A2 vs RTX 3060 for Blender
Compare A2 16 GB and RTX 3060 12 GB for Blender Cycles. See benchmark performance, VRAM, power ratings and checked prices side by side. RTX 3060 12 GB leads the Blender benchmark score by 102.4%.
Fastest in Cycles
RTX 3060 12 GB
102% faster than A2 16 GB
Most VRAM
A2 16 GB
33% more VRAM than RTX 3060 12 GB
Lowest power draw
A2 16 GB
65% lower rating than RTX 3060 12 GB
Cheapest
RTX 3060 12 GB
41% cheaper than A2 16 GB
Best value for money
RTX 3060 12 GB
241% better value than A2 16 GB
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | $770.00 Checked Oct 5, 2026 | $456.70 Checked Oct 5, 2026 |
| Value for money | 1.28 | 4.36 +241% |
| Performance | ||
| Blender benchmark score | 982.86 | 1,989.59 +102% |
| CUDA cores | 1,280 | 3,584 +180% |
| Boost clock | 1770 MHz | 1.78 GHz +<1% |
| RT cores | 10 | 28 +180% |
| Tensor cores | 40 | 112 +180% |
| Memory | ||
| VRAM | 16 GB More headroom for complex scenes+33% | 12 GB Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM |
| Memory bandwidth | 200.1 GB/s | 360 GB/s +80% |
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 128-bit | 192-bit +50% |
| Memory speed | N/A | 15 Gbps |
| Platform | ||
| Architecture | Ampere | Ampere |
| Render support | CUDA, OpenCL | OptiX, CUDA |
| TDP | 60 W −65% | 170 W |
| System PSU | 250 W Secondary source suggestion | N/A |
| Release year | 2021 | 2021 |
Blender Cycles benchmarks
Estimated seconds / frame Lower is faster
A2 16 GB
Blender 3.5.0 · OptiX · 6 runs
RTX 3060 12 GB
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 91 runs
Junkshop
Monster
Classroom
Which GPU should you choose for Blender?
RTX 3060 12 GB is faster for Blender rendering, but A2 16 GB has more VRAM. That makes this a speed-versus-scene-headroom decision.
Cycles rendering performance
RTX 3060 12 GB leads by 102.4% in the Renderjuice Blender benchmark model (1,990 vs 983). For render-time-first decisions, that is the card to prioritize.
VRAM and scene capacity
A2 16 GB has more scene headroom with 16 GB of VRAM versus 12 GB on RTX 3060 12 GB. That matters most for large environments, dense geometry, high-resolution textures, and less optimized production files.
Power ratings and cooling
A2 16 GB is the lower-power option at 60 W TDP, compared with 170 W for RTX 3060 12 GB. If render speed is close, that can make A2 16 GB easier to cool and run quietly.
Is the upgrade worthwhile?
RTX 3060 12 GB is the straightforward performance pick, while A2 16 GB needs a price, power, availability, or compatibility advantage to make more sense.
Comparison summary
RTX 3060 12 GB leads the Blender benchmark score by 102.4%.
Fastest in Cycles: RTX 3060 12 GB 102% faster than A2 16 GB.
Most VRAM: A2 16 GB 33% more VRAM than RTX 3060 12 GB.
Lowest power draw: A2 16 GB 65% lower rating than RTX 3060 12 GB.
Cheapest: RTX 3060 12 GB 41% cheaper than A2 16 GB.
Best value for money: RTX 3060 12 GB 241% better value than A2 16 GB.
A2 16 GB has 16 GB of VRAM, while RTX 3060 12 GB has 12 GB, which matters when scenes, textures, or geometry get heavier.
If you are deciding between these cards for Blender, focus first on Blender benchmark score, VRAM capacity, memory bandwidth, and whether your scenes are likely to benefit more from raw speed or extra memory headroom. The comparison table above keeps those tradeoffs in one place.