EN

RTX 3060 12GB vs RTX 2060: Gaming Performance & Bottleneck (2026)

This is not a close contest. The RTX 3060 12GB is 62% faster than the RTX 2060 at 4K and 48% faster at 1440p: 45 vs 30 FPS in AAA games at High settings with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D. For a card 2 years newer, that is a big generational step. The order holds at 1080p (35% apart), so the RTX 3060 12GB is the quicker card at every resolution. Ray tracing widens the gap to 81% (25 vs 14 FPS at 1440p), as the RTX 2060's RT hardware is less efficient. In esports games like CS2 or Valorant at 1080p they reach 206 and 169 FPS, enough for a 144 Hz monitor. At 4K the RTX 2060 manages 17 FPS native, and DLSS Quality lifts that to about 24. The RTX 3060 12GB also has more memory (12 GB vs 6 GB), and 6 GB is already tight at 1440p High in new games. To stay under a 10% CPU bottleneck at 1440p, both need only a Ryzen 5 3600-class CPU.

Relative performance

Faster card = 100%. Average FPS at High settings with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

1440p, AAA games

RTX 3060 12GB100%
RTX 206068%

45 vs 30 FPS · RTX 3060 12GB +48%

4K, AAA games

RTX 3060 12GB100%
RTX 206062%

27 vs 17 FPS · RTX 3060 12GB +62%

1440p, ray tracing

RTX 3060 12GB100%
RTX 206055%

25 vs 14 FPS · RTX 3060 12GB +81%

FPS with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Average FPS in AAA games, no upscaling. A fast CPU, so the graphics card sets the pace.

SettingRTX 3060 12GBRTX 2060Lead
1080p High64483060 12GB +35%
1440p High45303060 12GB +48%
4K High27173060 12GB +62%
1440p ray tracing25143060 12GB +81%

Specifications

Raster index: RTX 4090 = 100.

SpecRTX 3060 12GBRTX 2060
VRAM12 GB6 GB
Ray tracingYes, 95% efficiencyYes, 85% efficiency
Released20212019
Raster index2823

Which CPU do you need?

Slowest common CPU that keeps each card under a 10% bottleneck at 1440p High.

Graphics cardSlowest CPUFPS
RTX 3060 12GBRyzen 5 3600 or faster45
RTX 2060Ryzen 5 3600 or faster30

Which should you buy?

Buy the RTX 3060 12GB if you want the faster card: it's 62% ahead at 4K. The RTX 2060 is the better buy only if it costs at least 48% less, the gap at 1440p, because then it delivers more frames per dollar. Already own the RTX 2060? Going to the RTX 3060 12GB gains 48% at 1440p, which is a worthwhile upgrade.

Buy the RTX 3060 12GB if…

  • you want the most FPS: it's 62% faster at 4K and 48% at 1440p.
  • you play with ray tracing: 25 vs 14 FPS at 1440p.
  • you play at 4K or use high-resolution texture packs: 12 GB of VRAM vs 6 GB.
  • you want the newer card (2021) with the longer driver and feature support ahead of it.

Buy the RTX 2060 if…

  • it costs at least 48% less than the RTX 3060 12GB, which makes it the better value per frame.
  • it's the cheaper of the two where you shop: performance is close enough that price decides.

Check your build

These numbers use a Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate the graphics card. Your own CPU, resolution and settings change the result, so run your exact parts through the calculator.

Check Ryzen 5 3600 + RTX 3060 12GB Check Ryzen 5 3600 + RTX 2060

Popular builds with these cards

Ryzen 5 7600 + RTX 3060 12GB1440p · GPU-limited 67% · ≈45 FPSCore i5-13400F + RTX 3060 12GB1440p · GPU-limited 64% · ≈45 FPSCore i5-12400F + RTX 3060 12GB1440p · GPU-limited 62% · ≈45 FPS

RTX 3060 12GB vs RTX 2060: quick answers

Is the RTX 3060 12GB faster than the RTX 2060?

Yes. The RTX 3060 12GB is about 62% faster at 4K and 48% faster at 1440p in AAA games at High settings. With ray tracing on at 1440p the RTX 3060 12GB gets about 25 FPS and the RTX 2060 14 FPS.

How many FPS do the RTX 3060 12GB and RTX 2060 get?

With a Ryzen 7 9800X3D at High settings in AAA games, the RTX 3060 12GB averages about 64 FPS at 1080p, 45 at 1440p and 27 at 4K. The RTX 2060 averages 48, 30 and 17 FPS. DLSS, FSR or XeSS upscaling adds roughly 40% where the graphics card is the limit.

What CPU do I need for the RTX 3060 12GB or RTX 2060?

To keep the CPU bottleneck under 10% at 1440p, the RTX 3060 12GB needs a Ryzen 5 3600 or faster and the RTX 2060 needs a Ryzen 5 3600 or faster. At 1080p you need a faster CPU for the same result, and at 4K a slower one is fine. A slower CPU narrows the gap between the RTX 3060 12GB and the RTX 2060.