Do you do not forget that time when Nvidia “unlaunched” a product, stating that regardless of being a unbelievable graphics card, it wasn’t named proper?… “Having two GPUs with the identical RTX 4080 designation is complicated.” That is proper, we’re speaking in regards to the “unlaunching” of the 12GB RTX 4080 about two months in the past.
For these of you lower than pace, when Nvidia introduced their newest GeForce 40 sequence, they did so with three merchandise: the flagship RTX 4090, the RTX 4080 16GB and RTX 4080 12GB. The issue was that the 2 RTX 4080 variants had been very totally different and people variations weren’t restricted to reminiscence capability because the naming scheme was hinting.
That is as a result of to be able to lower down the reminiscence capability with out utilizing decrease density chips, you additionally want to scale back the reminiscence bus width. Utilizing totally different silicon that may lead to considerably totally different efficiency was not a great transfer, however this kind of dodgy habits wasn’t new. Nvidia had executed it earlier than, for instance with the DDR4 model of the GeForce GT 1030.
The large mistake was saying the RTX 4080 12GB and that individual anti-consumer transfer to the world within the greatest occasion Nvidia had held in years. Historically how they wish to deal with dodgy product releases is to sneak them out at a later date by way of a silent launch, that means far fewer folks discover and even fewer appear to care.
Effectively, that is precisely what they’ve executed with the 8GB variant of the GeForce RTX 3060. Satirically, they launched this product on October 27, simply 12 days after unlaunching the 12GB 4080 for having a complicated identify.
Though it is true that each the 8GB and 12GB variants of the RTX 3060 are based mostly on the GA106 silicon — so it’s technically the identical GPU — the adjustments nonetheless go properly past an adjustment to reminiscence capability. The reminiscence subsystem of the 8GB mannequin has been drastically lowered, the L2 cache is 50% bigger for the 12GB mannequin as is the bus width. All in all, bandwidth is 61% larger within the authentic RTX 3060 mannequin producing 360 GB/s whereas the “new” 8GB variant has been slashed to only 224 GB/s — the identical bandwidth because the RTX 3050.
Finally, this implies the 8GB RTX 3060 goes to be slower than the 12GB mannequin — and spoiler alert, it is ~15% slower on common — however in some cases we’re seeing margins of over 30%, so it is a large enough deal for us to convey it to your consideration.
One extra observe, Nvidia hasn’t made any official changes to MSRPs, so the 8GB RTX 3060 nonetheless is available in at $330. Trying over at Newegg, we will see that the 12GB RTX 3060 begins at $350, with a variety of fashions obtainable for between $350 and $380. In the meantime, essentially the most inexpensive 8GB variant comes from Inno3D and it begins at $385, although there are some Asus fashions on backorder at $360 and $370. Level is, when it comes to pricing, there is not any distinguishing between the unique 12GB fashions and these new gimped 8GB variations.
In Australia we purchased a Galax mannequin that we bought for a ten% low cost from the unique 12GB model, and also you would possibly suppose, “Effectively that is okay,” nevertheless it’s not. The GeForce RTX 3060 was launched virtually 2 years in the past, everyone seems to be acquainted with the way it performs, and people who aren’t can rapidly seek the advice of the bevvy of on-line benchmarks. In the meantime, this new 8GB mannequin is nowhere to be discovered as there is not a evaluate program, it is as much as reviewers to buy the cardboard and inform customers.
In actual fact, you may not even know there was an 8GB model or just assumed the RTX 3060 solely got here with 8GB of VRAM, simply because the 3060 Ti does. The entice right here is that unsuspecting customers may very well be baited into paying RTX 3060 12GB cash, or very close to so for a product that is considerably slower.
We requested Nvidia for an official response about why the 8GB model was launched and so they merely stated it was to supply clients extra choices. Additionally they acknowledged that the 12GB model was going to stay obtainable in parallel. And simply to be clear, that is an Nvidia sanctioned product and never their companions going rogue, moderately it is doable companions are obligated to provide it.
Nvidia seems to be trying to filter their stock of lower-end Ampere GPUs, and are little doubt eager to maximise income as they achieve this. This additionally permits them to promote faulty GA106 silicon for way over they’d get promoting it as an RTX 3050.
Our situation is in fact that we now have two merchandise referred to as “GeForce RTX 3060” and so they do not ship the identical degree of efficiency and in lots of cases it isn’t even shut. And we’re not speaking about reminiscence certain testing — as in exceeding the 8GB VRAM buffer — we’re speaking about efficiency when remaining properly inside the 8GB buffer.
So let’s check out that, we’ll go over a couple of video games after which present you a 12 sport common. For accumulating these outcomes we used contemporary information with each 12GB and 8GB RTX 3060 playing cards utilizing the newest show drivers. Different GPUs are included for comparability functions.
