Gigabyte RTX 3060 Gaming OC Graphics Card Review

Gigabyte is one of the biggest names when it comes to graphics cards, and they also have one of the broadest ranges, offering more affordable models, right up to world-record-setting flagships. However, for today, we'll be focusing on the more wallet-friendly end of their range. However, this isn't the absolutely bare-bones stock model, but the Gaming OC, so it gets a bigger cooler, as well as a factory-overclock, which should ensure that we're getting a bit better performance over the reference model. It features Gigabyte's latest triple-fan Windforce 3X cooler, which we've seen on other Gigabyte RTX models, so we know we're going to get great performance from that, especially since this chipset isn't quite as demanding as some of the other models featuring this cooler. Gigabyte RTX 3060 Gaming OC The RTX 3060 is Nvidia's latest chipset and obviously sits just below the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti. That makes it the new entry-level card for the RTX 3000 series, and it should have an MSRP of £299, obviously moving up as you get into the custom cards such as the Gigabyte Gaming OC, and further into your savings as you get into the more heavily overclocked models with larger coolers, more RGB, etc. What's interesting, however, is that while the 3060 Ti features 4864 CUDA cores at 1.67 GHz, the 3060 only has 3584 CUDA cores, but they're running at 1.78 GHz, and the card now has 12GB of VRAM compared to the 8 GB of the RTX 3060 Ti. How will this impact performance? Well, that's what we're here to find out! Features Ampere Streaming Multiprocessors2nd Generation RT Cores3rd Generation Tensor CoresPowered by GeForce RTX™ 3060Integrated with 12GB GDDR6 192-bit memory interfaceWINDFORCE 3X Cooling System with alternate spinning fansRGB Fusion 2.0Protection metal back plate For in-depth features and specifications, please visit the official Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming OC 12G product page here. What Gigabyte Had to Say "The WINDFORCE 3X cooling system features 3x 80mm unique blade fans, alternate spinning, 3 composite copper heat pipes direct touch GPU, 3D active fan and Screen cooling, which together provide high efficiency heat dissipation. The graphics card uses the better power phase design to allow the MOSFET to operate at lower temperature, and over-temperature protection design and load balancing for each MOSFET, plus the Ultra Durable certified chokes and capacitors, to provide excellent performance and longer system life." - Gigabyte A Closer Look Of course, Gigabyte tends to keep its main series of graphics cards fairly uniform. If you've seen their other models, from the RTX 3060 Ti right up to the RTX 3090 Gaming OC, they all look pretty much identical. That's no bad thing, though, as we know this Windforce 3X cooler can cool the much more expensive and powerful cards, so it should make easy work of the RTX 3060 chipset. Of course, the heatsink configuration under the shroud is adjusted to fit each card, but we still get the same triple fan configuration. This uses their Windforce design that has the central fan spin anti-clockwise while the outer fans spin clockwise. This creates a bigger vortex of air even at lower RPM, helping cooler the card even further. Airflow around the card is excellent, with lots of clearance on all sides for heat exhaust. You can also see the heatsink in three parts, bridged by 7 large copper heat pipes and their Direct Touch copper plate design. The card draws power from a single 8-pin PSU header, which is more than enough for this more modest chipset, and it's a lot more efficient too, so less power isn't always what it seems these days. The card reaps a huge benefit from a massive backplate, offering protection for the PCB and providing more passive cooling. What I do love, however, is that big cut-out, allowing the card to push huge amounts of heat up and away from the card. The display connections offer up two HDMI and to DisplayPorts. I like this design, as so often you only get a single HDMI, which feels more balanced. Finally, we also have a little touch of RGB, with the logo and a line of lighting under it on the card's side. It's pretty minimal, but honestly, that's more than enough for me! How We Test We continue to update our testing methods around once per year. As such, we re-test older hardware to reflect changes over time. These can be driver updates, Windows updates, game patches, and more; all of which have an impact on performance figures. Furthermore, we update our test bench to newer and more relevant hardware. This means that our new reviews aren’t always comparable to those of older reviews, so please compare the testing methodology on older reviews should you be trying to compare them with newer ones. RED results indicate a new high-score. Replicate Our Results When it comes to our benchmarks in our reviews, the benchmarks are pretty self-explanatory and kept as simple as possible, although there are a few exceptions. Remember that your choice of a graphics card, CPU, the silicon lottery, and other factors can yield different numbers, and there’s always a margin for error when using any software. Links are provided below, as well as the settings we use. We encourage you to not just look at how one product compares to any other, but how it compares to your own. If you’re looking to build a new system, you should benchmark your current PC using the benchmarks available to you. You should then look at the percentage improvement from your current hardware to the hardware tested here