There is no denying that at the time of writing, the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 are two of the most prolific and sought-after GPUs that you can go for in the market, and for all the right reasons because these GPUs deliver an absolute pinnacle of performance for anyone who is looking to get their hands on these.
Sure, you might run into something else that is also available, but if you want the best value for your money, you cannot go wrong here.
With that said, a lot of people ask us our opinions about 3060 Ti vs 3070, and honestly, this is something that has been pending for some time, so here I am, about to break this whole thing down so you can have a proper understanding of what’s happening and why all of this is so important. Let’s get started and find out the truth, shall we?
RTX 3060 Ti And RTX 3070
You would be surprised to know that inherently, both of these GPUs are a lot more similar than you might want to believe.
Sure, the RTX 3070 has a better edge in performance and overall experience, but aside from these minor discrepancies, the difference is not massive or game-changing, for that matter, and that is the reason why looking at these is important.
RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Specifications
| GPU Name | RTX 3060 Ti | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| CUDA Cores | 4864 Units | 5888 Units |
| Base Clock | 1410 MHz | 1500 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1665 MHz | 1725 MHz |
| V-RAM | 8GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Power Consumption | 200W | 220W |
| Required PSU | 600W | 650W |
| Dimensions | 9.5 x 4.4 x 2.2 Inch | 9.5 x 4.4 x 2.2 Inch |
You can easily look at and tell that the difference between both GPUs is not as much as some might think. However, it is important to note that these specs are of reference models, so your mileage may vary depending on the variant that you pick up.
It is safe to assume at this stage that both cards are performing at similar levels, too but whether that is the case or not is something that we are going to find out in a moment as we are going to get deeper into the whole situation and find out the real answer.
Another similar comparison: RTX 3080 Ti vs RTX 3090 in 2023
RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3070: Architecture
Now, let’s move on and look at the architecture that is used in the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070. You would be more than happy to know that both of these cards are using Nvidia’s latest Ampere architecture, and for those wondering, it is one of the most efficient and powerful architectures that I have seen in some time.
Sure, the RTX 3000 series cards are notorious for being power-hungry, but all that power is translated into performance, and the performance on these cards is amazing, to say the least. To the point that you will not be let down in any case.
It has been 2 years since the Ampere architecture was made to the consumers officially, and it still manages to be relevant and deliver excellent performance at the same time.
It surely is something that is not going to disappoint you in any case, and buying an RTX 3000 series GPU will keep you more than happy. The performance, price, power consumption, and all the other features combined make the Ampere architecture amazing.
RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3070: Clock Speeds & TDP
There is no denying over the fact that the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070 are excellent GPUs, but a lot of times, people are looking at the clock speeds and TDP of the GPU that they are buying.
While this might not really be of concern to people who are spending a lot of money on their GPU and are fully aware of what they are paying for.
But for those who are wondering, I am going to mention both the clock speeds and TDP of the RTX 3060 Ti as well as the RTX 3070. So, let’s take a look at the clock speeds and TDP of the RTX 3060 Ti.
- Base Clock: 1410 MHz
- Boost Clock: 1665 MHz
- TDP: 200W
As you can see looking at the bullets above, the RTX 3060 Ti is clearly not a slouch and delivers reasonable specs, to say the least. Still, we are going to see just how much the difference is when compared to the elder sibling – the RTX 3070.
- Base Clock: 1500 MHz
- Boost Clock: 1725 MHz
- TDP: 220W
There you have it. Now, the most important factor that you must understand here is that the boost clock is not always what companies advertise. This means that you are more than likely to get a higher boost clock thanks to a lovely technology called GPU boost.
Additionally, these scores will vary based on the variant you are using. We are currently looking at the scores and specs of reference variants from Nvidia.
RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3070: Pricing vs Performance
Pricing and performance are two of the most important aspects of any GPU or any other component, for that matter. Without the right pricing and performance, one cannot really tell if the GPU that they are getting is worth buying, in the first place because you never know what sort of experience you are going to end with.
With that said, both the RTX 3060 Ti and RTX 3070 are aggressively priced, to the point that you are not really going to run into any issues that might come in the way.
For those wondering, the RTX 3060 Ti has a launch price of $399, whereas the RTX 3070 has a launch price of $499. Needless to say, the difference is there but how much that difference means to you is something that is going to vary from person to person.
