RTX 3060 12 GB for Blender
Ampere GPU aimed at mid-sized Blender scenes, everyday rendering, and strong value without flagship pricing.
Last updated: October 1, 2026
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$458.94
Checked Oct 1, 2026
- Blender Cycles score
- 1,989
- 5.8× slower than
- VRAM
- 12 GB
- Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM
- Released
- 2021
- Render support
- OptiX, CUDA
- Power draw (TDP)
- 170 W
Technical specifications
GPU
- ArchitectureAmpere
- CUDA cores3,584
- Tensor cores112 (3rd Gen)
- RT cores28 (2nd Gen)
Memory
- TypeGDDR6
- Bandwidth360 GB/s
- Bus width192-bit
- Speed15 Gbps
Clocks & manufacturing
- Boost clock1.78 GHz
RTX 3060 12 GB Blender benchmarks
Estimated time to render one benchmark frame · Lower is faster.
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 81 runs
About these estimates
Times estimate one frame of each benchmark scene from the same runs, Blender version and backend as the displayed Cycles score. The calculation uses 240 samples for Junkshop, 256 for Monster and 300 for Classroom, plus a 19% estimation buffer. Actual project render times vary. Results from different Blender versions may not be directly comparable. The benchmark data groups this model’s hardware variants together.
Is RTX 3060 12 GB 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.
- Longer render waits; consider when rendering time is a lower priority.
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
- Ampere GPU aimed at mid-sized Blender scenes, everyday rendering, and strong value without flagship pricing.
Popular comparisons for RTX 3060 12 GB
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Further reading
Helpful links if you want to research this GPU in more detail.
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