NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Ampere GPU aimed at mid-sized Blender scenes, everyday rendering, and strong value without flagship pricing.
Last updated: March 31, 2026
2,306
Entry-level speed — fine for learning and lighter scenes.
12 GB
Adequate for mid-complexity scenes; may need care with very large textures.
3,584
Lower core count — adequate for lighter rendering workloads.
Ampere
Previous-generation design — still competitive, especially at higher VRAM tiers.
360 GB/s
Lower bandwidth may become a bottleneck in texture-heavy or complex scenes.
1.78 GHz
Lower clock speed — typical of older or workstation-class GPUs.
OptiX, CUDA
OptiX is typically the fastest option; CUDA provides a reliable fallback.
170 W
Relatively efficient — manageable in most desktop builds.
2021
More technical details
Core specs
- 28 RT Cores (2nd Gen)
- 112 Tensor Cores (3rd Gen)
Memory specs
- 12 GB GDDR6
- 192-bit Memory Interface
- 15 Gbps Memory Speed
Benchmark performance
This chart gives a compact estimate of how this GPU handles Blender benchmark scenes, so you can compare practical rendering speed without reading raw benchmark tables.
These timings are derived from Blender Open Data benchmark medians and should be treated as comparative estimates, not guaranteed real-project render times.
View Blender Open Data sourceIs RTX 3060 good for Blender?
A concise editorial read on where this GPU looks strong, the tradeoffs to keep in mind, and who it suits best.
What stands out
- 12GB GDDR6 VRAM, ample for moderate projects.
- 2nd Gen Ray Tracing Cores enhancing visual realism.
- 3rd Gen Tensor Cores supporting AI features.
- DLSS support for improved performance.
- Efficient design suitable for a variety of systems.
- Good rendering speeds for small to medium scenes.
Tradeoffs to know
- Not as powerful for large, complex scenes.
- Performance lags behind higher-end models.
- Limited future-proofing for demanding tasks.
Who should choose it
- Budget-friendly option with RTX capabilities.
- Suitable for learning and small projects.
- Efficient and quiet operation.
- Supports DLSS and ray tracing.
- Good VRAM for its class.
Compare RTX 3060 to…
Pick another GPU to see a side-by-side comparison.
Further reading
Helpful links if you want to research this GPU in more detail.
Related GPUs
These are nearby alternatives if you want something from the same generation, a similar class of card, or a similar Blender performance tier.
Same Generation
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Same Tier
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Similar Blender Performance
Nearby benchmark alternatives when you care more about practical Blender performance than branding.