful GPU will allow for smooth and detailed visuals, making the gaming experience more immersive and enjoyable. On the other hand, RAM, or Random Access Memory, is responsible for allowing your computer to efficiently run multiple programs at once, and for allowing your games to load quickly.