GTX 1080 Ti vs RTX 3060 for Blender
Compare GTX 1080 Ti and RTX 3060 12 GB for Blender Cycles. See benchmark performance, VRAM, power ratings and checked prices side by side. RTX 3060 12 GB leads the Blender benchmark score by 184.3%.
Fastest in Cycles
RTX 3060 12 GB
184% faster than GTX 1080 Ti
Most VRAM
RTX 3060 12 GB
9% more VRAM than GTX 1080 Ti
Lowest power draw
RTX 3060 12 GB
32% lower rating than GTX 1080 Ti
Cheapest
GTX 1080 Ti
33% cheaper than RTX 3060 12 GB
Best value for money
RTX 3060 12 GB
90% better value than GTX 1080 Ti
GPU comparison
Key specifications for Blender rendering.
| Spec | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3060 12 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | $299.99 Checked Oct 19, 2026 | $449.82 Checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Value for money | 2.33 | 4.42 +90% |
| Blender benchmark score | 699.65 | 1,989.05 +184% |
| VRAM | 11 GB Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM | 12 GB Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM+9% |
| System PSU | 600 W Secondary source suggestion | N/A |
| Performance | ||
| CUDA cores | 3,584 | 3,584 |
| Boost clock | 1582 MHz | 1.78 GHz +13% |
| RT cores | N/A | 28 |
| Tensor cores | N/A | 112 |
| Memory | ||
| Memory bandwidth | 484.4 GB/s +35% | 360 GB/s |
| Memory type | GDDR5X | GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 352-bit +83% | 192-bit |
| Memory speed | N/A | 15 Gbps |
| Platform | ||
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| Render support | OptiX, CUDA | OptiX, CUDA |
| TDP | 250 W | 170 W −32% |
| Release year | 2017 | 2021 |
Blender Cycles benchmarks
Estimated seconds / frame Lower is faster
GTX 1080 Ti
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 5 runs
RTX 3060 12 GB
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 101 runs
Junkshop
Monster
Classroom
Which GPU should you choose for Blender?
RTX 3060 12 GB is the stronger Blender rendering pick here based on benchmark score.
Cycles rendering performance
RTX 3060 12 GB leads by 184.3% in the Renderjuice Blender benchmark model (1,989 vs 700). For render-time-first decisions, that is the card to prioritize.
VRAM and scene capacity
RTX 3060 12 GB has more scene headroom with 12 GB of VRAM versus 11 GB on GTX 1080 Ti. That matters most for large environments, dense geometry, high-resolution textures, and less optimized production files.
Power ratings and cooling
RTX 3060 12 GB is the lower-power option at 170 W TDP, compared with 250 W for GTX 1080 Ti. If render speed is close, that can make RTX 3060 12 GB easier to cool and run quietly.
Is the upgrade worthwhile?
RTX 3060 12 GB is both the newer and faster Blender rendering choice here. The main reason to choose GTX 1080 Ti would be price, availability, existing ownership, or a specific workstation requirement.
Comparison summary
RTX 3060 12 GB leads the Blender benchmark score by 184.3%.
Fastest in Cycles: RTX 3060 12 GB 184% faster than GTX 1080 Ti.
Most VRAM: RTX 3060 12 GB 9% more VRAM than GTX 1080 Ti.
Lowest power draw: RTX 3060 12 GB 32% lower rating than GTX 1080 Ti.
Cheapest: GTX 1080 Ti 33% cheaper than RTX 3060 12 GB.
Best value for money: RTX 3060 12 GB 90% better value than GTX 1080 Ti.
GTX 1080 Ti has 11 GB of VRAM, while RTX 3060 12 GB has 12 GB, which matters when scenes, textures, or geometry get heavier.
If you are deciding between these cards for Blender, focus first on Blender benchmark score, VRAM capacity, memory bandwidth, and whether your scenes are likely to benefit more from raw speed or extra memory headroom. The comparison table above keeps those tradeoffs in one place.