Nvidia's RTX 3000 series of graphics cards revolutionized the world of PC gaming, offering exceptional performance and unbeatable value for money.
Among the most popular models are the RTX 3060 and RTX 3070 , two powerful and versatile cards capable of running the most demanding games at high resolution with ray tracing enabled. But which of these two cards should you choose?
In this article, we'll help you make your choice by comparing these two cards on several aspects: technical specifications, gaming performance, and price
Technical specifications
The RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 are both based on the Ampere architecture , which uses 8nm transistors and integrates CUDA cores , Tensor cores , and RT cores for ray tracing . Here is a comparison table of the technical specifications of these two cards:
| Characteristic | RTX 3060 Ti | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| CUDA Hearts | 4864 | 5888 |
| Tensor Hearts | 152 | 184 |
| RT Hearts | 38 | 46 |
| Base frequency (MHz) | 1410 | 1500 |
| Boosted frequency (MHz) | 1665 | 1725 |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 | 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 448 | 448 |
| Memory bus (bits) | 256 | 256 |
| TDP (W) | 200 | 220 |
| Price (€) | Approximately 450 | Approximately 550 |
See the full benchmark between the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070
We can see that the RTX 3070 has more cores and a slightly higher frequency than the RTX 3060 Ti , giving it an advantage in terms of raw power.
However, both cards have the same amount and type of memory, as well as identical memory bandwidth.
The RTX 3070 also consumes more power than the RTX 3060 Ti , which means it requires more cooling. Finally, the RTX 3070 is more expensive than the RTX 3060 Ti, by about €100 .
Performance in games
Gaming performance is one of the most important criteria for choosing a graphics card for gamers . To compare the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 , here is a summary of the results tested on several popular games, using a 1440p and high or ultra graphics settings.
| Game | RTX 3060 Ti (FPS) | RTX 3070 (FPS) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 57 | 66 | +15,8 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 46 | 54 | +17,4 |
| Doom Eternal | 165 | 197 | +19,4 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 68 | 80 | +17,6 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 98 | 115 | +17,3 |
We can see that the RTX 3070 offers superior performance to the RTX 3060 Ti in all games tested, with an average difference of +17.5% .
This means that the RTX 3070 allows for smoother and more immersive gameplay, especially if you are using a screen with a high refresh rate.
The RTX 3070 is also better suited to handling ray tracing , which is a technology that simulates realistic lighting effects in games.
For example, in Cyberpunk 2077 ray tracing to be .
Value for money
The price-to-performance ratio is another important criterion when choosing a graphics card . This involves comparing the price and performance of each model to determine which offers the best compromise.
To do this, we will use the performance index per euro , which is calculated by dividing the average FPS by the price of the card.
The higher this index, the better the card's value for money. Here are the results for the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070:
| Map | Price (€) | Average FPS | Performance index per euro |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 Ti | 450 | 86,8 | 0,193 |
| RTX 3070 | 550 | 102,4 | 0,186 |
We can see that the RTX 3060 Ti offers a slightly higher performance-per-euro index than the RTX 3070, at +3.8% . This means that the RTX 3060 Ti offers better value for money than the RTX 3070, in terms of performance relative to price .
The RTX 3060 Ti is therefore more interesting if you have a limited budget or if you are not looking for the best possible performance.
FAQs
What is the difference between the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 in terms of dimensions and connectivity?
The RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 have similar dimensions and connectivity, but they are not identical. The RTX 3060 Ti measures 242 mm long, 112 mm wide and 41 mm thick, while the RTX 3070 measures 242 mm long , 112 mm wide and 38 mm thick .
The RTX 3060 Ti weighs 1.04 kg, compared to 1.02 kg for the RTX 3070. Both cards have a dual-fan design and occupy two PCI-Express slots. They both feature one HDMI 2.1 port and three DisplayPort 1.4a ports.
eight-pin power supply connector RTX 3060 Ti has a TDP of 200W, compared to 220W for the RTX 3070. Therefore, you need to ensure your power supply is sufficient to power these cards.
What is the difference between the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 in terms of screen compatibility?
The RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 are both compatible with displays that support resolutions up to 8K (7680 x 4320 pixels) and refresh rates up to 240 Hz .
G-Sync and FreeSync technologies , which allow the screen's refresh rate to adapt to that of the graphics card, in order to avoid tearing or stuttering of the image.
However, the RTX 3070 offers superior performance to the RTX 3060 Ti at high resolutions, such as 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) or 1440p (2560 x 1440 pixels). The RTX 3070 is therefore better suited if you have a monitor with a high resolution and a high refresh rate.
What is the difference between the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 in terms of features?
The RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 share the same features related to the Ampere architecture, such as ray tracing , DLSS or Nvidia Broadcast .
Ray tracing is a technology that allows for the simulation of realistic lighting effects in games, such as reflections, shadows, or ambient occlusion.
DLSS is a technology that uses artificial intelligence to improve image quality while increasing the number of frames per second.
Nvidia Broadcast is an application that improves sound and video quality during live broadcasts or video calls, using filters such as background blur, noise reduction, or face tracking.
The difference between the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 lies in the number of Tensor cores and RT cores, which are 152 and 38 respectively for the RTX 3060 Ti, and 184 and 46 for the RTX 3070
These cores are dedicated to ray tracing and DLSS , which means the RTX 3070 can handle these features more efficiently than the RTX 3060 Ti.
What is the difference between the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 in terms of content creation performance?
The RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 are both powerful graphics cards that can be used for content creation, such as video editing, 3D modeling, rendering, or streaming.
They benefit from Nvidia technologies such as Nvidia Studio , which includes optimized drivers and software compatible with RTX cards, or Nvidia Encoder (NVENC) , which allows video to be encoded using the graphics card rather than the processor, in order to reduce system load and improve stream quality.
The difference between the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 lies in the raw performance, which is higher for the RTX 3070 thanks to its greater number of CUDA cores.
For example, the RTX 3070 is approximately 15% faster than the RTX 3060 Ti in Adobe Premiere Pro, 18% faster in Blender, 20% faster in DaVinci Resolve, and 25% faster in After Effects.
What is the difference between the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 in terms of availability and price?
The RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 are both highly sought-after graphics cards, which are often out of stock at official retailers.
Therefore, you need to be patient and vigilant to be able to get these cards at the price recommended by Nvidia, which is €450 for the RTX 3060 Ti and €550 for the RTX 3070.
Avoid websites or sellers offering these cards at exorbitant prices, which can be more than double the recommended price. Also, be wary of fake listings or scams, which could cause you to lose money or personal data.
To buy these cards safely, you should use the official Nvidia or those of its partners, such as Asus , MSI , Gigabyte , or Zotac . You should also check customer reviews and shipping and return policies before placing your order.
Conclusion
The RTX 3060 Ti and RTX 3070 are two excellent graphics cards that offer exceptional performance for gaming and content creation .
Which one to choose depends on your needs and budget. If you want to enjoy the latest games in high resolution with ray tracing enabled, and you're willing to pay more, then the RTX 3070 is for you.
If you are looking for a good compromise between price and performance, and are satisfied with smooth gameplay without necessarily having the graphics settings maxed out, then the RTX 3060 Ti is a good choice .
Whatever your decision, you won't be disappointed by these two cards, which are among the best on the market.
