The RTX 3060 Ti GPU is Nvidia’s “budget” to midrange answer, and with an MSRP of $399, there is little to complain about what this card has to offer. Compared to the previous generation Turing cards, the RTX 3060 Ti is most comparable to the RTX 2080 Super, placing it at an excellent value considering the latter retailed for $699 at launch. Therefore, in this article, we have reviewed the 8 best RTX 3060 Ti graphics cards you should consider buying.
The RTX 3060 Ti is basically a toned-down version of the $499 RTX 3070, featuring 4,864 CUDA cores compared to the 3070’s 5,888 and an older GDDR6 memory configuration. Its 8GB of VRAM should be enough for most 1440p titles, though you shouldn’t expect 4K games to perform as well. Nvidia further went ahead and included all the new features of the Ampere architecture in the card.
Furthermore, custom variants of the RTX 3060 Ti have also been released. If you are looking for an AIB RTX 3060 Ti or simply cannot find the Founders Edition online or in a local store near you, we recommend you go with one of the custom options from various manufacturers like ASUS and Gigabyte. Below we have included a handy review of the best RTX 3060 Ti cards so you are better informed as to which one to go for.
Best RTX 3060 Ti Comparison Table
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ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3060 Ti OC
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AORUS GeForce RTX 3060 Ti MASTER
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EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti FTW3 ULTRA GAMING
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MSI RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X Trio
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ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 3060 Ti OC
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Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti Eagle OC
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ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Twin Edge OC
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ASUS Dual OC GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
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Best RTX 3060 Ti Graphics Cards
1. ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3060 Ti OC
Stream Processors: 4,864 | Base/Boost Clock: 1410 MHz/1890 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 2x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4aThe ASUS ROG Strix is one of the most decked out RTX 3060 TI’s on the market right now, and for a $100 price premium, we can confidently say you’re getting your money’s worth in terms of extra features and premium quality components. The card comes factory overclocked with a 1,890 MHz boost clock, the highest among any RTX 3060 Ti, and should offer a decent performance gain over Nvidia’s reference design.
The card features a 2.9-slot triple-fan cooling solution, identical to the one found in the RTX 3090 Strix model. The Axial-tech fans feature 13 blades in the center fan and 11 blades on the outer two. Each fan has a barrier ring on the periphery that helps channel the air more effectively into the heatsink. The fans spin in opposite directions to each other reducing turbulent airflow for increased efficiency and lower noise.
The large heatsink design is squarely aimed at removing the maximum possible heat from the system and works surprisingly well, allowing the fans to shut off below 48 Celsius for a quieter system. The heat spreader covers the GPU die and the VRAM modules and the power delivery system, which will enable you to run the card at boost clocks for prolonged periods.
ASUS went the route of including two standard 8-pin connectors, unlike the 12-pin one found on the Founders Edition card. The card’s custom power delivery enables it to have a 30W power draw increment over the base configuration, giving you a small improvement in performance on heavy workloads.
A BIOS switch lets you manually switch between “Performance” and “Quiet” modes. The “Quiet” mode reduces the clocks allowing for lower fan speeds to ensure a low noise output. The card also includes two fan headers that can be connected to case fans. An additional metal frame is provided between the shroud and PCB for reinforcement.
The card’s back is also made out of metal and includes a cutout to vent out warm air from the heatsink. RGB is pretty minimal on the card, with just some small accents on the top. The card’s minimal light grey accents will make it fit well with the other components of your PC.
Overall, the card is an excellent choice for those looking for a premium card that provides the best all-around experience at $499. Stay away from it if you’re looking for the best performance since the RTX 3070 starts at the same price and provides a significant upgrade, even for the lower-end variants.
2. AORUS GeForce RTX 3060 Ti MASTER
Stream Processors: 4,864 | Base/Boost Clock: 1410 MHz/1800 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 1x PCIe 8-pin, 1x PCIe 6-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI 2.1,1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4aGigabyte’s Aorus Master is a premium RTX 3060 Ti card aiming to provide the best overall experience with a powerful cooling solution, unique design, and extra connectivity. The card also delivers performance with a decent bump in the boost clock to 1,800 MHz, squeezing out every bit of performance from the RTX 3060 Ti.
The Max Covered cooling solution uses a triple-fan design and is identical to the cooling solution found in other Aorus Master RTX 3000 cards. The fans are stacked over each other at the ends to reduce blind spots in airflow to the heatsink. Alternate fans spin in opposite directions to minimize turbulence, and two Wind Claws at either end help channel the air more evenly.
The heatsink extends beyond the length of the PCB and makes use of seven heat pipes. It also features a large copper plate that is in contact with the GPU die and the VRAM modules as well for the best airflow. The metal backplate includes a cutout that serves as venting for hot air and prevents it from recirculating into the system.
