NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660

VS
Performance
GeForce RTX 306035% better
28,37527% of 104,598
GeForce GTX 1660
21,063.520% of 104,598

The GeForce RTX 3060 has 35% better performance than the GeForce GTX 1660 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.

Performance per dollar
GeForce RTX 3060
86.2553% of 161.45
GeForce GTX 166012% better
96.1860% of 161.45

The GeForce GTX 1660 has 12% better value for the money than the GeForce RTX 3060 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.

Shop GeForce RTX 3060
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Summary

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About the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is a desktop graphics card that launched in Q1 2021 with a MSRP of $329. It is built on the Ampere GPU microarchitecture (codename GA106) and is manufactured on a 8 nm process.

Memory

The RTX 3060 has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, with a 1,875 MHz memory clock and a 192 bit interface. This gives it a memory bandwidth of 360 Gb/s, which affects how fast it can transfer data to and from memory. GPU memory stores temporary data that helps the GPU with complex math and graphics operations. More memory is generally better, as not having enough can cause performance bottlenecks.

Cores and Clock Speeds

The RTX 3060 includes 3,584 CUDA cores, the processing units for handling parallel computing tasks. The GPU operates at a core clock speed of 1,320 MHz and can dynamically boost its clock speed up to 1,777 MHz. Complementing the processing units are 112 texture mapping units (TMUs) for efficient texture filtering and 48 render output units (ROPs) for pixel processing. Additionally, the GPU features 112 tensor cores optimized for AI-accelerated workloads and 28 RT cores dedicated to real-time ray tracing calculations.

Compatibility & Power Consumption

The RTX 3060 occupies 2 PCIe expansion slots. It supports HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4a display connections. NVIDIA recommends a power supply of at least 450 W to handle the GPU's thermal design power (TDP) of 170 W.

Benchmark Performance & Value

The RTX 3060 has the 83rd best 3DMark 11 Performance GPU score among the 543 benchmarked GPUs in our database. It achieves 27.13% of the performance of the best benchmarked GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. Its 28,375 score and $329 launch price (MSRP) gives it a performance per dollar of 86.25. This is the 29th best in value for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.

About the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 GPU

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 is a desktop graphics card that launched in Q1 2019 with a MSRP of $219. It is built on the Turing GPU microarchitecture (codename TU116) and is manufactured on a 12 nm process.

Memory

The GTX 1660 has 6 GB of GDDR5 memory, with a 2,001 MHz memory clock and a 192 bit interface. This gives it a memory bandwidth of 192.1 Gb/s, which affects how fast it can transfer data to and from memory. GPU memory stores temporary data that helps the GPU with complex math and graphics operations. More memory is generally better, as not having enough can cause performance bottlenecks.

Cores and Clock Speeds

The GTX 1660 includes 1,408 CUDA cores, the processing units for handling parallel computing tasks. The GPU operates at a core clock speed of 1,530 MHz and can dynamically boost its clock speed up to 1,785 MHz. Complementing the processing units are 88 texture mapping units (TMUs) for efficient texture filtering and 48 render output units (ROPs) for pixel processing.

Compatibility & Power Consumption

The GTX 1660 occupies 2 PCIe expansion slots. It supports DVI, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4a display connections. NVIDIA recommends a power supply of at least 300 W to handle the GPU's thermal design power (TDP) of 120 W.

Benchmark Performance & Value

The GTX 1660 has the 109th best 3DMark 11 Performance GPU score among the 543 benchmarked GPUs in our database. It achieves 20.14% of the performance of the best benchmarked GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. Its 21,063.5 score and $219 launch price (MSRP) gives it a performance per dollar of 96.18. This is the 18th best in value for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.

General Info

General overview of the GPU, including details like its manufacturer, release date, launch price, and current production status.

InfoGeForce RTX 3060GeForce GTX 1660
ManufacturerNVIDIANVIDIA
ArchitectureAmpereTuring
Market SegmentDesktopDesktop
Release DateQ1 2021Q1 2019
Launch Price (MSRP)$329$219
Production StatusActiveActive
ShopCheck PriceCheck Price

Gaming Performance

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Select a game to compare FPS metrics

Display FPS for Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong
Display FPS for Once Human
Once Human
Display FPS for The First Descendant
The First Descendant
Display FPS for F1 24
F1 24
Display FPS for Senua's Saga Hellblade 2
Senua's Saga Hellblade 2
Display FPS for Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima
Display FPS for Dragon's Dogma 2
Dragon's Dogma 2

FPS Benchmarks

This table showcases the average frame rate (FPS) achieved both GPUs in at various resolutions. Frame rate is a crucial indicator of how smoothly the GPU can run the game. A higher FPS generally translates to a smoother gameplay experience.

  • Frames Per Second
FPS data for Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong
GeForce RTX 3060GeForce GTX 1660
Low - 1080p
--
42 FPS
Medium - 1080p
--
30 FPS
High - 1080p
--
22 FPS
Ultra - 1080p
--
11 FPS
QHD - 1440p
--
--
4K UHD - 2160p
--
--
FPS Source: Notebookcheck

Compare Frames Per Second (FPS)

The average frame rate (FPS) in can be compared to similar GPUs to assess relative performance. Generally, higher FPS results in a smoother gameplay experience.

Choose Baseline GPU:GeForce RTX 3060 orGeForce GTX 1660

Compare Cost Per Frame

The average cost per frame in can be compared to similar GPUs to assess relative value. Generally, a lower cost per frame implies better value for your money.

