GTX 1080 Ti vs RTX 3060

PascalvsAmpereUpdated 35 days ago

The RTX 3060 emerges as the clear winner for most cloud GPU use cases. It delivers 12.7 TFLOPS versus 8.9 TFLOPS, 12 GB VRAM over 8-11 GB, and 360 GB/s bandwidth against 320 GB/s, all at one-tenth the average hourly cost of $0.07 versus $0.60.

GTX 1080 Ti from $0.30/hrRTX 3060 from $0.23/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecGTX-1080RTX-3060
TDP180W170W
VRAM8-11 GB12 GB
CUDA Cores2,5603,584
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR6
ArchitecturePascalAmpere
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
Interconnect
FP16 Performance8.9 TFLOPS12.7 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance8.9 TFLOPS12.7 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth320 GB/s360 GB/s

Performance Analysis

The RTX 3060 outperforms the GTX 1080 Ti in compute-intensive workloads: its 12.7 TFLOPS FP16 and FP32 ratings exceed the GTX 1080 Ti's 8.9 TFLOPS by 43 percent, accelerating model training and inference speeds. Training deep neural networks benefits directly from this delta, as higher throughput processes more iterations per hour. Inference tasks similarly gain, handling higher query volumes without proportional time increases. The 360 GB/s memory bandwidth on RTX 3060 surpasses the GTX 1080 Ti's 320 GB/s by 13 percent, enabling larger batch sizes and reducing data transfer bottlenecks in memory-constrained scenarios. With 12 GB VRAM versus 8-11 GB, the RTX 3060 supports bigger models or datasets outright, minimizing out-of-memory errors during experimentation.

Live Cloud Pricing

Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.

GTX 1080 Ti

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
LeaderGPU
LeaderGPU
4×NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
8GB VRAM
$0.30/GPU/hr
$1.20/hr total (4×)
Available
LeaderGPU
LeaderGPU
8×NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
11GB VRAM
$0.60/GPU/hr
$4.80/hr total (8×)
Available

RTX 3060

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
12GB VRAM
$0.23/GPU/hr
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
2×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
12GB VRAM
$0.23/GPU/hr
$0.45/hr total (2×)
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
2×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
12GB VRAM
$0.23/GPU/hr
$0.45/hr total (2×)
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
2×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
12GB VRAM
$0.23/GPU/hr
$0.45/hr total (2×)
Available

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the GTX 1080 Ti

The GTX 1080 Ti fits legacy workflows optimized exclusively for Pascal architecture, where software lacks full Ampere compatibility. Its 8-11 GB GDDR5X VRAM and 320 GB/s bandwidth suffice for smaller-scale inference at $0.60 per hour when RTX 3060 availability is limited in specific regions with only one live offer.

When to Choose the RTX 3060

The RTX 3060 excels in modern machine learning pipelines: 12.7 TFLOPS FP16/FP32 and 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM handle demanding training and inference at $0.03 per hour starting price across ten offers. Higher 360 GB/s bandwidth supports efficient large-batch processing, making it ideal for cost-sensitive scaling.

Use Cases

LLM Training
RTX 3060

RTX 3060's 12.7 TFLOPS FP32 outperforms GTX 1080 Ti's 8.9 TFLOPS by 43 percent for faster convergence. Its 12 GB VRAM supports larger models than 8-11 GB.

LLM Inference
RTX 3060

Higher 12.7 TFLOPS FP16 on RTX 3060 enables more queries per second than 8.9 TFLOPS on GTX 1080 Ti. Bandwidth of 360 GB/s handles high-throughput serving better than 320 GB/s.

Fine-tuning
RTX 3060

RTX 3060's 43 percent compute advantage and 12 GB VRAM accommodate bigger batches and datasets over GTX 1080 Ti's limits.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3060

Ampere architecture with 12.7 TFLOPS and 360 GB/s bandwidth accelerates diffusion models faster than Pascal's 8.9 TFLOPS and 320 GB/s.

Scientific Computing
RTX 3060

RTX 3060 processes simulations quicker with 12.7 TFLOPS FP32 versus 8.9 TFLOPS, plus 12 GB VRAM for complex datasets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has higher performance, GTX 1080 Ti or RTX 3060?

The RTX 3060 achieves 12.7 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32, surpassing the GTX 1080 Ti's 8.9 TFLOPS by 43 percent. This edge applies to training and inference workloads.

How much VRAM do these GPUs offer?

GTX 1080 Ti provides 8-11 GB GDDR5X VRAM, while RTX 3060 offers 12 GB GDDR6. The extra capacity on RTX 3060 supports larger AI models.

What are the cloud rental prices?

GTX 1080 Ti rents from $0.60 per hour average across one offer. RTX 3060 starts at $0.03 per hour, averaging $0.07 across ten offers.

Which has better memory bandwidth?

RTX 3060 delivers 360 GB/s, 13 percent above GTX 1080 Ti's 320 GB/s. This improves batch processing efficiency.

What are the TDPs and architectures?

GTX 1080 Ti uses Pascal from 2016 at 180W TDP; RTX 3060 employs Ampere from 2021 at 170W. Both fit PCIe slots.

Is RTX 3060 worth the upgrade from GTX 1080 Ti?

Yes, for its 43 percent higher TFLOPS, more VRAM, and lower $0.07 hourly cost. Pascal limits modern optimizations.

Which is cheaper to rent, the GTX 1080 or the RTX 3060?

Cloud rental prices for both the GTX 1080 and RTX 3060 vary by provider, configuration, and availability. This page shows live pricing from 25+ providers updated every 60 seconds. Scroll to the Live Cloud Pricing section to compare current rates.

How much VRAM does the GTX 1080 have compared to the RTX 3060?

The GTX 1080 has 8 to 11 GB of GDDR5X memory. The RTX 3060 has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Can I find GTX 1080 and RTX 3060 GPUs available to rent right now?

Yes. This page shows real-time availability across 25+ cloud GPU providers. The Live Cloud Pricing section displays only in-stock offers with current pricing.

What is the main difference between the GTX 1080 and the RTX 3060?

The GTX 1080 uses the Pascal architecture (2016) while the RTX 3060 uses Ampere (2021). The RTX 3060 delivers 1.4x the FP16 throughput and 1.1x the memory bandwidth of the GTX 1080.

GTX 1080 Ti vs RTX 3060: 12GB GDDR6 vs 11GB GDDR5X | GPUPerHour