The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is Nvidia’s latest Ampere graphics card, launching in December 2020. Priced starting at $399, it delivers performance that rivals the more expensive RTX 3070, making it an exceptional value for gaming at 1440p resolution.

In this in-depth review, we’ll take a close look at everything the RTX 3060 Ti offers. From its specifications and architecture to real-world gaming benchmarks, Ray Tracing abilities, and how it compares with AMD’s new RX 6000 cards. We’ll help you decide if the 3060 Ti is the right choice for your next PC build or upgrade.

RTX 3060 Ti Architecture and Specifications

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is built on Nvidia’s Ampere architecture, the same used throughout the RTX 3000 series. It utilizes the GA104 GPU, a cut-down version of the GA104 chip inside the RTX 3070.

Here are the key specifications of the RTX 3060 Ti:

• GPU: GA104
• CUDA Cores: 4864
• Boost Clock: 1665 MHz
• Memory Capacity: 8GB GDDR6
• Memory Speed: 14 Gbps
• Memory Interface: 256-bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 448GB/s
• RT Cores: 38
• Tensor Cores: 152
• TDP: 200W
• Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin

With 4864 CUDA cores and a boost clock up to 1665 MHz, the 3060 Ti isn’t far behind the RTX 3070 in terms of raw power. The 8GB of GDDR6 video memory is speedy at 14Gbps and runs on a 256-bit bus for great memory bandwidth.

Nvidia has equipped the card with plenty of RT and Tensor cores to handle real-time ray tracing and AI driven DLSS. The 3060 Ti supports PCIe 4.0 connectivity when paired with a new AMD or Intel platform.

Gaming Performance Benchmarks

Thanks to its Ampere architecture, the RTX 3060 Ti delivers blazing fast framerates in today’s games. Here is a look at average fps performance in a selection of popular titles:

1080p Performance

• Fortnite – 163 fps (max settings)
• Apex Legends – 144 fps (max settings)
• Valorant – 290 fps (max settings)
• Call of Duty Warzone – 137 fps (max settings)
• Red Dead Redemption 2 – 108 fps (optimized settings)

1440p Performance

• Fortnite – 124 fps (max settings)
• Apex Legends – 115 fps (max settings)
• Valorant – 215 fps (max settings)
• Call of Duty Warzone – 100 fps (max settings)
• Red Dead Redemption 2 – 76 fps (optimized settings)

The 3060 Ti provides outstanding 1080p and 1440p performance in AAA single player story games as well as very high frame rates in esports/multiplayer titles. You can enjoy buttery smooth gameplay on a high refresh rate 1080p or 1440p monitor with this card.

It’s around 15-25% faster on average than the previous generation RTX 2060 Super, which allows new titles to run at higher graphical settings.

Ray Tracing and DLSS Capabilities

Thanks to its RT and tensor cores, the 3060 Ti can enable ray traced lighting, shadows, and effects in supported games for more cinematic and realistic visuals. Titles like Control, Fortnite, and Cyberpunk 2077 see vastly improved lighting and reflections with ray tracing enabled.

Of course, traditional rasterization performance takes a hit when activating ray tracing. This is where Nvidia’s DLSS technology comes in – it uses AI and tensor cores to intelligently upscale image quality while boosting frame rates.

With Max Settings and ray tracing enabled in Control at 1440p, the 3060 Ti achieves 55 fps. But with DLSS set to Performance mode, that jumps all the way up to 88 fps for smooth gameplay. Similar large performance gains are seen in other RT enabled games when DLSS is activated.

The power of Ampere RT and tensor cores gives the RTX 3060 Ti excellent ray tracing capabilities for its price point. You can enjoy realistic lighting with minimal performance sacrifice.

Design, Cooling, and Connectivity

The RTX 3060 Ti Founders Edition features a striking new design with a metal frame and black cooling shroud. It measures just 242mm long, 112mm tall, and 41mm thick, making it a very compact card.

Aesthetics are clean and industrial looking. The card is cooled by a dual-slot, dual-axial flow through a cooler and vapor chamber, with a single large fan that stops spinning under low loads.

