Specifications Compared
| Spec | RTX-2080 | RTX-3060 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 215W | 170W |
| VRAM | 8-11 GB | 12 GB |
| CUDA Cores | 2,944 | 3,584 |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Form Factors | PCIe | PCIe |
| Interconnect | NVLink | |
| Tensor Cores | 368 | 112 |
| FP16 Performance | 10.1 TFLOPS | 12.7 TFLOPS |
| FP32 Performance | 10.1 TFLOPS | 12.7 TFLOPS |
| Memory Bandwidth | 616 GB/s | 360 GB/s |
Performance Analysis
The RTX 3060 outperforms the RTX 2080 in raw compute with 12.7 TFLOPS for both FP16 and FP32, a 25 percent increase over the 10.1 TFLOPS of the RTX 2080: this translates to faster model training and inference times in deep learning pipelines. For training large language models, the FP16 advantage accelerates matrix multiplications in frameworks like PyTorch. Inference benefits similarly, handling more queries per second on Ampere's improved tensor cores.
Memory bandwidth favors the RTX 2080 at 616 GB/s versus 360 GB/s on the RTX 3060, enabling larger batch sizes in data-heavy tasks without bottlenecks. The RTX 3060 counters with 12 GB VRAM against 8 to 11 GB, supporting bigger models or higher resolutions in generative AI. Lower TDP of 170W on the RTX 3060 versus 215W reduces power costs in prolonged cloud sessions.
Both use PCIe form factors, but NVLink on the RTX 2080 aids scalable multi-GPU training for distributed workloads.
Live Cloud Pricing
Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.
RTX 2080
| Provider | GPU Model | VRAM | Host Specs | Region | Price | Status | Action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Vast.ai | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB VRAM | 11GB | 32 vCPU 63GB RAM 1273GB Storage | Maryland | $0.13/GPU/hr | Available |
RTX 3060
| Provider | GPU Model | VRAM | Host Specs | Region | Price | Status | Action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vast.ai | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB VRAM | 12GB | 36 vCPU 31GB RAM 862GB Storage | Texas | $0.23/GPU/hr | Available | ||
Vast.ai | 4×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB VRAM | 12GB | 24 vCPU 110GB RAM 3881GB Storage | Texas | $0.23/GPU/hr $0.90/hr total (4×) | Available | ||
Vast.ai | 2×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB VRAM | 12GB | 128 vCPU 168GB RAM 715GB Storage | Texas | $0.23/GPU/hr $0.45/hr total (2×) | Available | ||
Vast.ai | 2×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB VRAM | 12GB | 64 vCPU 126GB RAM 3050GB Storage | Texas | $0.23/GPU/hr $0.45/hr total (2×) | Available |
When to Choose the RTX 2080
The RTX 2080 suits scenarios demanding high memory bandwidth of 616 GB/s, such as processing large datasets in scientific simulations or high-batch training where the RTX 3060's 360 GB/s limits throughput. NVLink interconnect enables efficient multi-GPU configurations for distributed computing tasks unavailable on the RTX 3060.
When to Choose the RTX 3060
The RTX 3060 excels in cost-sensitive deployments with pricing from $0.03 per hour and 12 GB VRAM for loading larger models in LLM inference or fine-tuning. Its 12.7 TFLOPS FP16 performance and 170W TDP provide better efficiency for single-GPU workloads compared to the RTX 2080's higher 215W draw.
Use Cases
The RTX 3060's 12 GB VRAM and 12.7 TFLOPS FP16 outperform the RTX 2080's 8-11 GB and 10.1 TFLOPS for handling larger batches and faster convergence.
Ampere architecture on the RTX 3060 with 12.7 TFLOPS enables higher throughput than Turing's 10.1 TFLOPS on the RTX 2080, ideal for serving multiple requests.
RTX 3060's extra 12 GB VRAM supports fine-tuning bigger models without swapping, paired with 25 percent higher FP32 performance over the RTX 2080.
RTX 2080's 616 GB/s bandwidth accelerates texture loading and generation compared to 360 GB/s on RTX 3060, benefiting high-resolution image synthesis.
RTX 2080's NVLink aids multi-GPU scalability, while RTX 3060's lower 170W TDP and cost suit single-node simulations; choice depends on scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which GPU has higher compute performance?▾
The RTX 3060 delivers 12.7 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32, surpassing the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS by 25 percent. This benefits training and inference tasks. Architecture improvements in Ampere contribute to the edge.
Does the RTX 3060 have more VRAM than the RTX 2080?▾
Yes, the RTX 3060 provides 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM compared to 8-11 GB on the RTX 2080. More VRAM allows larger models in memory-intensive workloads. This is key for modern LLMs.
What are the power consumption differences?▾
The RTX 3060 has a 170W TDP, lower than the RTX 2080's 215W. Lower power reduces cloud costs over long runs. Efficiency gains come from Ampere design.
How do cloud prices compare?▾
RTX 3060 starts at $0.03 per hour averaging $0.07 across 12 offers, cheaper than RTX 2080's $0.05 from averaging $0.09 over 6 offers. More availability favors RTX 3060. Prices fluctuate with demand.
Which has better memory bandwidth?▾
RTX 2080 offers 616 GB/s, double the RTX 3060's 360 GB/s. Higher bandwidth supports larger batch sizes in training. It shines in bandwidth-bound applications.
Is NVLink supported on these GPUs?▾
RTX 2080 includes NVLink for multi-GPU communication, unlike the RTX 3060. This enables faster scaling in distributed training. PCIe alone suffices for single-GPU use.
Which is cheaper to rent, the RTX 2080 or the RTX 3060?▾
Cloud rental prices for both the RTX 2080 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 2080 have compared to the RTX 3060?▾
The RTX 2080 has 8 to 11 GB of GDDR6 memory. The RTX 3060 has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory.
Can I find RTX 2080 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 2080 and the RTX 3060?▾
The RTX 2080 uses the Turing architecture (2018) while the RTX 3060 uses Ampere (2021). The RTX 3060 delivers 1.3x the FP16 throughput and 1.7x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 2080.