How Does the New RTX 3060 Compare to the GTX 1660 Super in Gaming Performance?

Building a PC with the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 in November, it's important to evaluate the potential upgrade to the new RTX 3060 over the older GTX 1660 Super. This piece explores the significant improvements in performance, features, and technology offered by the RTX 3060.

Performance Breakdown

The RTX 3060, released by NVIDIA, offers notable improvements over the GTX 1660 Super in terms of performance and technology. Here’s a detailed comparison:

Gaming Performance

When it comes to gaming, the RTX 3060 typically outperforms the GTX 1660 Super by a considerable margin. Depending on the game and settings, you can expect about 20-50% better frame rates at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. This makes the RTX 3060 a solid choice for gamers looking for smoother gameplay and better visual performance.

Ray Tracing

A significant advantage of the RTX 3060 over the GTX 1660 Super is its support for real-time ray tracing. This feature enhances the visual fidelity of games by providing more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. Games that support ray tracing will look significantly more lifelike, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

DLSS and VRAM

The RTX 3060 also comes with significant improvements in terms of hardware. It features 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM, compared to the 6GB of GDDR6 on the GTX 1660 Super. This extra VRAM is particularly useful for higher resolutions and more demanding textures, ensuring that the RTX 3060 can handle complex scenes without performance drops.

DLSS

NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology is another standout feature of the RTX 3060. This AI-powered upscaling technology can drastically improve performance in games that support DLSS. By using AI to upscale lower-resolution images, DLSS allows for higher frame rates without compromising on image quality, making it an excellent choice for gamers who want the best of both worlds.

Power Efficiency

The RTX 3060 is built on NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture, which offers better power efficiency compared to the GTX 1660 Super’s Turing architecture. This means that the RTX 3060 provides better performance per watt, resulting in potentially lower power consumption and better thermal management.

Price and Availability

While the RTX 3060 does come with a higher price point, it offers a better long-term investment, especially if you plan to play newer titles or use ray tracing. Prices for GPUs can fluctuate based on demand and availability, but as of late 2023, the RTX 3060 is generally more expensive than the GTX 1660 Super.

Conclusion

Upgrading from a GTX 1660 Super to an RTX 3060 provides a substantial boost in gaming performance and future-proofs your system. Whether you plan to play newer titles, use ray tracing, or simply enjoy smoother and more visually appealing gameplay, the RTX 3060 is a strong investment.

Considering the Ryzen 5 3600 paired with an RTX 3060, you are creating a well-balanced and powerful gaming setup. Whether it's for 1080p or 1440p gaming, the RTX 3060 is a clear upgrade over the GTX 1660 Super, offering far superior performance in most gaming scenarios.