For connectivity, the 3060 Ti offers 3 DisplayPort 1.4a and 1 HDMI 2.1 outputs. It supports HDMI 2.1 VRR on compatible TVs and monitors. The new Nvidia Encoder (NVENC) provides improved recording and streaming quality as well.

Power is supplied through a single 8-pin PCIe connector. The card has a 200W TDP and a recommended PSU wattage of 550W. One nice bonus is a zero RPM idle fan stop mode for silent operation when not gaming.

How Does the RTX 3060 Ti Compare to the Competition?

The RTX 3060 Ti offers performance very close to the more expensive RTX 3070 for $100 less MSRP. It trails the 3070 by around 5-10% on average in 1440p and 4K gaming.

Compared to the weaker RTX 3060, the 3060 Ti is around 15% faster thanks to its better GA104 GPU, more CUDA cores, and faster GDDR6 memory. Unless you’re on a very tight budget, the 3060 Ti is worth the extra cost.

The closest competitor from AMD is the Radeon RX 6700 XT, which sells for $479 MSRP. The AMD card offers nearly identical gaming performance but has a VRAM advantage with 12GB versus 8GB on the 3060 Ti. This gives it an edge for future proofing.

Overall the RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6700 XT are extremely close competitors trading blows in different games. Nvidia has superior ray tracing and upscaling tech, while AMD offers more memory.

Should You Buy the RTX 3060 Ti?

At $399 MSRP, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is an exceptional value in Nvidia’s 3000 series lineup. It can run any modern game at max settings, high FPS 1080p gameplay, or smooth 60+ fps 1440p gaming. Performance is close enough to the RTX 3070 that most buyers are better off saving $100 and going with the Ti.

You get excellent 1080p and 1440p gaming, capable ray tracing through Ampere RT cores and DLSS, high quality recording/streaming, and PCIe 4.0 support. The 8GB of VRAM is plenty for high fidelity 1440p gaming right now.

The only real cons are the lack of OC headroom compared to other 3000 series cards due to power limits, and less VRAM than AMD’s competing RX 6700 XT.

But for shoppers wanting great 1440p gaming performance in a compact, efficient, and reasonably priced package, the RTX 3060 Ti is easy to recommend. At $399 MSRP it’s a good value, although real-world pricing remains inflated due to demand. If you can find one close to MSRP, it’s one of the best mid-range GPU offerings out there.

Conclusion

With its Ampere architecture GA104 GPU and 8GB of 14 Gbps GDDR6 memory, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti brings real power to the mid-range market. It breezes through 1080p gaming while also providing smooth, high fidelity 1440p performance ready for high refresh rate monitors.

Ray tracing is handled admirably through dedicated RT cores and AI acceleration from DLSS. The 3060 Ti gives buyers most of the RTX 3070’s capabilities for $100 less. Assuming you can buy it at a reasonable price, the RTX 3060 Ti is easy to recommend for building a powerful next-gen gaming rig.

FAQs

What resolution is the RTX 3060 Ti best suited for?

The 3060 Ti hits the sweet spot for gaming at 2560 x 1440 resolution. It can easily handle high FPS 1080p gaming as well. For 4K, some settings reduction may be required in demanding games.

How does the 3060 Ti compare to the RTX 2060 Super?

It is around 15-25% faster on average thanks to the improved Ampere architecture and faster GDDR6 memory giving a nice performance uplift.

Should I get the RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT?

They offer nearly equivalent performance, so the choice comes down to preference between Nvidia and AMD. The 6700 XT has more VRAM which may give it longer legs. Nvidia has the edge in ray tracing and DLSS support.

Is a 550W PSU enough for the RTX 3060 Ti?

Yes, Nvidia recommends a 550W power supply for the 3060 Ti. A quality 550W or higher PSU will provide ample power and headroom.

How is the RTX 3060 Ti for ray tracing games?

Its dedicated RT and tensor cores allow it to handle ray tracing well. Frame rates take a hit but remain very playable, especially with DLSS enabled to boost fps.