GeForce RTX 3060 vs GTX 1070 SLI

#ad 
Buy on Amazon
VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1070 SLI and GeForce RTX 3060, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 1070 SLI
2016
2x 8 GB GDDR5, 300 Watt
38.09

RTX 3060 outperforms GTX 1070 SLI by a moderate 17% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking12382
Place by popularitynot in top-1004
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data69.37
Power efficiency8.7618.04
ArchitecturePascal (2016−2021)Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code namePascal GP104 SLIGA106
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Release date16 August 2016 (8 years ago)12 January 2021 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$329

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores38403584
Core clock speed1506 MHz1320 MHz
Boost clock speed1683 MHz1777 MHz
Number of transistors14400 Million12,000 million
Manufacturing process technology16 nm8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)300 Watt170 Watt
Texture fill rateno data199.0
Floating-point processing powerno data12.74 TFLOPS
ROPsno data48
TMUsno data112
Tensor Coresno data112
Ray Tracing Coresno data28

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Interfaceno dataPCIe 4.0 x16
Lengthno data242 mm
Widthno data2-slot
Supplementary power connectorsno data1x 12-pin
SLI options+-

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount2x 8 GB12 GB
Memory bus width256 Bit192 Bit
Memory clock speed8000 MHz1875 MHz
Memory bandwidthno data360.0 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectorsno data1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI-+
G-SYNC support+-

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

VR Ready+no data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12_112 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Modelno data6.7
OpenGLno data4.6
OpenCLno data3.0
Vulkan+1.3
CUDA+8.6

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1070 SLI 38.09
RTX 3060 44.44
+16.7%

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 1070 SLI 42691
+50.5%
RTX 3060 28375

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 1070 SLI 34226
+60.1%
RTX 3060 21379

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1070 SLI 140180
+16.1%
RTX 3060 120745

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1070 SLI 373694
RTX 3060 537787
+43.9%

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD118
−3.4%
122
+3.4%
1440p60−65
−20%
72
+20%
4K60
+20%
50
−20%

Cost per frame, $

1080pno data2.70
1440pno data4.57
4Kno data6.58

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 75−80
−21.5%
95−100
+21.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 80−85
+2.5%
79
−2.5%
Elden Ring 130−140
+11.8%
119
−11.8%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 100−110
−7.8%
110−120
+7.8%
Counter-Strike 2 75−80
−21.5%
95−100
+21.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 80−85
+5.2%
77
−5.2%
Forza Horizon 4 180−190
−23.5%
226
+23.5%
Metro Exodus 90−95
−30.4%
120
+30.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2 75−80
−13.3%
85−90
+13.3%
Valorant 150−160
−19.1%
180−190
+19.1%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 100−110
−7.8%
110−120
+7.8%
Counter-Strike 2 75−80
−21.5%
95−100
+21.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 80−85
+12.5%
72
−12.5%
Dota 2 58
−152%
146
+152%
Elden Ring 130−140
−12%
149
+12%
Far Cry 5 95−100
−9.4%
105
+9.4%
Fortnite 160−170
−11.3%
180−190
+11.3%
Forza Horizon 4 180−190
+1.7%
180
−1.7%
Grand Theft Auto V 87
−62.1%
141
+62.1%
Metro Exodus 90−95
+5.7%
87
−5.7%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 190−200
−5.6%
200−210
+5.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2 75−80
−13.3%
85−90
+13.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 130−140
−20.9%
160−170
+20.9%
Valorant 150−160
−19.1%
180−190
+19.1%
World of Tanks 270−280
+0%
270−280
+0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 100−110
−7.8%
110−120
+7.8%
Counter-Strike 2 75−80
−21.5%
95−100
+21.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 80−85
+35%
60
−35%
Dota 2 120−130
−22.5%
147
+22.5%
Far Cry 5 95−100
−7.3%
100−110
+7.3%
Forza Horizon 4 180−190
+18.8%
154
−18.8%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 190−200
−5.6%
200−210
+5.6%
Valorant 150−160
−19.1%
180−190
+19.1%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 70−75
−15.7%
81
+15.7%
Elden Ring 75−80
−10.4%
85
+10.4%
Grand Theft Auto V 70−75
−15.7%
81
+15.7%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 170−180
+0%
170−180
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
−21.1%
45−50
+21.1%
World of Tanks 240−250
−16.1%
280−290
+16.1%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 70−75
−9.9%
75−80
+9.9%
Counter-Strike 2 35−40
−23.7%
45−50
+23.7%
Cyberpunk 2077 35−40
+2.7%
37
−2.7%
Far Cry 5 120−130
−16.3%
140−150
+16.3%
Forza Horizon 4 100−110
−5.5%
115
+5.5%
Metro Exodus 80−85
−7.2%
89
+7.2%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 65−70
−24.6%
80−85
+24.6%
Valorant 110−120
−25.4%
140−150
+25.4%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 35−40
−23.1%
45−50
+23.1%
Dota 2 81
−1.2%
82
+1.2%
Elden Ring 35−40
−22.2%
44
+22.2%
Grand Theft Auto V 81
−1.2%
82
+1.2%
Metro Exodus 30−35
+0%
32
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 120−130
−19.5%
140−150
+19.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2 24−27
−20%
30−33
+20%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 81
−1.2%
82
+1.2%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 40−45
−20.5%
50−55
+20.5%
Counter-Strike 2 35−40
−23.1%
45−50
+23.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−6.3%
17
+6.3%
Dota 2 70−75
−55.4%
115
+55.4%
Far Cry 5 55−60
−23.2%
65−70
+23.2%
Fortnite 41
−61%
65−70
+61%
Forza Horizon 4 60−65
−6.3%
67
+6.3%
Valorant 60−65
−27.4%
75−80
+27.4%

This is how GTX 1070 SLI and RTX 3060 compete in popular games:

  • RTX 3060 is 3% faster in 1080p
  • RTX 3060 is 20% faster in 1440p
  • GTX 1070 SLI is 20% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Cyberpunk 2077, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1070 SLI is 35% faster.
  • in Dota 2, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the RTX 3060 is 152% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 1070 SLI is ahead in 9 tests (14%)
  • RTX 3060 is ahead in 51 test (81%)
  • there's a draw in 3 tests (5%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 38.09 44.44
Recency 16 August 2016 12 January 2021
Chip lithography 16 nm 8 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 300 Watt 170 Watt

RTX 3060 has a 16.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, a 100% more advanced lithography process, and 76.5% lower power consumption.

The GeForce RTX 3060 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 1070 SLI in performance tests.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.


NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 SLI
GeForce GTX 1070 SLI
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
GeForce RTX 3060

Other comparisons

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


4.1 210 votes

Rate GeForce GTX 1070 SLI on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.1 29539 votes

Rate GeForce RTX 3060 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about this comparison, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.