The point that I am making here is that if you have been in the market looking to get your hands on something that is good, there are a lot of options that you can invest in, and things would start making sense to you.
Both GPUs are targeted at users who are into playing games at 1080p or 1440p, but for those interested, you can go as high as 4K; but you might have to sacrifice some graphical fidelity, but considering how good modern games look across the board, it certainly is something that you should keep in mind.
More reading: RX 6800 XT vs RTX 3080
RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3070: Features, Ports & Memory
Now that we are done looking at the pricing and the performance of these GPUs. The next logical step is to look at the features, ports, and memory that you are going to get by investing in these GPUs.
I would already tell you that in terms of memory, both the RTX 3060 Ti and RTX 3070 come with 8 gigs of GDDR6 and have more or less identical ports but don’t worry, we are still going to have a look at them below.
For starters, the RTX 3060 Ti comes with 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. These are more than enough for anyone who is going to want enough ports to get their GPU hooked up.
I would suggest using the HDMI 2.1 if you are using an OLED display as you can benefit from 120Hz on 4K, and the experience is out of this world.
Moving onto the RTX 3070 and we are looking at the same port configuration, so you know that you are not getting more ports for more money.
The feature-set of both GPUs is the same, as well. Both the RTX 3060 Ti and RTX 3070 have full support for all the Ampere features such as 2nd generation Raytracing, improved DLSS, machine learning, and more.
Testing Setup:
Now that we are done looking at all the differences or similarities between the RTX 3060 Ti and the RTX 3070, it is time to look at the testing setup that I am going to use for the benchmarks. The specs are mentioned below.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
- RAM: 4x8GB G.Skill Trident Z 3466MHz CL16 @ 3800 MHz
- GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X Trio and MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
These are the basic components used for the testing process, and now that you know the specs, let’s go ahead and look at how these cards perform. Remember, it is important to know that you are not looking at something that is average.
RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3070: Gaming Benchmarks
1- Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p)
Cyberpunk 2077 launched with a lot of hype, and while it did tank in the start, CDPR has been hard at work fixing the game and have fixed the game to a large extent.
With that said, on 1080p with DLSS turned on, the game delivers great performance overall and gives a respectable average frame rate of 103 frames per second, which is more than enough to play the game and enjoy the wonderful Night City.
On RTX 3070, you are getting an average frames per second of 116, which, again, is impressive, but the difference is not a lot, especially at 1080p. So, let’s take a look at higher resolutions.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 106 FPS
- RTX 3070: 116 FPS
1.1- Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p)
Moving onto 1440p, it is safe to say that the performance is definitely going to take a hit for both GPUs, but this is the territory where the game starts to be more GPU dependent than CPU dependent, and this is where I actually saw some difference in performance.
The RTX 3060 Ti scores an average of 73 frames per second, which is very respectable and well above the 60 FPS mark. On the other hand, the RTX 3070 scores an impressive 84 frames per second, clearly telling us that the gap is slowly starting to show up.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 73 FPS
- RTX 3070: 84 FPS
1.2- Cyberpunk 2077 (4k)
4K is where things are the most demanding, and this resolution is not really accessible for everyone. Still, it is better that you are aware of this, and the more you know, the better.
The RTX 3060 Ti scores an average of 41 frames per second, whereas the RTX 3070 scored an average of 48 frames per second. It is safe to say that with both GPUs, I would suggest that you stay away from 4K resolution unless you are okay with playing below 60 frames per second.
This should not come as a surprise, as Cyberpunk 2077 still is one of the most demanding games out there.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 41 FPS
- RTX 3070: 48 FPS
#2- Minecraft RTX (1080p)
When I first heard that people wanted me to do a benchmark of Minecraft, I asked myself what is happening. It was only after I realized that this is one of the most demanding games I told myself that I am up to the challenge.
With that said, Minecraft RTX has come a long way, and while it still is Minecraft at heart, it now looks infinitely better and plays better, too. If you are wondering, the RTX 3060 Ti delivers an average of 117 frames per second, which is not bad by any means.
Moving onto the RTX 3070, you are looking at an average of 135 frames per second, a respectable score, to say the least.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 117 FPS
- RTX 3070: 135 FPS
#2.1- Minecraft RTX (1440p)
On 1440p, Minecraft RTX manages to deliver an average of 92 frames per second for the RTX 3060 Ti. Still very respectable, and for those wondering, the RTX 3070 can go as high as 108 frames per second. The difference might not look massive, but it still is there and should be kept in mind.