The card features a Dual BIOS, one for performance and the other for a quiet operation. You can easily switch between both configurations manually by using the dedicated BIOS switch on the card. The card comes with an 8+6-pin PCIe power configuration and includes LEDs on both connectors for troubleshooting. Another valuable feature is its six display outputs, useful if you’re looking to hook it up to a multi-monitor setup.
RGB on the card is pretty minimal, with just two small strips on the shroud’s top and bottom edges. The card includes an LCD on the top that can be configured to show the card’s live status or any multimedia of your choice. All the features combined make this one of the coolest looking RTD 3060 Tis yet and if you’re looking to make the GPU the centerpiece of your PC build, then absolutely go for this card.
3. EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti FTW3 ULTRA GAMING
Stream Processors: 4,864 | Base/Boost Clock: 1410 MHz/1800 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 2x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4aThe EVGA flagship FTW3 Ultra RTX 3060 Ti aims to combine the card’s affordability with EVGA’s state-of-the-art hardware and software features aimed toward overclocking and fine-tuning, making this the best option for GPU enthusiasts on a budget. The first sign of this is the factory overclock to the card’s boost clock, giving it an 8% increase from stock.
The FTW3 comes with the iCX3 cooling solution, one of the best on the market. It includes a triple-fan configuration in which the speed of each fan is individually controlled via reading from the nine temperature sensors spread throughout the card. The card features a standard heatsink assembly with four heat pipes and a unified copper block that cools the GPU and memory modules.
The card comes with a PCB that spans the entire length of the cooler, allowing the two 8-pin PCIe power connectors to be placed at the card’s edge for easier accessibility. To enable hot air to flow out efficiently, EVGA has made cutouts in both the PCB and metal backplate of the GPU. The card comes with the excellent Precision X1 software that lets you monitor and fine-tune everything from the fan speeds to GPU clocks. For RGB, the card features a single light-up logo on the top.
The FTW3 RTX 3060 Ti is our recommendation to those who love to tinker with their cards and fine-tune them to suit their needs. It is an excellent entry-level point for budding enthusiasts who need a powerful card for games and other applications at such an affordable price.
4. MSI RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X Trio
Stream Processors: 4,864 | Base/Boost Clock: 1410 MHz/1,830 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 2x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4aThe MSI Gaming X Trio is on par with other flagship RTX 3060T’s from companies like ASUS and Gigabyte. It features one of the largest coolers among any RTX 3060 Ti yet and is a significant factor in the card’s massive heft. If you like this card, make sure it will be compatible with the case you plan to use to ensure the best results. All this cooling power is not put to waste, though, with MSI being able to factory overclock the card to 1,830 MHz, just slightly lower than the Strix OC from ASUS.
The Tri Frozr cooling system comes with three fans that feature dual-linked blades for maximum airflow. These fans turn off at lower temperatures leaving the system wholly silent and passively cooled. The card features a massive heatsink that utilizes six heat pipes to wick heat away from the GPU core and VRAM modules. The heat pipes are in direct contact with the heat-producing components for the best possible results.
Two 8-pin power connectors are present on the card and provide a maximum input capacity of 375 watts. The plastic backplate is vented and provides an easy path for the warm air from the heartsink to pass through. RGB is minimal, present only on the shroud and light-up logo on the top. A metal bracket is provided in the box to support the GPU in the case. Buy the RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X Trio if you prefer a silent GPU that comes with all the bells and whistles of a premium RTX 3060 Ti card.
5. ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 3060 Ti OC
Stream Processors: 4,864 | Base/Boost Clock: 1410 MHz/1785 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 2x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4aASUS’s TUF Gaming RTX 3060 Ti provides an exceptional amount of value for just $60 more than the reference model. The card includes the same cooler that comes packed with the more expensive Strix cards, implying excellent thermals, and even features the Dual BIOS setup, absent from even more premium cards. The card’s boost clock of 1,785MHz may not be the highest in the market but should not make much of a difference in real-world performance.
The cooler included spans 2.9 slots and consists of a triple-fan setup. The nine-blade fans feature ASUS’ axial technology, which is significantly quieter than the other offerings. They even turn off at lower temperatures for additional noise reduction. The large heatsink features a precision-machined cold plate for efficient heat transfer and covers the VRAM for lower temps and better stability on loads.
The shroud and backplate are made of metal, giving the card a premium feel. The backplate features a cutout to ensure better airflow through the part of the heatsink that extends beyond the PCB. The Dual-BIOS lets you switch between performance and quiet modes, though we are confident in the cooling system’s capability to remain silent even in the performance setting.