Choose Baseline GPU:GeForce RTX 3060 orGeForce GTX 1660
GPUCost Per Frame
GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER17.62-12%
GeForce GTX 166019.91
GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER21+5%
GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER31.8+60%

Benchmark Performance

#
Performance
GeForce RTX 306035% better
28,37527% of 104,598
GeForce GTX 1660
21,063.520% of 104,598

The GeForce RTX 3060 has 35% better performance than the GeForce GTX 1660 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.

The GeForce RTX 3060 is ranked 83rd with a score of 28,375, and the GeForce GTX 1660 is ranked 109th with a score of 21,063.5.

Performance per dollar
GeForce RTX 3060
86.2553% of 161.45
GeForce GTX 166012% better
96.1860% of 161.45

The GeForce GTX 1660 has 12% better value for the money than the GeForce RTX 3060 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.

The GeForce RTX 3060 is ranked 29th with a performance per dollar of 86.25, and the GeForce GTX 1660 is ranked 18th with a performance per dollar of 96.18.

Relative Performance

The average score in the benchmark test can be compared to similar GPUs to assess relative performance. Generally, powerful GPUs tend to have higher scores.

Choose Baseline GPU:GeForce RTX 3060 or
GPUBenchmark Performance
GeForce GTX 108029,263+3%
Radeon RX Vega 5629,086+3%
GeForce RTX 306028,375
GeForce GTX 1070 Ti27,503-3%
GeForce RTX 206027,162.5-4%
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti22,891.5-19%
GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER21,980.5-23%
GeForce GTX 166021,063.5-26%
Radeon RX 5500 XT19,499-31%
Radeon RX 57018,967-33%

Relative Value For Money

The average performance per dollar in the benchmark test can be compared to similar GPUs to assess relative value. A higher score implies a better value for your money.

Choose Baseline GPU:GeForce RTX 3060 or

Benchmark Scores

This table showcases the average performance scores achieved by both GPUs across industry-standard benchmark tests. These scores provide a valuable insight into overall performance. Powerful GPUs tend to have higher scores.

  • Popular
BenchmarkGeForce RTX 3060GeForce GTX 1660
3DMark Time Spy Graphics
8,559
(+57.36%)
5,439
3DMark Time Spy Score
8,721
(+44.34%)
6,042
3DMark Cloud Gate Graphics
120,745
(+47.69%)
81,755
3DMark Fire Strike Standard Graphics
21,379
(+50.94%)
14,164
3DMark Night Raid Graphics
96,914
(+50.98%)
64,188
3DMark 11 Performance Score
25,149
(+16.7%)
21,550
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit
246.6
--
PassMark G3D Mark
17,001
(+45.57%)
11,679
PassMark G2D Mark
963
(+22.83%)
784
Benchmarks Source: Notebookcheck

Technical Specs

#

Graphics Processor

General information about the graphics processing unit like their architecture, manufacturing process size, and transistor count. Newer GPU architectures generally bring efficiency improvements and may introduce technologies that enhance graphical capabilities.

SpecGeForce RTX 3060GeForce GTX 1660
CodenameGA106TU116
ArchitectureAmpereTuring
Process Size8 nm12 nm
Transistors12,000 million6,600 million

Memory Details

Memory specifications like their capacity, bandwidth, and clock speeds. GPU memory stores graphics data like frames, textures, and shadows which helps display rendered images. These specs are crucial for graphics-intense applications like gaming and 3D modeling.

SpecGeForce RTX 3060GeForce GTX 1660
Memory Size12 GB6 GB
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth360 Gb/s192.1 Gb/s
Memory Clock1,875 MHz2,001 MHz
Memory Interface192 bit192 bit
L1 Cache128 KB64 KB
L2 Cache3 MB1,536 KB

Board Compatibility

Compatibility information like their slot size, bus interface, power consumption, and display support. These specs are useful for verifying compatibility with your motherboard, power supply, and monitor.

SpecGeForce RTX 3060GeForce GTX 1660
Slots2 slots2 slots
Bus InterfacePCIe 4.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
Thermal Design Power (TDP)170 W120 W
Suggested PSU450 W300 W
Power Connectors1x 12-pin1x 8-pin
OutputsHDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4aDVI, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4a

Cores & Clock Speeds

Processing power information like its cores and clock speed. These specs impact how fast they can process graphics. Each type of core or component serves a specific computational purpose.

SpecGeForce RTX 3060GeForce GTX 1660
CUDA Cores3,5841,408
Stream Multiprocessors (SM)2822
Texture Mapping Units (TMU)11288
Render Output Units (ROP)4848
Tensor Cores112--
Ray Tracing Cores28--
Core Clock Speed1,320 MHz1,530 MHz
Core Clock Speed (Boost)1,777 MHz1,785 MHz

Theoretical Performance

Theoretical performance numbers derived from the raw specifications of the different components like core count and clock speeds. While these provide a glimpse into peak processing power, they do not represent real-world performance.

SpecGeForce RTX 3060GeForce GTX 1660
Pixel Fill Rate85.3 GPixel/s85.68 GPixel/s
Texture Fill Rate199 GTexel/s157.1 GTexel/s
FP32 Performance12.74 TFLOPS5.03 TFLOPS
FP64 Performance199 GFLOPS157.1 GFLOPS

API Support

Graphics API versions supported by these graphics cards. APIs evolve over time, introducing new features and functionalities. Older GPUs may not support recent versions.

SpecGeForce RTX 3060GeForce GTX 1660
DirectX12 Ultimate (12_2)12 (12_1)
OpenCL3.03.0
OpenGL4.64.6
Shader Model6.86.8

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* Performance rating, performance per dollar, and rankings are based on the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark and MSRP.