Since the RTX 40 Series was first revealed last autumn, it’s quickly become every hardware enthusiast’s go-to graphics card. But that doesn’t mean its predecessor has nothing left to offer. In fact, the RTX 30 Series still has plenty for gamers and might be the GPU for you in 2023.
Please note, there is limited availability for RTX 30 Series GPUs and gaming PCs.
First released in September 2020, the RTX 30 Series supported 2nd generation ray tracing, used NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture, and made use of DLSS to upscale your games. With these and other core capabilities in common across the line, each GPU has a lot to offer gamers. Which is the best choice comes down to you.
That’s why we’re going to break down each graphics card in the RTX 30 Series to answer the question of the day – is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series worth it (for you at least) in 2023?
NVIDIA RTX 3060 Graphics Card
| NVIDIA CUDA Cores | 3,584 | Memory Size | 12 GB |
| Boost Clock (GHz) | 1.78 | Memory Type | GDDR6 |
| Dimensions (in) | 9.5 x 4.4 | Power Draw | 170W |
At the lower end of the series sits the humble RTX 3060. While we won’t be seeing steady 4K resolution and high-performance frame rates from this GPU, it still has a place in someone’s PC. It’s more than capable of 1080p gaming, which is enough for some players. If you’re an entry-level PC gamer or think of yourself as more of a casual player, then this graphics card and the gaming PCs that use it will be sufficient for you. It helps that it doesn’t cost as much as other GPUs too.
RTX 3060 GPUs are available starting from £248.99*
OcUK Gaming Tanto
- Built-to-order gaming PC
- GeForce RTX 3060 12GB Graphics Card
- Intel Core i3-12100F CPU
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Customise the configuration to suit your needs starting from £979.99*
NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti Graphics Card
| NVIDIA CUDA Cores | 4,864 | Memory Size | 8 GB |
| Boost Clock (GHz) | 1.67 | Memory Type | GDDR6 |
| Dimensions (in) | 9.5 x 4.4 | Power Draw | 200W |
Next in line is the 3060 Ti. While its little brother sports more memory (12GB of GDDR6 memory for the RTX 3060 against 8GB for this one), this one has more CUDA cores. With a few extra of these parallel data processing units under the hood, it’s a more powerful GPU despite having less memory. As such, it’s a great choice for mid-range builds and gamers. We’re not quite in 4K or 1440p territory yet, but it’s good for QHD performance.
RTX 3060 Ti GPUs are available starting from £319.99*
NVIDIA RTX 3070 Graphics Card
| NVIDIA CUDA Cores | 5,888 | Memory Size | 8 GB |
| Boost Clock (GHz) | 1.73 | Memory Type | GDDR6 |
| Dimensions (in) | 9.5 x 4.4 | Power Draw | 220W |
With the RTX 3070, we hit the midway point in many ways. The price starts to creep up, so those looking for a gaming PC on a budget might find themselves a bit priced out. Similarly, performance hits a midway mark. While the 3070 can probably clear 30 FPS on many games, it’s not the 4K powerhouse hardware enthusiasts crave. It’s an odd spot for it to be in, but a great card for anyone upgrading from the RTX 20 Series.
RTX 3070 GPUs are no longer available
NVIDIA RTX 3080 Graphics Card
| NVIDIA CUDA Cores | 8,704 | Memory Size | 10 GB |
| Boost Clock (GHz) | 1.71 | Memory Type | GDDR6X |
| Dimensions (in) | 11.2 x 4.4 | Power Draw | 320W |
Now things are getting meaty. From a price-to-performance perspective, the 3080 stands atop the RTX 30 Series mountain. If you want to build yourself a high-end gaming machine, unlock 4K resolutions, and get yourself a truly immersive gaming experience, then this is the card for you. The drawbacks? Well, the graphics card is also a step up in size and power draw, so you’ll need a case and PSU to support it. The same goes for your CPU and RAM, so investing in hardware is key to using this GPU for a top-tier gaming rig.
RTX 3080 GPUs are no longer available
NVIDIA RTX 3090 Graphics Card
| NVIDIA CUDA Cores | 10,496 | Memory Size | 24 GB |
| Boost Clock (GHz) | 1.70 | Memory Type | GDDR6X |
| Dimensions (in) | 12.3 x 5.4 | Power Draw | 350W |
To put it bluntly, the RTX 3090 is big. Big on memory, big on size, big on power draw… you get the picture. It’s also big on price, so the question you need to ask is simple; do I need this graphics card for gaming? The answer is no, unless you are going all out. With more memory than any game is reasonably asking for and creative suite drivers, the RTX 3090 is best suited to productivity users. If you work in animation, then make sure your system is rocking this power. For gamers, take that price difference, invest in one of the other RTX 30 Series graphics cards, and treat yourself to some stylish peripherals instead.
RTX 3090 GPUs are no longer available
Building your own gaming PC can be a daunting task. That’s why we’ve put together the Overclockers UK Ultimate PC Building Guide.
*Prices correct at time of writing and PC specs are subject to change.
- 5 min read
Jacob Smith
Author
Jacob is a passionate gamer, plus a noted Pokemon and LEGO nutjob, who emerges only when doing the words here at Overclockers UK. Since starting at the tail end of 2021, Jacob has gone on to write dozens of blogs on everything from the latest games to whimsical Dickens-inspired poetry. Outside of creating content and being the one person in the office daring to champion Nintendo, he is often found fawning over his Pokemon card collection and his trio of lovely doggos.
Read More >>