Quick answer
The RTX 3060 12GB is the faster card: about 36% ahead of the GTX 1660 Super in our gaming index (score 34 vs 25), or about 51% more FPS at 1440p high. The RTX 3060 12GB has more VRAM (12GB vs 6GB). The GTX 1660 Super draws less power (125W vs 170W).
A side-by-side look at the GeForce GTX 1660 Super and the GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) using the specs from each maker and ComputingSkill’s gaming scores, the same numbers our calculators and tier list use. Prices change too often to compare here, so check current prices against the performance gap below.
Specs Side by Side
| GTX 1660 Super | RTX 3060 12GB | |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| VRAM | 6GB GDDR6 | 12GB GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Boost clock | 1785 MHz | 1777 MHz |
| Shaders | 1,408 CUDA Cores | 3,584 CUDA Cores |
| Board power | 125W | 170W |
| Maker’s recommended PSU | 450W | 550W |
| Upscaling / frame generation | No DLSS; FSR 3 upscaling and frame generation work in games that offer them | DLSS upscaling (no DLSS Frame Generation; FSR 3 frame generation works in games that offer it) |
| Released | 2019 | 2021 |
| Gaming score (tier) | 25 (D) | 34 (C) |
Specs: GTX 1660 Super official page and RTX 3060 12GB official page. Scores are ComputingSkill’s gaming index, positioned from publicly reported review averages, not our own benchmarks (methodology).
Gaming Performance
Estimated average FPS in a typical AAA game, from the FPS Calculator’s formula, with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D so the cards are the limit. * marks a figure held back by the CPU. Ray tracing, upscaling and frame generation are not included.
| Resolution, settings | GTX 1660 Super | RTX 3060 12GB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p, high | 63 | 85 | RTX 3060 12GB +36% |
| 1440p, high | 38 | 58 | RTX 3060 12GB +51% |
| 4K, high | 20 | 36 | RTX 3060 12GB +81% |
| 1080p, ultra | 45 | 68 | RTX 3060 12GB +51% |
| 1440p, ultra | 27 | 46 | RTX 3060 12GB +70% |
| 4K, ultra | 16 | 26 | RTX 3060 12GB +63% |
VRAM
GTX 1660 Super: 6GB of VRAM is enough for high (not ultra) textures at 1080p and below the 12GB our VRAM rule asks for at 1440p and 4K high settings, so expect to lower texture quality there.
RTX 3060 12GB: 12GB of VRAM is enough for ultra textures at 1080p and 1440p and enough for high (not ultra) textures at 4K.
With Your CPU
A faster card only pays off when your CPU can feed it. Here is each card with common processors in our bottleneck engine (typical AAA game, high settings). “GPU-limited” is normal; a CPU % is how much of the card goes unused.
| CPU | GTX 1660 Super | RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Core i3-12100F | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Ryzen 5 5600 | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Core i5-12400F | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Ryzen 5 7600 | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Core i5-14600K | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
Power and PSU
With a Ryzen 5 7600, the PSU Calculator recommends 450W for a PC with the GTX 1660 Super and 550W with the RTX 3060 12GB. The makers’ own recommendations are 450W and 550W.
Which Should You Buy?
- Buy the RTX 3060 12GB for more performance: about 36% higher in our index. It is worth it if the price difference is smaller than that.
- The GTX 1660 Super makes sense when it costs clearly less, or when its other strengths below matter more to you.
- For 1440p, 4K or keeping the card for years, the RTX 3060 12GB’s extra VRAM is the safer choice.
- Features differ: the GTX 1660 Super offers no DLSS; FSR 3 upscaling and frame generation work in games that offer them; the RTX 3060 12GB offers DLSS upscaling (no DLSS Frame Generation; FSR 3 frame generation works in games that offer it).
- Not sure your CPU keeps up? Check your exact pair in the PC Bottleneck Calculator.
More comparisons: RTX 3060 12GB vs RX 6600, RTX 3060 12GB vs RTX 4060 and RTX 2060 6GB vs RTX 3060 12GB. Every card ranked: GPU tier list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GTX 1660 Super better than the RTX 3060 12GB?
For raw gaming performance the RTX 3060 12GB is about 36% faster (score 34 vs 25).
Which is better for 1440p, the GTX 1660 Super or the RTX 3060 12GB?
At 1440p high the GTX 1660 Super averages about 38 FPS and the RTX 3060 12GB about 58 FPS in a typical AAA game with a fast CPU. The RTX 3060 12GB has more VRAM headroom there.
Which uses less power?
The GTX 1660 Super (125W board power vs 170W).