The performance is more than acceptable for both GPUs, and needless to say, there is not much to worry about in terms of how these GPUs are going to perform, so you are good to go.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 92 FPS
- RTX 3070: 108 FPS
#2.2- Minecraft RTX (4k)
4K is where things start to get more interesting. Not only is this resolution extremely demanding, but the graphical fidelity is the highest, as well.
On 4K, every frame matters, and this time around, the RTX 3060 Ti manages to score a respectable 61 frames per second average, whereas the RTX 3070 manages 71 frames per second average. Needless to say, both cards are more than adequate when you are talking about playing in 4K.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 61 FPS
- RTX 3070: 71 FPS
3- Warzone (1080p)
Warzone is another game that has become immensely popular over the past couple of years, and while it is certainly not for everyone, the game is clearly amassed a fan following and has become a favorite for a lot of people.
On 1080p, the RTX 3060 Ti scores an impressive 160 frames per second on average, which is excellent, to say the least.
While the RTX 3070 manages 174 frames per second, assuring you that you are getting an excellent performance and considering how this is an FPS, the more frames you are getting, the better.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 160 FPS
- RTX 3070: 174 FPS
3.1- Warzone (1440p)
Moving onto the 1440p resolution, things take a surprising turn, to be honest. Why? Well, both GPUs are scoring an average of 136 frames per second, which is more than enough for a lot of people.
The reason why we are seeing a similar result is because there seems to be a bottleneck of sorts that is holding us back. But still, the GPUs perform adequately enough for everyone.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 136 FPS
- RTX 3070: 136 FPS
3.2- Warzone (4k)
Now that we are done with 1440p, let’s start exploring the 4K resolution, and things are finally back to normal in terms of the performance difference. The RTX 3060 Ti delivers a respectable average of 69 frames per second, whereas the RTX 3070 leads with 82 frames per second.
It is important to know that RTX and DLSS were not used in this testing, so it is better that you should be aware of this before you go ahead and use the settings.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 69 FPS
- RTX 3070: 82 FPS
4- Red Dead Redemption 2 (1080p)
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a marvel of the gaming world and graphical fidelity, and ever since its release, it has become a pinnacle when it comes to testing games.
Thankfully, for those who are looking for performance, the RTX 3060 Ti delivers 84 frames per second on average. For the RTX 3070, we are looking at 97 frames per second average, which is more than respectable.
Needless to say, the performance on both GPUs is respectable, and you are not going to run into any issues either.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 84 FPS
- RTX 3070: 97 FPS
4.1- Red Dead Redemption 2 (1440p)
If you want to go ahead and play the game at higher resolution and still with excellent performance, you would be happy to know that Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers excellent performance, with the RTX 3060 Ti scoring an average of 68 frames per second, whereas the RTX 3070 is going to score an average of 79 frames per second.
Considering how Red Dead Redemption 2 is a cinematic masterpiece, 60 FPS is the threshold for the best experience.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 68 FPS
- RTX 3070: 79 FPS
4.2- Red Dead Redemption 2 (4k)
Last but not least, let’s move onto 4K, perhaps the most amazing experience that you can get, and for those wondering, the experience on 4K is going to take a toll.
The RTX 3060 Ti manages to get an average of 46 frames per second, whereas you are looking at 53 frames per second on the RTX 3070. Needless to say, both GPUs stay below the 60 FPS mark.
However, it is important to know that RDR 2 now has full support for DLSS, so you can always turn that on and get better performance.
- RTX 3060 Ti: 46 FPS
- RTX 3070: 53 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Or RTX 3070: Which One Should You Buy?
It is safe to say that for a lot of people, there is confusion as to which GPU you should be getting. The RTX 3060 Ti battling the RTX 3070 is a close call, but if I am to make it simple for you, I would suggest that you are picking up the RTX 3070 for a better overall performance across the board.
While the difference is not massive, it is just enough to make a difference, especially when you look at the fact that in the modern-day and age, every frame matters.
My Final Thoughts On It!
It might sound like an easier job choosing a GPU, but the more choice you have, the more difficult it gets. Therefore, this whole comparison is a way to help you decide which is the one that you are going to pick so you have an easier overall time.