Benchmarks
Beginning with Cyberpunk 2077, we discover that the 12GB mannequin is 13% quicker at 1080p when in comparison with the brand new 8GB mannequin, not a large distinction nevertheless it’s definitely noteworthy.
That margin grows to 18% at 1440p and now we’re trying a two totally different tiers of efficiency and a noticeably higher gaming expertise with the unique 12GB mannequin.
Shifting on to Dying Mild 2, right here we’ve a sport that’s clearly reminiscence heavy and as such the 8GB mannequin limits the efficiency of the RTX 3060 GPU.
The unique card was a large 35% quicker at 1080p, that is an incredible efficiency distinction for 2 merchandise sharing the identical identify, and it is the identical story at 1440p. In actual fact, right here we go from a really console-like 34fps with the 8GB model to a a lot smoother 46 fps utilizing the unique 3060.
Halo Infinite sees the 12GB mannequin providing 21% larger efficiency at 1080p, going from 63 fps to 76 fps, one other massive efficiency distinction for 2 merchandise that share the identical identify. The margin stays comparable at 1440p, the place the unique 12GB 3060 was 19% quicker.
Horizon Zero Daybreak sees a smaller 16% efficiency enchancment for the 12GB mannequin over the brand new 8GB model, although that margin did develop to twenty% at 1440p.
Each outcomes are dangerous as a double-digit change in efficiency is unacceptable, particularly given the distinction in reminiscence capability performs no function right here.
We’re additionally taking a look at 22% larger efficiency for the 12GB variant in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, as the brand new 8GB mannequin drops efficiency to 85 fps. The margin is comparable at 1440p, the place the 12GB model is 20% quicker, rendering a further 12 fps.
Efficiency Abstract
That is sufficient with the person sport outcomes, you possibly can simply get the concept. On common you possibly can anticipate 17% higher efficiency with the 12GB mannequin at 1080p, however as we noticed that margin might be as excessive as 35%…
It is a comparable story at 1440p, when working inside the 8GB buffer the 12GB mannequin was nonetheless on common 18% quicker because it enjoys considerably extra reminiscence bandwidth.
What We Realized
The brand new 8GB model of the GeForce RTX 3060 is noticeably slower than the unique, and in a variety of cases was considerably slower in our testing. In our opinion this can be a horrible anti-consumer transfer by Nvidia, it serves little greater than to line their pockets whereas deceptive and probably ripping off clients.
It is true that pricing may very well be improved, at which level it may not be dangerous when it comes to worth. In any case, for instance Nvidia drops the worth relative to the 12GB model by 20%, and even 30%, then the 8GB RTX 3060 would begin trying fairly nice when it comes to worth, at the least in comparison with Nvidia’s personal product stack.
We’d agree with that evaluation had it been referred to as, for instance the “GeForce RTX 3060 LE 8GB” one thing that makes it clear to potential consumers this is not your typical RTX 3060. In that case, we would not actually have an issue with this cut-down mannequin and whereas we might nonetheless desire a reputation change fully, we may at the least settle for a extra sincere try at making it clear to consumers that this can be a totally different model.
To reveal simply how tough it’s for the uninitiated to even inform which mannequin they’re shopping for, or that there’s even a unique mannequin, this is the field for our authentic RTX 3060 and the brand new 8GB field…
These working beneath the idea that an RTX 3060 is an RTX 3060 would possibly see an 8GB mannequin promoting for an affordable low cost and suppose they’ve stumbled upon a discount, snap it up, solely to comprehend their discount is kind of a bit slower than it could have been in any other case. And for these none the wiser it simply means you may have executed higher, and probably gone additional between upgrades.
Sadly this kind of habits will proceed until Nvidia faces sufficient backlash from customers and the fanatic neighborhood. We’re at all times going to struggle in opposition to this kind of anti-consumer habits from companies, whether or not or not it’s Nvidia, AMD, Intel, LG, Samsung, MSI, Asus and so forth, many of those firms we have taken to activity previously, and we’ll proceed to take action.
Relaxation assured, if AMD was to tug an identical stunt we might go after them simply as exhausting, very like once we devoted a number of articles to name them out over the plans to axe Zen 3 assist for 300 and 400 sequence motherboards. We had been having none of their excuses, we did not purchase into the technical causes for why they needed to finish assist. Put merely, they misled customers, we went after them, and so they corrected course, and this was made doable due to robust push again from the neighborhood.
We do not anticipate to see the identical factor occur right here with Nvidia, however we have executed our bit, you’ve got now been made conscious of what the 8GB RTX 3060 is, and you realize to keep away from it at present asking costs.