GTX 660 vs RTX 3060 12GB
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | GTX 660 | RTX 3060 12GB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 693 | 5,478 | -87.3% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 24 | 56 | -57.1% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 13 | 33 | -60.6% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 6 | 18 | -66.7% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 2.0 | 12.7 | -84.5% |
| VRAM | 2 GB GDDR5 | 12 GB GDDR6 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 168 | 336 | -50.0% |
| TDP (W) | 140 | 170 | — |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $229 | $329 | -30.4% |
- RTX 3060 12GB averages 33 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 61% faster.
- GTX 660 draws less power (140W vs 170W).
Verdict: GTX 660 or RTX 3060 12GB?
GTX 660 advantages
- Power efficiency (+18%)
- Affordability (+30%)
RTX 3060 12GB advantages
- 1440p gaming (+61%)
- 4K gaming (+67%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+87%)
- Video memory (+83%)
- Memory bandwidth (+50%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the GTX 660 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the RTX 3060 12GB if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the GTX 660 if you want the better price for the performance.
Value for money
RTX 3060 12GB delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
GTX 660 vs RTX 3060 12GB: which should you choose?
GTX 660 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2012, Kepler) with 2 GB of GDDR5, averaging 13 fps at 1440p; launched at $229.
RTX 3060 12GB — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2021, Ampere) with 12 GB of GDDR6, averaging 33 fps at 1440p; launched at $329.
GTX 660 vs RTX 3060 12GB: RTX 3060 12GB is faster for gaming. RTX 3060 12GB averages 33 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 61% faster. GTX 660 draws less power (140W vs 170W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RTX 3060 12GB averages 33 fps against 13. At 4K (6 vs 18 fps) VRAM (2GB vs 12GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
Power and value
Board power is 140 W versus 170 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $229 vs $329, weigh the frame-rate lead against price and power draw for your target resolution.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GTX 660 better than the RTX 3060 12GB?
RTX 3060 12GB takes the overall edge, though GTX 660 wins in specific areas worth weighing. RTX 3060 12GB averages 33 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 61% faster.
What is the main difference between the GTX 660 and the RTX 3060 12GB?
RTX 3060 12GB averages 33 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 61% faster. GTX 660 draws less power (140W vs 170W).
Which is better value?
RTX 3060 12GB delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the GTX 660 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise. Choose the RTX 3060 12GB if you game at 1440p.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.