Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB Re-Release Arrives in Europe, But At What Cost?

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 12GB graphics card has re-entered production, with new units now available at European retailers. However, the revived Ampere-era GPU is failing to offer a compelling value proposition due to its pricing.

Computerbase first reported on the renewed manufacturing, and a check of German retailer Mindfactory confirmed the availability of the RTX 3060. Currently, the retailer lists a single Asus model for €338.99, which converts to approximately £291.86 or $386.27. This price point places the RTX 3060 in a difficult position when compared to contemporary offerings.

For a similar or lesser cost, consumers can purchase newer generation graphics cards that offer superior performance. In the US, for instance, the budget for an RTX 3060 could secure an RTX 4060 Ti 8GB or an RTX 4060 8GB, both of which significantly outperform the RTX 3060 in gaming benchmarks. These newer Blackwell GPUs feature more shader units, increased cache, and greater memory bandwidth compared to the older Ampere chip. Additionally, they support advanced features like DLSS 4.5.

While the RTX 3060 omits DLSS Frame Generation and possesses weaker Tensor and RT cores than its successors, its primary distinguishing feature remains its 12GB of VRAM. In specific gaming scenarios, this larger memory buffer can provide an advantage. However, the performance uplift offered by the newer RTX 40-series cards is substantial.

For example, in Metro Exodus Enhanced at 1080p Ultra settings, the RTX 4060 delivered an average frame rate of 72 fps with 1% lows at 46 fps. In contrast, the RTX 3060 achieved 58 fps average and 35 fps for 1% lows. A more recent comparison with an RTX 4060 showed an average frame rate of 87 fps and 1% lows of 47 fps, even with early driver issues. Swapping to an RTX 4060 Ti 8GB could yield an average frame rate increase of up to 74% over the RTX 3060 in the same title. Even an RTX 4050 can offer faster performance in some titles.

Despite the RTX 3060's advantage in VRAM capacity, its resurgence does not align with current market value. The elevated price makes it an unappealing option for budget-conscious PC builders. Those who genuinely require more VRAM than is offered by mainstream new cards might find alternatives like Intel's Arc B570 graphics card, which offers 10GB of VRAM for around $250, a more sensible, albeit imperfect, choice.