Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3060 has managed to maintain its popularity in the mid-range graphics card market, even after almost four years since its initial release. Despite the advancements brought by the Ada Lovelace architecture, the RTX 3060 continues to be favored by gamers. This enduring appeal has prompted third-party vendors to keep producing new models of the RTX 3060, offering lower prices thanks to a steady supply of chips from Nvidia.
The Commitment to Supply
According to a report by Videocardz, Nvidia has committed to shipping RTX 3060 chips until at least the first quarter of next year. This decision is not surprising considering the ongoing demand for the mid-range card. In contrast, the higher-priced RTX 40-series has faced criticism for its cost, with the RTX 4060 not offering significant performance improvements over its predecessor. The RTX 3060, with an original launch price of $329, faced challenges during the pandemic when PC components were generally more expensive. However, the current market offers RTX 3060 models priced as low as $289 on platforms like Amazon.
The minimal $11 difference between the RTX 3060 and the newer RTX 4060 raises questions about why third-party vendors are still interested in developing new models using the older chip. One possible explanation is that Nvidia is offering the old Ampere GPUs at an enticing price, making it a worthwhile investment for board partners. Additionally, competition from AMD’s last-gen Radeon RX 6000 cards, particularly the RX 6600 and RX 6700 XT, has urged Nvidia to lower the price of the RTX 3060. With the RX 6600 priced around $190 and the RX 6700 XT around $310, an RTX 3060 priced at $260 would likely be well-received by consumers.
Another factor contributing to the extended lifespan of the RTX 3060 is the absence of the RTX 4050. Currently, the lowest-tier Ada Lovelace desktop card available is the RTX 4060, which shares the same GPU (AD107) as the laptop RTX 4050. The mobile RTX 4050 features fewer shaders, half the L2 cache, and a reduced memory controller, resulting in a 96-bit memory bus and 6GB of VRAM. If Nvidia were to release a desktop version of the RTX 4050, priced between $200 and $240 using the same chip, it would offer minimal performance gains over the old RTX 3050 unless significant clock speed improvements were implemented. Consequently, a cost-effective RTX 3060 solves this problem by repurposing the AD107 chips for the RTX 4060, laptop RTX 4050, and RTX 2000 workstation products. This allows board partners to create new and innovative models for various markets.
A Versatile Graphics Card
While the RTX 3060 may lack features like DLSS with Frame Generation, it remains a reliable and capable graphics card. Users can utilize FSR or DLSS upscaling to achieve higher frame rates or enhance graphical fidelity. The RTX 3060 excels in 1080p gaming, making it a popular choice among gamers. Although it may not have the longevity to last another four years, it will be intriguing to see if the RTX 3060 continues to be a topic of discussion in the coming year.
Despite the emergence of newer technologies and architecture, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 continues to captivate gamers and enjoy strong demand in the market. Nvidia’s commitment to supplying RTX 3060 chips, the appeal of the lower pricing offered by the older Ampere GPUs, the competition from AMD, and the absence of the RTX 4050 have all contributed to the sustained popularity of the RTX 3060. It remains a reliable and capable graphics card that excels in 1080p gaming, making it a preferred choice for many gamers.
Leave a Reply