Specifications Compared
| Spec | RTX-3060 | RTX-3080 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 170W | 320W |
| VRAM | 12 GB | 10-12 GB |
| CUDA Cores | 3,584 | 8,704 |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Architecture | Ampere | Ampere |
| Form Factors | PCIe | PCIe |
| Interconnect | ||
| Tensor Cores | 112 | 272 |
| FP16 Performance | 12.7 TFLOPS | 29.8 TFLOPS |
| FP32 Performance | 12.7 TFLOPS | 29.8 TFLOPS |
| Memory Bandwidth | 360 GB/s | 760 GB/s |
Performance Analysis
The RTX 3080 outperforms the RTX 3060 significantly in compute capability: 29.8 TFLOPS in both FP16 and FP32 compared to 12.7 TFLOPS. This delta translates to roughly 2.3 times faster processing for machine learning training and inference, enabling the RTX 3080 to handle larger models or datasets in less time. For training, higher FP16 performance accelerates gradient computations; for inference, FP32 superiority speeds up forward passes in production deployments.
Memory bandwidth defines workload feasibility: RTX 3080's 760 GB/s doubles the RTX 3060's 360 GB/s, supporting larger batch sizes without bottlenecks. This matters for training where high bandwidth prevents memory saturation during data loading. The RTX 3060's 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM matches the upper end of RTX 3080's 10 to 12 GB GDDR6X, but the latter's faster memory type enhances effective capacity for bandwidth-intensive tasks like Stable Diffusion.
Power consumption reflects these differences: RTX 3080 draws 320W TDP versus 170W for RTX 3060, implying higher operational costs in prolonged cloud sessions but justified by performance gains.
Live Cloud Pricing
Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.
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 | 128 vCPU 336GB RAM 1431GB Storage | Texas | $0.23/GPU/hr $0.90/hr total (4×) | Available | ||
Vast.ai | 2×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB VRAM | 12GB | 24 vCPU 55GB RAM 1940GB 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 3060
The RTX 3060 excels in cost-sensitive scenarios with light to moderate workloads. Its pricing from $0.03 per hour and 170W TDP make it ideal for prototyping, small-scale inference, or fine-tuning models under 12 GB VRAM, where 12.7 TFLOPS suffices without overprovisioning. Developers on tight budgets across 12 cloud offers benefit from this efficiency.
Entry-level scientific computing or Stable Diffusion at reduced resolutions favor the RTX 3060, as 360 GB/s bandwidth handles modest batch sizes effectively.
When to Choose the RTX 3080
The RTX 3080 suits high-throughput applications demanding superior compute. With 29.8 TFLOPS and 760 GB/s bandwidth, it accelerates LLM training and large-batch inference, justifying $0.06 per hour starting price across 10 offers despite 320W TDP.
Users processing complex models or high-resolution Stable Diffusion select the RTX 3080 for its GDDR6X memory advantage, enabling workloads infeasible on lesser bandwidth.
Use Cases
RTX 3080's 29.8 TFLOPS FP16 performance doubles RTX 3060's 12.7 TFLOPS, accelerating gradient computations for large language models. Higher 760 GB/s bandwidth enables bigger batches without memory stalls.
The 29.8 TFLOPS FP32 on RTX 3080 speeds up forward passes by over 2x compared to 12.7 TFLOPS on RTX 3060. This reduces latency for production-scale serving.
Both offer 12 GB VRAM maximum, sufficient for most fine-tuning tasks. RTX 3060 suffices at lower cost for smaller models, while RTX 3080 accelerates via 29.8 TFLOPS.
RTX 3080's 760 GB/s bandwidth and GDDR6X handle high-resolution image generation better than RTX 3060's 360 GB/s. Compute at 29.8 TFLOPS reduces iteration times.
RTX 3060's 170W TDP and $0.03 per hour pricing fit budget simulations with 12.7 TFLOPS. It matches needs without RTX 3080's excess 320W power draw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which GPU has more VRAM?▾
The RTX 3060 provides 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM consistently. The RTX 3080 offers 10 to 12 GB GDDR6X, matching at the high end but with faster memory type.
What is the performance difference in TFLOPS?▾
RTX 3080 delivers 29.8 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32. RTX 3060 achieves 12.7 TFLOPS in both, roughly half the compute power.
How do cloud prices compare?▾
RTX 3060 starts at $0.03 per hour, averaging $0.07 across 12 offers. RTX 3080 begins at $0.06 per hour, averaging $0.15 across 10 offers.
Which has higher memory bandwidth?▾
RTX 3080 provides 760 GB/s bandwidth. RTX 3060 offers 360 GB/s, limiting it for large-batch workloads.
What are the TDP ratings?▾
RTX 3060 consumes 170W TDP. RTX 3080 requires 320W, nearly double for its performance gains.
Are they the same architecture?▾
Both use Ampere architecture: RTX 3060 from 2021, RTX 3080 from 2020. PCIe form factor ensures broad cloud compatibility.
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.