RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3080 Ti

AmperevsAmpereUpdated 35 days ago

The RTX 3080 Ti claims victory for typical ML workloads: 34.1 TFLOPS compute and 912 GB/s bandwidth outperform the RTX 3060 Ti's 16.2 TFLOPS and 448 GB/s by over double, supporting larger models and batches critical for training and inference. Despite $0.14 per hour versus $0.06, raw speed delivers superior value in time-constrained environments.

RTX 3060 Ti from $0.23/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecRTX-3060RTX-3080
TDP170W320W
VRAM12 GB10-12 GB
CUDA Cores3,5848,704
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR6X
ArchitectureAmpereAmpere
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
Interconnect
Tensor Cores112272
FP16 Performance12.7 TFLOPS29.8 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance12.7 TFLOPS29.8 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth360 GB/s760 GB/s

Performance Analysis

Compute performance defines the core disparity: the RTX 3080 Ti's 34.1 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32 doubles the RTX 3060 Ti's 16.2 TFLOPS, accelerating deep learning training epochs and inference queries by approximately twofold. This matters for LLM training, where higher throughput reduces time to convergence, and for inference, where it supports more concurrent requests.

Memory bandwidth impacts real-world scalability: 912 GB/s on the RTX 3080 Ti enables larger batch sizes in model training without bottlenecks, unlike the 448 GB/s on the RTX 3060 Ti which limits datasets. The 12 GB VRAM capacity versus 8 GB further aids fitting complex models like large Stable Diffusion variants fully on-GPU, minimizing host memory swaps. Higher TDP at 350W signals greater cooling needs but correlates with sustained peak performance in prolonged workloads.

These specs position the RTX 3080 Ti for professional pipelines, while the RTX 3060 Ti suits exploratory work.

Live Cloud Pricing

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

RTX 3060 Ti

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
12GB VRAM
$0.23/GPU/hr
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
4×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
12GB VRAM
$0.23/GPU/hr
$0.90/hr total (4×)
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 3060 Ti

The RTX 3060 Ti suits budget-limited projects: its rentals average $0.06 per hour, half the RTX 3080 Ti's $0.14 per hour, paired with 16.2 TFLOPS FP32 for efficient small-model fine-tuning or inference. The 200W TDP fits low-power cloud slots, ideal for prototyping LLMs under 8 GB VRAM or basic Stable Diffusion runs.

When to Choose the RTX 3080 Ti

Opt for the RTX 3080 Ti in demanding scenarios: 34.1 TFLOPS FP16/FP32 and 912 GB/s bandwidth drive faster LLM training and large-batch inference than the RTX 3060 Ti's 16.2 TFLOPS and 448 GB/s. Its 12 GB GDDR6X handles memory-hungry scientific computing or high-resolution Stable Diffusion, justifying $0.14 per hour average for productivity gains.

Use Cases

LLM Training
RTX 3080 Ti

RTX 3080 Ti's 34.1 TFLOPS FP32 and 12 GB VRAM manage larger models and batches effectively, unlike RTX 3060 Ti's 16.2 TFLOPS and 8 GB limits.

LLM Inference
RTX 3080 Ti

Higher 34.1 TFLOPS on RTX 3080 Ti enables faster query throughput for production serving; 912 GB/s bandwidth sustains high concurrency over 3060 Ti.

Fine-tuning
Either

RTX 3060 Ti suffices at $0.06 per hour average for small models under 8 GB; RTX 3080 Ti accelerates larger ones with 12 GB and 34.1 TFLOPS.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3080 Ti

RTX 3080 Ti's 912 GB/s bandwidth and 12 GB VRAM generate higher-resolution images quicker than RTX 3060 Ti's 448 GB/s and 8 GB.

Scientific Computing
RTX 3060 Ti

RTX 3060 Ti's 200W TDP and $0.03 per hour starting price fit modest simulations with 16.2 TFLOPS; upgrade to 3080 Ti only for intensive needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the VRAM difference between RTX 3060 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti?

The RTX 3080 Ti features 12 GB GDDR6X VRAM, exceeding the RTX 3060 Ti's 8 GB GDDR6. This allows the 3080 Ti to load larger ML models without offloading.

Which GPU has higher performance for ML training?

RTX 3080 Ti delivers 34.1 TFLOPS FP32, over twice the RTX 3060 Ti's 16.2 TFLOPS. It completes training epochs faster on complex datasets.

How do cloud prices compare for these GPUs?

RTX 3060 Ti starts at $0.03 per hour averaging $0.06 across two offers; RTX 3080 Ti from $0.08 per hour averaging $0.14 over four offers. Lower cost favors 3060 Ti for light use.

Does memory bandwidth affect batch sizes?

Yes, RTX 3080 Ti's 912 GB/s supports larger batches than RTX 3060 Ti's 448 GB/s. This reduces training stalls in bandwidth-bound workloads.

What are the TDP ratings?

RTX 3060 Ti consumes 200W, while RTX 3080 Ti requires 350W. Lower TDP on 3060 Ti aids power-constrained cloud deployments.

Are both GPUs suitable for Stable Diffusion?

RTX 3080 Ti excels with 12 GB VRAM and 34.1 TFLOPS for fast, high-res generations; RTX 3060 Ti works for basic use but limits batch sizes at 8 GB.

Which is cheaper to rent, the RTX 3060 or the RTX 3080?

Cloud rental prices for both the RTX 3060 and RTX 3080 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 3060 have compared to the RTX 3080?

The RTX 3060 has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory. The RTX 3080 has 10 to 12 GB of GDDR6X memory.

Can I find RTX 3060 and RTX 3080 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 3060 and the RTX 3080?

The RTX 3060 uses the Ampere architecture (2021) while the RTX 3080 uses Ampere (2020). The RTX 3080 delivers 2.3x the FP16 throughput and 2.1x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 3060.

RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3080 Ti: 2.3x FP16 Gap, 12GB vs 12GB | GPUPerHour