In this buyer’s guide, we’ve covered a handful of the best RTX 3060 graphics cards currently available to help you find the right option for your needs.
For every generation of graphics cards to be released by NVIDIA, the xx60 card has always been an exceptional bang-for-your-buck offering for budget-to-mid-range gaming PC builds. (The GTX 1060, GTX 1660, RTX 2060 etc.)
For the RTX 3000 series, this is the RTX 3060—and, it is another impressive GPU option.
If you’re looking to hop into 1440P gaming and play your favorite games on the highest settings, the RTX 3060 is an excellent option to consider. This GPU can even handle some games like Battlefield 5 in 4K.
Also Read:
- RTX 3050 vs 3060: Which is the Better Value?
- RTX 3060 vs 3060 Ti: Which GPU is Better?
- RX 6600 XT vs RTX 3060: Which GPU Should You Get?
With the large number of RTX 3060 options available on the market, it can be difficult to sift your way through the options. This buyers’ guide will introduce you to four of the best RTX 3060’s out there right now.
NOTE: For a prebuilt gaming PC option, check out our recommendations for the best RTX 3070 prebuilt gaming PCs.
Table of Contents
– Best RTX 3060 Graphics Cards
1. ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3060 OC (Top Pick)
2. EVGA RTX 3060 XC Gaming (Runner-Up)
A Quick Look at the Best RTX 3060 Video Cards
In the table below, we’ve highlighted our selections for the best RTX 3060 graphics cards currently available.
|
|
NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
TOP PICK
|
 |
ASUS ROG Strix OC |
|
/10 | |
|
RUNNER-UP
|
 |
EVGA XC Gaming |
|
/10 | |
|
CHEAPEST
|
 |
ZOTAC Twin Edge |
|
/10 | |
|
COMPACT
|
 |
ASUS Phoenix |
|
/10 |
*For full overviews on the RTX 3060 graphics cards listed above, click on the “Read Review »” to continute reading.
1. ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3060 OC
The top RTX 3060 right now
ASUS’ ROG Strix OC series of graphics cards are often considered to be the top options in their GPU category. The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3060 OC follows this pattern of extreme performance and value-for-money. A mixture of great cooling and high factory boost clocks means that the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3060 OC is one of the most powerful RTX 3060s on the market.
This card comes with 12GB of GDDR6 256-bit VRAM and 3584 CUDA Cores. Whilst some would see this high VRAM amount as unnecessary, the extra memory headroom is still appreciated in productivity tasks. This card also comes with a 1912 MHz boost in OC mode and an advanced triple axial-tech fan cooling system.
Also Read: How Much VRAM Do You Need for Gaming?
This card also features a 2.7-slot design, which means that its added surface area helps in conducting heat, which will ultimately improve thermal performance and overclocking headroom. It also comes with a sturdy metal backplate to help prevent GPU sagging.
How does the ROG STRIX RTX 3060 OC perform? In the FP32 single-precision benchmark, this card achieves a theoretical performance of 13.71 TFLOPS—to highlight how impressive the RTX 3000 series Ampere cards are, this is similar performance (13.84) as ASUS’s ROG STRIX RTX 2080 Ti Advanced.
According to GPU Monkey, this card performs an average of 56fps Battlefield 5’s 4K benchmark and 45fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s 4K benchmark.
These benchmarks show that this card offers only entry-level performance at 4K—but the 82fps average given in Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s 1440p benchmark shows where this card’s appeal lies.
In conclusion, the ASUS ROG STRIX RTX 3060 OC is one of the top RTX 3060s on the market, and a great pick for someone looking for a high-performance card that isn’t too harsh on your wallet.
2. EVGA RTX 3060 XC Gaming
Our runner-up RTX 3060 choice
Our next pick is quite a different offering to ASUS’s flashy ROG STRIX. The EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Gaming presents a smaller, more understated package for gamers.
The EVGA XC Gaming’s air cooler foregoes RGB lighting in favor of a sleek, black design. This is, by no means, a budget offering however—as this includes the same insane 12GB GDDR6 VRAM configuration.
The EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Gaming packs in 3584 CUDA Cores and is tuned to reach a boost clock of 1882 MHz. Alongside this, the EVGA XC Gaming is designed to be dual-slot, allowing you to fit this card into smaller cases for small form factor builds.
So, how does this card perform? In the FP32 single-precision benchmark, the EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Gaming delivers a theoretical performance of 13.49 TFLOPS.
According to GPU Monkey’s testing, this card performs an average of 56fps Battlefield 5’s 4K benchmark and 45fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider 4K benchmark.
If you’re looking for a fantastic RTX 3060 with lots of VRAM headroom, the EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Gaming is a solid choice.
3. ZOTAC RTX 3060 Twin Edge
A budget-oriented RTX 3060 option
If you’re looking to save a few bucks on your RTX 3060, ZOTAC is an excellent option to consider. The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge is one of the more affordable RTX 3060 options on the market.
This card packs 3584 CUDA cores and 12GB of 192-bit GDDR6 VRAM—with a max boost speed of 1777MHz.
Also Read: The Best Budget Graphics Cards Right Now
The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge is cooled by a twin-fan Icestorm 2.0 air cooler. For more powerful GPUs in the Twin Edge line-up, this cooler may present a bottleneck. But here with the RTX 3060, the Icestorm 2.0 is still perfectly capable of some overclocking, and the FireStorm Utility program makes it easier than over to monitor your GPU and tweak key settings.
So, how does the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge perform? In the FP32 single-precision benchmark, this card delivers a theoretical performance of 12.74 TFLOPS.
In their testing, GPU Monkey found this card runs at an average of 54 fps in Battlefield 5’s 4K benchmark. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge delivers an average of 43 fps in the 4K benchmark.
For a budget pick, the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge offers great gaming performance at its price point. If you’re able to get your hands on the ZOTAC RTX 3060, you won’t be disappointed. If you want to save a few extra bucks or you’re looking for the AMD alternative, an AMD RX 6600 XT or RX 6700 XT are also worth checking out.
4. ASUS RTX 3060 Phoenix
The perfect RTX 3060 for mini PCs
If you’re building a small form factor PC to rival the PS5 and XBOX Series X, there are a couple of mini RTX 3060 options available.
In this category, we recommend the ASUS Phoenix GeForce RTX 3060 12GB GDDR6, due to its stellar performance and small form-factor.
A large single fan takes care of the air cooling on this card, with ASUS opting for takes their signature Axial-tech fan design and a dual-ball bearing fan that lasts twice as long as sleeve-bearing alternatives.
A protective backplate has been installed on the rear of the card for added protection, structural rigidity and increased surface area for cooling.
Also Read: The Best Low Profile and Mini Graphics Cards
Despite its size, ASUS have been able to clock this card to a boost clock speed of 1807 MHz in OC mode. It also packs the same 3584 CUDA cores and the same 12GB of 192-bit GDDR6 VRAM as the majority of competing RTX 3060 GPUs.
So, how does the ASUS Phoenix RTX 3060 perform? In the FP32 single-precision benchmark, this card delivers a theoretical performance of 12.95 TFLOPS.
In their benchmark, GPU Monkey found this card runs at an average of 54 fps in Battlefield 5’s 4K benchmark. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the ASUS Phoenix RTX 3060 delivers an average of 43 fps in the 4K benchmark.
Overall, if you need a compact RTX 3060, the ASUS Phoenix GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is an awesome option. A great runner-up in this category is the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 AERO ITX.
Is an RTX 3060 the Right Video Card for You?
Whether you’re looking for an RTX 3060 that has a huge boost overclock, the cheapest option possible, or a compact option for a mini gaming PC build, one of the RTX 3060 video cards listed above should work for you.
However, it should be noted that you might find better value in either the AMD RX 6600 XT or the RX 6700 XT. And, as an alternative option to building your own PC, you can check out our recommendations for prebuilt gaming PCs under $1,000.
