Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Launch
Overview of the RTX 3060 Ti Models
Selection of AIB Cards for Review
For this review, a variety of AIB cards are available: the Evga RTX 3060 Ti FTW3 Ultra, Asus ROG Strix RTX 3060 Ti, MSI RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X Trio, and Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC Pro. Although a Founders Edition model was not available in time, these AIB cards offer a broad perspective on what the RTX 3060 Ti has to offer. The Gigabyte model, arriving first, has been used for the benchmark tests, with later sections of this review focusing on the unique aspects of each card.
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Performance Comparison: RTX 3060 Ti vs. RTX 2060 Super
Specifications and Expected Upgrades
The RTX 3060 Ti is anticipated to be a significant upgrade over the RTX 2060 Super. In terms of specifications, it closely resembles the RTX 3070, with only 17% fewer cores, Texture Mapping Units (TMUs), and Render Output Units (ROPs). The memory configuration remains the same as the 2060 Super, featuring 8GB of GDDR6 memory with a clock speed of 7000 MHz, translating to a 14 Gbps transfer speed. The 256-bit memory bus offers a peak bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
Core Clock Speed and Power Rating
The core clock speed of the RTX 3060 Ti is set at 1665 MHz, which is 3.5% lower than the RTX 3070. This results in a board power rating of 200 watts, marking a 14% increase from the RTX 2060 Super. These specifications suggest that the 3060 Ti will outperform the 2060 Super, fitting well within Nvidia's Ampere architecture's performance expectations.
Benchmarking the RTX 3060 Ti
Anticipating Performance Against Competitors
The real test for the RTX 3060 Ti is not only in how it surpasses its predecessor, the RTX 2060 Super, but also in how it compares to AMD's Radeon RX 5700 XT. Given the improvements in core count and memory bandwidth, along with the advanced architecture, the RTX 3060 Ti is expected to show considerable performance enhancements in gaming and graphical applications.
Test Setup and Methodology
In the benchmark tests, the Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC Pro is used to represent the RTX 3060 Ti line. These tests will focus on comparing its performance against the RTX 2060 Super and the Radeon RX 5700 XT, providing insights into its gaming capabilities and value proposition.
Conclusion: Assessing the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Positioning in the GPU Market
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti emerges as a strong contender in the $400 GPU market, offering substantial upgrades over the RTX 2060 Super. Its close alignment with the RTX 3070 in terms of specs positions it as a high-value option for gamers and content creators seeking top-tier performance without the premium price tag of the higher-end models.
Final Thoughts on Performance and Value
As the review progresses to explore the unique features of each AIB model, the RTX 3060 Ti's overall performance and value in the current GPU market become clearer. With its advanced features, improved power efficiency, and competitive pricing, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti stands out as a significant release from Nvidia, promising enhanced gaming experiences and robust graphical capabilities.