RTX 2060 SUPER vs RTX 3060

TuringvsAmpereUpdated 35 days ago

The RTX 3060 emerges as the superior choice for most cloud-based machine learning use cases. Its 12.7 TFLOPS compute power and 12 GB VRAM enable efficient handling of demanding workloads like model training, outpacing the RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.2 TFLOPS and 8 GB at comparable 170 W TDP and lower rental costs from $0.03 per hour.

RTX 3060 from $0.23/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecRTX-2060RTX-3060
TDP160W170W
VRAM6-12 GB12 GB
CUDA Cores1,9203,584
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR6
ArchitectureTuringAmpere
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
Interconnect
Tensor Cores240112
FP16 Performance6.5 TFLOPS12.7 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance6.5 TFLOPS12.7 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth336 GB/s360 GB/s

Performance Analysis

Compute capabilities define the core disparity: the RTX 3060 reaches 12.7 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32, surpassing the RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.2 TFLOPS by 76 percent. This boost accelerates neural network training and inference, where FP16 precision optimizes tensor operations for faster iterations in deep learning pipelines.

VRAM and bandwidth present nuanced trade-offs. The RTX 3060's 12 GB capacity accommodates expansive batch sizes for models exceeding 8 GB on the RTX 2060 SUPER, reducing out-of-memory errors in training runs. Despite the RTX 2060 SUPER's 448 GB/s bandwidth edging out 360 GB/s, the extra VRAM typically yields superior throughput in memory-constrained scenarios like large language model fine-tuning.

TDP values remain close at 170 W and 175 W, implying similar operational costs in cloud environments. These specs position the RTX 3060 for versatile high-performance AI tasks.

Live Cloud Pricing

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

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 RTX 2060 SUPER

The RTX 2060 SUPER suits workloads emphasizing memory bandwidth over capacity. Its 448 GB/s bandwidth excels in scientific computing or simulations fitting within 8 GB VRAM, where data transfer rates dominate performance. Users with legacy hardware or rare cloud instances may prefer it for cost savings if offers appear.

When to Choose the RTX 3060

The RTX 3060 stands out for modern AI demands with 12 GB VRAM and 12.7 TFLOPS performance. It handles larger batch sizes in LLM training and inference without constraints. Affordable cloud pricing from $0.03 per hour across 10 offers makes it ideal for frequent use.

Use Cases

LLM Training
RTX 3060

The RTX 3060's 12 GB VRAM and 12.7 TFLOPS performance support larger models and batch sizes critical for effective LLM training. The RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB limit often necessitates smaller batches, slowing progress.

LLM Inference
RTX 3060

With 12.7 TFLOPS and 12 GB VRAM, the RTX 3060 delivers faster inference on production-scale LLMs. The RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.2 TFLOPS and reduced capacity hinder high-throughput serving.

Fine-tuning
RTX 3060

RTX 3060 accommodates fine-tuning of large models via 12 GB VRAM, paired with 12.7 TFLOPS for quicker epochs. RTX 2060 SUPER restricts to smaller datasets due to 8 GB VRAM.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3060

The 12 GB VRAM on RTX 3060 enables higher-resolution image generation without artifacts. Its 12.7 TFLOPS speeds up diffusion steps over the RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.2 TFLOPS.

Scientific Computing
RTX 2060 SUPER

RTX 2060 SUPER's 448 GB/s bandwidth accelerates data-heavy simulations within 8 GB VRAM. It outperforms RTX 3060's 360 GB/s in bandwidth-limited HPC tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the RTX 3060 faster than the RTX 2060 SUPER?

Yes, the RTX 3060 delivers 12.7 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32, 76 percent above the RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.2 TFLOPS. This enhances training and inference speeds. Additional 12 GB VRAM versus 8 GB supports bigger workloads.

What is the VRAM difference between RTX 2060 SUPER and RTX 3060?

The RTX 3060 features 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM, while the RTX 2060 SUPER has 8 GB GDDR6. Larger VRAM allows greater batch sizes in ML tasks. Bandwidth is 360 GB/s on RTX 3060 versus 448 GB/s on RTX 2060 SUPER.

How do the TDPs compare for RTX 2060 SUPER vs RTX 3060?

RTX 2060 SUPER has a 175 W TDP, RTX 3060 a 170 W TDP. Power draw is nearly identical for cloud hosting. Efficiency gains in Ampere architecture balance the minor difference.

What is the cloud pricing for these GPUs?

RTX 3060 rentals start at $0.03 per hour, averaging $0.07 per hour over 10 live offers. No live cloud offers exist for RTX 2060 SUPER currently. Check gpuperhour.com for updates.

Which is better for Stable Diffusion?

RTX 3060 performs best with 12 GB VRAM for high-resolution generations and 12.7 TFLOPS for faster sampling. RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB limits image sizes. Bandwidth edge of 448 GB/s helps but does not compensate.

Architecture differences between RTX 2060 SUPER and RTX 3060?

RTX 2060 SUPER uses Turing from 2019, RTX 3060 Ampere from 2021. Ampere provides higher efficiency and 12.7 TFLOPS versus 7.2 TFLOPS. This generational shift improves ML tensor core utilization.

Which is cheaper to rent, the RTX 2060 or the RTX 3060?

Cloud rental prices for both the RTX 2060 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 RTX 2060 have compared to the RTX 3060?

The RTX 2060 has 6 to 12 GB of GDDR6 memory. The RTX 3060 has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Can I find RTX 2060 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 RTX 2060 and the RTX 3060?

The RTX 2060 uses the Turing architecture (2019) while the RTX 3060 uses Ampere (2021). The RTX 3060 delivers 2.0x the FP16 throughput and 1.1x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 2060.

RTX 2060 SUPER vs RTX 3060: Turing vs Ampere Compared | GPUPerHour