RTX 3060 vs RTX 4080 for Blender
Compare RTX 3060 12 GB and RTX 4080 for Blender Cycles. See benchmark performance, VRAM, power ratings and checked prices side by side. RTX 4080 leads the Blender benchmark score by 316.3%.
Fastest in Cycles
RTX 4080
316% faster than RTX 3060 12 GB
Most VRAM
RTX 4080
33% more VRAM than RTX 3060 12 GB
Lowest power draw
RTX 3060 12 GB
47% lower rating than RTX 4080
Cheapest
RTX 3060 12 GB
66% cheaper than RTX 4080
Best value for money
RTX 4080
40% better value than RTX 3060 12 GB
GPU comparison
Key specifications for Blender rendering.
| Spec | RTX 3060 12 GB | RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | $459.99 Checked Oct 9, 2026 | $1,367.35 Checked Oct 9, 2026 |
| Value for money | 4.33 | 6.06 +40% |
| Blender benchmark score | 1,989.59 | 8,283.51 +316% |
| VRAM | 12 GB Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM | 16 GB More headroom for complex scenes+33% |
| System PSU | N/A | 750 W Manufacturer requirement |
| Performance | ||
| CUDA cores | 3,584 | 9,728 +171% |
| Boost clock | 1.78 GHz | 2.51 GHz +41% |
| RT cores | 28 | 113 +304% |
| Tensor cores | 112 | 304 +171% |
| Memory | ||
| Memory bandwidth | 360 GB/s | 716.8 GB/s +99% |
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 192-bit | 256-bit +33% |
| Memory speed | 15 Gbps | 22.4 Gbps +49% |
| Platform | ||
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Render support | OptiX, CUDA | OptiX, CUDA |
| TDP | 170 W −47% | 320 W |
| Release year | 2021 | 2022 |
Blender Cycles benchmarks
Estimated seconds / frame Lower is faster
RTX 3060 12 GB
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 91 runs
RTX 4080
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 55 runs
Junkshop
Monster
Classroom
Which GPU should you choose for Blender?
RTX 4080 is the stronger Blender rendering pick here based on benchmark score.
Cycles rendering performance
RTX 4080 leads by 316.3% in the Renderjuice Blender benchmark model (8,284 vs 1,990). For render-time-first decisions, that is the card to prioritize.
VRAM and scene capacity
RTX 4080 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
RTX 3060 12 GB is the lower-power option at 170 W TDP, compared with 320 W for RTX 4080. If render speed is close, that can make RTX 3060 12 GB easier to cool and run quietly.
Is the upgrade worthwhile?
RTX 4080 is both the newer and faster Blender rendering choice here. The main reason to choose RTX 3060 12 GB would be price, availability, existing ownership, or a specific workstation requirement.
Comparison summary
RTX 4080 leads the Blender benchmark score by 316.3%.
Fastest in Cycles: RTX 4080 316% faster than RTX 3060 12 GB.
Most VRAM: RTX 4080 33% more VRAM than RTX 3060 12 GB.
Lowest power draw: RTX 3060 12 GB 47% lower rating than RTX 4080.
Cheapest: RTX 3060 12 GB 66% cheaper than RTX 4080.
Best value for money: RTX 4080 40% better value than RTX 3060 12 GB.
RTX 3060 12 GB has 12 GB of VRAM, while RTX 4080 has 16 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.