Tests of the new GeForce RTX 3060 8GB card. Better to avoid like the plague
Are you planning to buy a GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card? If so, you better watch out. Recently, a new model appeared on the market – the card is clearly inferior and can easily be confused with the standard version.
The regular version of the GeForce RTX 3060 (12 GB) debuted in early 2021 and quickly became a popular mid-range model. Recently, its new variant appeared on the market – GeForce RTX 3060 (8 GB). It’s worth keeping an eye out for.
What makes the new GeForce RTX 3060 different?
The GeForce RTX 3060 (8GB) has a very similar designation to the regular model GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) – some manufacturers add the designation 8/12 GB. However, there is a significant difference in the specifications of both cards.
| Model | GeForce RTX 3050 | GeForce RTX 3060 (8 GB) | GeForce RTX 3060 (12 GB) |
| Look | Ampere GA106 | Ampere GA106 | Ampere GA106 |
| Shader units | 2560 | 3584 | 3584 |
| Tensor kernels | 80 (3rd generation) | 112 (3rd generation) | 112 (3rd generation) |
| RT units | 20 (2nd generation) | 28 (2nd generation) | 28 (2nd generation) |
| Core time | 1552/1777MHz | 1320/1777MHz | 1320/1777MHz |
| video memory | 8GB GDDR6 128-bit | 8GB GDDR6 128-bit | 12GB GDDR6 192-bit |
| Time to remember | 14,000 MHz | 15,000 MHz | 15,000 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 240 GB/s | 360 GB/s |
| TGP (power) | 130 W (8-pin) | 170 W (8-pin) | 170 W (8-pin) |
| recommended price) | 249 dollars | ??? | 329 dollars |
The new GeForce RTX 3060 is based on the same Nvidia Ampere GA106 graphics chip with 3584 CUDA units. The difference comes down to the video memory, because the manufacturer provided only 8 GB of GDDR6 128-bit memory (this means not only lower capacity, but also lower bandwidth).
How do the changes affect the performance of the card?
GeForce RTX 3060 8GB card tests
The Hardware Unboxed channel tested the Galax GeForce RTX 3060 8GB 1-Click OC model (ie the proprietary version with slightly overclocked clocks). The results don’t look too good.
The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB at 1080p resolution is on average about 15% weaker than the regular GeForce RTX 3060 12GB model. We are talking about performance similar to the competing model Intel Arc A750, but clearly weaker performance compared to the AMD Radeon RX 6600.
It looks similar in 1440p resolution. GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is 15% worse than GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. The card is slightly weaker than the competing models AMD Radeon RX 6600 and Intel Arc A750.
Below you will find a full review of the Galax GeForce RTX 3060 8GB 1-Click OC card.
Nvidia messes up again. GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is bad
The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is obviously weaker than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB model. This would not be surprising if both cards are available in stores at similar prices. So you can easily get stuck.
There is another problem. The release of a new, weaker model can mislead unsuspecting users who will want to buy a more efficient version. And recently, the manufacturer himself canceled the premiere of the GeForce RTX 4080 12GB model, claiming that its name was wrong. It is interesting that this time similar marks were no longer a problem.
Source: Hardware Unboxed
