Description
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB is a mainstream desktop graphics card featuring 3584 CUDA cores and 112 Tensor cores, launched in February 2021 with a $329 MSRP to succeed the popular GeForce GTX 1060 in the mid-range segment. It belongs to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 30 series and is powered by the Ampere architecture using the GA106-300 GPU, designed to deliver strong 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming performance with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS support. With full DirectX 12 Ultimate compatibility, it targets gamers and creators who want next-generation visual features at a more accessible price point.
The GeForce RTX 3060 operates at a base clock speed of 1320 MHz and reaches up to 1777 MHz boost frequency depending on cooling, power limits and workload type. It is equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory running at 15 Gbps on a 192-bit memory bus, providing 360 GB/s of memory bandwidth to handle modern high-resolution textures and complex scenes. The GPU integrates 3 MB of L2 cache and improved shader scheduling, helping to increase efficiency in both rasterized and ray-traced workloads compared to previous generations.
With a TDP of 170 W, the RTX 3060 offers a good balance between performance and power consumption, making it suitable for a wide range of mid-tower gaming systems. NVIDIA recommends a power supply of at least 550 W, and typical board designs use a single 8-pin or 12-pin PCIe power connector. Adequate case airflow and a competent dual-fan or triple-fan cooler are recommended to maintain boost clocks and low noise levels during extended gaming or rendering sessions.
Connectivity is provided through a PCI Express 4.0 x16 interface, ensuring ample bandwidth and future compatibility with modern motherboards. Most RTX 3060 cards feature one HDMI 2.1 port and three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, enabling multi-monitor setups and support for up to 8K resolution at 60 Hz or 4K at high refresh rates, depending on the specific board partner design. G-SYNC and variable refresh rate support help reduce tearing and stutter for a smoother gaming experience on compatible displays.
The GeForce RTX 3060 also integrates NVIDIA’s 2nd-generation RT cores for real-time ray tracing and 3rd-generation Tensor cores that power DLSS, AI upscaling and other machine learning workloads. It includes a 7th-generation NVENC hardware encoder and 5th-generation NVDEC decoder, offering efficient H.264, HEVC and AV1 decoding for streaming, content creation and media playback, as well as support for NVIDIA Broadcast features like AI noise removal and virtual backgrounds.
Overall, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB remains a versatile and capable mainstream GPU for gamers and creators who want solid 1080p and 1440p performance, ample 12 GB VRAM for modern titles, and access to ray tracing, DLSS and advanced media capabilities, making it an attractive choice for balanced mid-range gaming PCs and upgrade builds.
