NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GA103 Graphics Card 8 GB

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GDDR6X is a graphics card by NVIDIA, launched on October 19th, 2022. Built on the 8 nm process, and based on the GA104 graphics processor, in its GA104-202-A1 variant, the card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate. This ensures that all modern games will run on GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GDDR6X. Additionally, the DirectX 12 Ultimate capability guarantees support for hardware-raytracing, variable-rate shading and more, in upcoming video games. The GA104 graphics processor is a large chip with a die area of 392 mm² and 17,400 million transistors. Unlike the fully unlocked GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, which uses the same GPU but has all 6144 shaders enabled, NVIDIA has disabled some shading units on the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GDDR6X to reach the product’s target shader count. It features 4864 shading units, 152 texture mapping units, and 80 ROPs. Also included are 152 tensor cores which help improve the speed of machine learning applications. The card also has 38 raytracing acceleration cores. NVIDIA has paired 8 GB GDDR6X memory with the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GDDR6X, which are connected using a 256-bit memory interface. The GPU is operating at a frequency of 1410 MHz, which can be boosted up to 1665 MHz, memory is running at 1188 MHz (19 Gbps effective).

Being a dual-slot card, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GDDR6X draws power from 1x 12-pin power connector, with power draw rated at 225 W maximum. Display outputs include: 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GDDR6X is connected to the rest of the system using a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 interface. The card measures 242 mm in length, 112 mm in width, and features a dual-slot cooling solution.

Key Features:

1. Ampere Architecture (GA103 Variant)

• CUDA Cores
  • If built around a partially enabled GA103 die, the card may feature a CUDA core count near or slightly above typical GA104-based 3060 Ti models (~4,864 cores). This can provide robust parallel compute performance for gaming, rendering, and GPU-accelerated applications.
• Second-Generation RT Cores
  • Supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing with improved throughput over first-gen RTX GPUs, enabling advanced lighting, shadows, and reflections in real-time for modern games and 3D visualization.
• Third-Generation Tensor Cores
  • Powers AI-driven features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), providing higher frame rates at elevated resolutions and aiding certain AI/ML tasks for content creators or developers.

2. 8 GB GDDR6 Memory

• Ample VRAM for 1440p
  • 8GB of GDDR6 suits high or ultra settings at 1080p and 1440p gaming, as well as moderate demands in 3D content creation or GPU-based rendering workflows.
• 256-bit or Slightly Modified Interface
  • Depending on how GA103 is cut down, the memory interface could remain 256-bit, delivering bandwidth similar to a standard 3060 Ti, ensuring stable performance for high-fidelity textures.

3. Enhanced Gaming & Content Creation

• Real-Time Ray Tracing
  • Second-gen RT Cores let you enjoy advanced ray-traced visuals, with better performance overhead than earlier Turing GPUs.
• DLSS 2.x
  • Third-gen Tensor Cores accelerate AI upscaling, significantly boosting frame rates at 1440p or even at 4K while preserving image clarity.

4. Thermals and Power Delivery

• Similar TDP to Standard 3060 Ti (~200–220W)
  • The GA103-based card may have a similar or slightly higher TDP, requiring at least a good 550–650W PSU and decent airflow for stable operation.
• Board Partner Cooling
  • Expect multi-fan or hybrid cooling solutions from OEM or partner designs, ensuring stable clocks under load.

5. Connectivity & Display Features

• HDMI 2.1 & DisplayPort 1.4a
  • Supports 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz (with DSC) on compatible displays, aligning with Ampere’s advanced feature set for both gaming and professional uses.
• NVIDIA G-SYNC
  • Eliminates tearing and stuttering, providing smooth, responsive gameplay in tandem with G-SYNC compatible monitors.

Applications:

1. High-Fidelity Gaming
   • 1440p & High Refresh: Capable of running modern AAA games at or near ultra settings with comfortable frame rates, especially when leveraging DLSS.
   • Some 4K Potential: While not a top-tier 4K card, the expanded parallelism in GA103 (if any) plus DLSS can help push decent fps at 4K in many titles.
2. Content Creation
   • 3D Modeling & Rendering: CUDA cores accelerate rendering in tools like Blender or Maya, with ray tracing offering faster previews and final results in certain software.
   • Video Editing: Smooth handling of 1080p/1440p timelines, multi-layer 4K editing, and GPU-accelerated effects in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or After Effects.
3. AI & Compute Acceleration
   • Tensor-Core-Driven AI: Facilitates smaller neural network training, real-time inference, or ML experimentation for developers or students.
   • GPU-Accelerated Analytics: Gains from parallel throughput in data processing libraries (e.g., RAPIDS), beneficial for HPC-lite or big data tasks.
4. Professional Visualization & VR
   • Ray-Traced Rendering: Real-time or near-real-time path tracing in supported design or engineering apps, improving iteration times.
   • VR/AR Simulation: Enough performance to sustain stable frame rates for advanced VR gaming or training scenarios.

Why Choose the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8 GB (GA103)?

1. Potential Performance Edge Over GA104 Models
   • A cut-down GA103 might slightly exceed standard 3060 Ti performance, bridging the gap toward an RTX 3070 without the associated cost or power level.
2. Versatile 8GB GDDR6
   • Balances VRAM capacity for smooth 1440p gaming, multi-layer video editing, or moderate AI tasks while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
3. Ray Tracing & DLSS Capability
   • Enjoy second-gen RT cores for advanced in-game visuals and third-gen Tensor cores for accelerated AI features—both key Ampere benefits.
4. Future-Ready Ampere Features
   • Supports HDMI 2.1, PCIe 4.0, and advanced driver features like NVIDIA Reflex and advanced G-SYNC, extending longevity for next-generation titles and creative software.
5. Efficient, Balanced Performance
   • ~200–220W TDP is manageable on midrange PSUs, ideal for enthusiasts on a budget who need strong performance without the overhead of 3070+ GPUs.