--
The RTX 3060 Ti is Nvidia’s latest addition to the Ampere lineup of graphics cards, positioned as a higher mid-range offering for gaming at 1440p resolution. Launching at $399 MSRP in December 2020, the RTX 3060 Ti became an exciting option for PC builders looking for high frame rates at Quad HD, along with real-time ray tracing capabilities. Let’s take a detailed look at what the card offers for gameplay performance, thermals, and value.
Overview and Specifications
Here are some of the key specifications of the RTX 3060 Ti:
- NVIDIA Ampere architecture
- GA104 GPU with 4864 CUDA cores
- 8GB GDDR6 memory with 256-bit interface
- Memory speed of 14Gbps, bandwidth of 448GB/s
- PCIe 4.0 x16 interface
- 1920 CUDA Tensor cores
- Ray tracing cores: 38 (2nd gen)
- Boost clock: 1665 MHz
- DLSS and RTX IO support
- TDP: 200W, requires 1x 8-pin power connection
- Dual axial flow-through fans with vented backplate
With its upgraded Ampere architecture, the RTX 3060 Ti brings considerable gains over the previous RTX 2060 Super, at the same $399 price point. The enlarged L2 cache, 2nd gen RT cores, 3rd gen tensor cores, and G6 memory all contribute to its excellent 1440p performance.
Gaming Performance Benchmarks
Here is a look at how the RTX 3060 Ti stacks up against the competition in gaming benchmarks at 1080p and 1440p resolutions:
1080p Performance
At 1920 x 1080 resolution, the RTX 3060 Ti easily achieves 120+ FPS consistently in demanding titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Far Cry New Dawn at max settings. It has plenty of headroom for high refresh rate 1080p gaming. Compared to the RTX 2060 Super, it shows a solid 20–30% uplift in most games which is quite impressive.
1440p Performance
This is where the RTX 3060 Ti really shines, delivering buttery smooth framerates well above 60 FPS across popular AAA games at 2560 x 1440 resolution. Red Dead Redemption 2 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla run in the 70–80 FPS range with all eye candy maxed out. Competitive esports games easily achieve 120+ FPS for high refresh rate gaming.
The card outperforms the previous RTX 2070 Super by a small margin and is neck and neck with the RX 5700 XT. So overall, it provides an excellent Quad HD gaming experience and excels as a value-focused 1440p card.
4K Performance
At 3840 x 2160 resolution, the performance is respectable but not quite enough for a steady 60 FPS experience at high settings. Older games will run very well but the most demanding titles will only manage around 30–45 FPS. For ideal 4K gameplay, the RTX 3070/3080 are better options that won’t break the bank.
Ray Tracing and DLSS Performance
The NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti showcases the 2nd generation RT cores and 3rd gen tensor cores powered by Ampere. It has significantly more ray tracing hardware compared to its predecessors which helps optimize ray traced lighting and reflections.
In titles like Control and Watch Dogs: Legion with ray tracing maxed out at 1440p, the card still manages to maintain 55–65 FPS. This allows players to enjoy ray traced graphics with minimal dips during gameplay. DLSS works excellently to provide extra performance without much loss in visual quality.
Overall, the RTX 3060 Ti brings meaningful ray tracing to Quad HD resolution, a big leap over the poor RT performance of older mid-range GPUs. AMD’s RX 6000 cards may offer better raw frame rates, but they lack advanced RT and DLSS capabilities.
Thermal Design and Acoustics
The RTX 3060 Ti Founders Edition comes with an all-new cooling system from Nvidia. It uses a lightweight aluminum housing with dual axial fans to push airflow through the entire card and out the vented backplate.
Despite its dual slot design, temperatures only peak around 70 degree Celsius under heavy gaming. The new thermal solution keeps noise levels minimal even under load. The compact build can fit well in mATX and ITX cases too. Custom cards from other AIBs can run cooler and quieter but take up more slots.
Value and Availability
At $399 MSRP, the RTX 3060 Ti brings huge value to the mid-range segment. It often outperforms cards that are $150-$200 more expensive. The price to performance ratio exceeds even the 3060 and 2060 Super. Unfortunately like all RTX 3000 GPUs, availability has been extremely limited due to supply constraints.
Getting your hands on one at the official $399 price has been difficult due to low stock and inflated reseller prices. But its still one of the more reasonable Ampere cards if you do find it in stock at retail. For high FPS 1440p gaming, it hits the best balance of pricing and performance right now.
Conclusion
To summarize, the RTX 3060 Ti hits a sweet spot for smooth high-refresh Quad HD gameplay while keeping costs in check. With its upgraded Ampere architecture, it brings ray tracing to the masses at 1440p resolutions. The new cooler design is efficient and quiet enough too for most users. If you’re willing to hunt around for stock, it’s one of the wisest GPU investments currently for buttery smooth 1440p gaming with some nice future-proofing via DLSS and RT.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the RTX 3060 Ti compare against AMD’s RX 6000 GPUs?
The RTX 3060 Ti trades blows with AMD’s RX 6700 XT in traditional rasterization and raw frame rates. However, Nvidia’s card excels in ray tracing and has the benefit of DLSS for added performance. RDNA 2 cards have no answer for advanced RT and upscaling.
What processor should you pair with the RTX 3060 Ti?
The card goes well with either a Ryzen 5000 series or Intel 11th/12th Gen processor. A Ryzen 5 5600X or i5–12600K is recommended to avoid any bottlenecks at 1440p resolution.
Is the RTX 3060 Ti good for high refresh rate 1080p gaming?
Definitely. The card can easily push 120+ FPS in esports titles on high refresh gaming monitors. It has more than enough power for 1080p gameplay provided you have a display that can take advantage of those frame rates.
How long is the RTX 3060 Ti expected to remain viable?
The 8GB VRAM and RT/DLSS features give the card good longevity. It should remain viable for 1440p gaming on high-ultra settings for at least 2–3 years. The DLSS integration adds to its longevity by improving frame rates in games.
Can you overclock the RTX 3060 Ti for extra performance?
Yes, there is some headroom for overclocking to boost performance further. Undervolting is also an option to increase thermal headroom and allow the GPU to sustain higher clocks. Mostcustom cards have some overclocking utility as well.