The card includes a light-up logo and a tiny light strip on the top edge that support RGB. The GPU also has an additional HDMI port making the total number of ports five, great for multi-monitor setups. At this price point, we believe the TUF Gaming provides enough features to consider the card over a founder’s edition model, and we are sure you won’t be disappointed with it.
6. Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti Eagle OC
Stream Processors: 4,864 | Base/Boost Clock: 1410 MHz/1750 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 1x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x DisplayPort 1.4aIf the high price tag and heft of the premium RTX 3060 Ti cards are not your graphic card style, then the Gigabyte Eagle OC RTX 3060 Ti is one of the best cards you can go with. The card features a smaller heatsink and dual-fan design that will fit cases of varying form factors. The smaller size comes at a cost, though, with a smaller factory overclock of 30MHz over the Founder’s Edition card.
Gigabyte’s Windforce 2x cooling system features two 100mm fans that spin in the opposite directions, reducing turbulence for smoother and quieter airflow. The aluminum heatsink features four heat pipes that are in direct contact with the GPU die for efficient cooling. The VRAM modules are also cooled with the help of a metal contact plate. The backplate features a cutout for warm air from the heatsink to pass through, reducing recirculation and improving the card’s cooling.
Another area where the card cuts corners is in the power delivery system. A single PCIe 8-pin connector will hinder you from squeezing the maximum performance out of the card via overclocking. The GPU features a touch of RGB on the top edge and is controlled via Gigabyte’s RGB Fusion 2.0 software. The RTX 3060 Ti Eagle might not provide the performance of other RTX 3060 Tis but is a small upgrade over the reference design and should be a viable option if the Founders Edition is unavailable in your area.
7. ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Twin Edge OC
Stream Processors: 4,864 | Base/Boost Clock: 1410 MHz/1890 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 1x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4aDon’t be fooled by the small form factor of the Twin Edge RTX 3060 Ti. Although it may be just a two-fan design, the card packs many features that make it ideal for those looking for a dependable graphics card to use with their system. The small form factor does have its quirks, though, with the one being the lower 1695 MHz boost clock and single 8-pin PCIe power input.
The Ice Storm 2.0 cooling solution includes two 11-blade fans that spin at variable rates to accommodate the GPU’s uneven heat distribution. Apart from that, the fans stop when the GPU idles, reducing system noise significantly and increasing the fans’ lifespan. The card’s 2.5-slot heatsink features five heat pipes in direct contact with the GPU die for the most efficient heat transfer possible.
A metal backplate covers the card in the rear for providing protection and structural rigidity. The card lacks any RGB, instead opting for a white LED in the light-up logo on the top. The card comes with the FireStorm utility that lets you fine-tune your GPU and get the best performance out of it. We recommend the Zotac Twin Edge RTX 3060 Ti OC for those looking for a well-designed card to fit into their small form factor system. Otherwise, a triple-fan design like the ASUS TUF should do for the same price.
8. ASUS Dual OC GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Stream Processors: 4,864 | Base/Boost Clock: 1410 MHz/1740 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 1x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4aThe ASUS Dual OC RTX 3060 TI is a premium graphic card that provides the best performance you can get for a two-fan RTX 3060 Ti design. Although it may price the same as the three-fan cards, the performance coupled with the form factor is the best you can get if you’re planning on going with a smaller PC build.
ASUS managed to factory overclock the card to a 1,740 MHz boost clock, surprisingly on-par with many larger cards. However, expect the weaker cooling and single 8-pin PCIe to hinder the card’s overclocking potential.
The card features two axial fans that are similar to the Strix and TUF variants. The fans push a surprising amount of air while remaining relatively quiet. For even lower noise levels, the card will shut off the fans entirely below 55 Celsius. The GPU is the only dual-fan setup with a dedicated Dual BIOS with performance and quiet modes that can be manually toggled with a switch’s help.
As for durability, the card comes with a protection backplate that prevents the components from being damaged and prevents the PCB from sagging. The card includes an extra HDMI 2.1 port for better compatibility with multi-monitor setups. RGB is limited to a light strip on the top of the card. IF you’re looking to build a compact PC that performs well while having the option to remain silent, then the Dual OC RTX 3060 Ti is the best you can get.
Final Thoughts
The RTX 3060 Ti is a more affordable card compared to higher-end RTX 3000 Series cards. It comes in a variety of form factors that are compatible with a variety of cases. Considering it puts out a 2080 Super level of performance for a starting price of $399 is pretty impressive, and we are yet to see AMD’s answer to this card. We recommend sticking with the larger 3-fan design if your case supports it merely because of the improved thermal performance at basically the same price.