to give you a ballpark figure of how much of an upgrade this will provide you with. Graphics Card Test System MotherboardASUS Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi)ProcessorAMD Ryzen 9 3900XRAMTEAMGroup DarkZa 16GB 3600MHz (2x8GB)CPU CoolerNoctua NH-D15SPower SupplyPhanteks Revolt Pro 850StorageSeagate FireCuda 520 2TBChassisOpen BenchtableMonitorDell UP3218KOSWindows 10 Pro Version 2004 Additional Hardware Killawatt style electricity usage meter wall plugPrecision Gold N05CC Decibel meter Gaming To gauge performance levels which are easily reproduced time after time, by both ourselves and our readers, we now stick strictly to games default profiles. We now use the “High” profiles for all games or their respective equivalent at all resolutions. V-Sync is always disabled in our testing, as are FreeSync and G-Sync technologies or similar. Graphics card power usage is set to optimised or balance, and the system power mode set to High Performance within Windows and the available GPU driver software. Identical settings are used for all resolutions unless otherwise stated. Games Watch Dogs LegionDirt 5Assassin's Creed: ValhallaGodfallShadow of the Tomb RaiderHorizon Zero DawnFinal Fantasy XVBorderlands 3Metro ExodusControlFarCry New DawnGhost Recon BreakpointWolfenstein Youngblood Resolutions 1080p (Full HD)1440p (2K)2160p (4K)4320p (8K) Some tests will also include features such as Nvidia DLSS and Ray Tracing. However, these will be clearly labelled and may only appear in reviews for graphics cards that support those features. 8K testing will only appear in reviews of flagship cards that we consider capable. Software Used 3DMark Fire Strike (download)FireStrikeFireStrike UltraPort Royal DXRTimeSpyTimeSpy ExtremeUnigine Superposition (download)4K Optimised BenchmarkHWMonitor (download)GPU-Z (download)MSI Afterburner (download) Noise Everyone has a reasonable noise level preference when it comes to components on a computer. Some can handle all fans at 100% load to keep temperatures down; some want an entirely silent computer. To accurately gauge the noise output of a graphics card, we position a Precision Gold N05CC one meter above our open-air test bench and take an average reading at idle and load. Power Consumption We take power readings during the idle state with no background applications running. Then again at 50% completion of the Unigine Superposition benchmark, using the average as the final published result. Temperatures We take temperature readings after 10 minutes of desktop idle with no background programs running, then take the recorded maximum delivered from Unigine Superposition after a 4K optimised run, confirming the numbers are accurate with HWMonitor. Furthermore, the ambient temperature is always kept +/- 1c from 21c. Synthetic Benchmarks 3DMark FireStrike - 218223DMark FireStrike Ultra - 51753DMark TimeSpy - 88503DMark TimeSpy Extreme - 41923DMark Port Royal (DXR) - 23.82Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised - 6977 3DMark FireStrike 3DMark FireStrike Ultra 3DMark TimeSpy 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised Build a resistance from virtually anyone you see as you hack, infiltrate, and fight to take back a near-future London that is facing its downfall. Welcome to the Resistance. Recruit and play as anyone in the city. Everyone you see has a unique backstory, personality, and skill set. Hack armed drones, deploy spider-bots and take down enemies using an Augmented Reality Cloak. Explore a massive urban open world featuring London’s many iconic landmarks and fun side activities. Take your recruits online and team up with your friends as you complete missions and challenging endgame content. Available now on UPlay. Watch Dogs Legion Performance 1080p Watch Dogs Legion - 951440p Watch Dogs Legion - 722160p Watch Dogs Legion - 43 DIRT 5 is a fun, amplified, off-road racing experience created by Codemasters. Blaze a trail on routes across the world, covering gravel, ice, snow and sand, with a roster of cars ranging from rally icons to trucks, to GT heroes. With a star-studded Career, four-player split-screen, innovative online modes, livery editor and more new features, DIRT 5 is the next generation of extreme racing. Available now on Steam. Dirt 5 Performance 1080p Dirt 5 - 98.41440p Dirt 5 - 79.92160p Dirt 5 - 48.7 Become Eivor, a legendary Viking raider on a quest for glory. Explore England's Dark Ages as you raid your enemies, grow your settlement, and build your political power. • Lead epic Viking raids against Saxon fortresses throughout England.• Dual-wield powerful weapons and relive the visceral fighting style of the Vikings.• Challenge yourself with the most varied collection of enemies ever found in Assassin's Creed.• Shape the growth of your character with every choice you make and carve your path to glory.• Explore a Dark Age open world, from the harsh shores of Norway to the beautiful kingdoms of England.• Personalize your experience by growing your clan's settlement. Available now on UPlay. Assassin's Creed Valhalla Performance 1080p Assassin's Creed Valhalla - 731440p Assassin's Creed Valhalla - 582160p Assassin's Creed Valhalla - 37 Aperion is on the precipice of ruin. You are the last of the Valorian knights, god-like warriors able to equip Valorplates, legendary armor sets that transform wielders into unstoppable masters of melee combat. Tear through foes as you climb through the elemental realms and challenge the mad god, Macros who awaits you at the top. Ascend in Godfall, the first-of-its-kind, looter-slasher, melee action-RPG. Available now on EPIC. Godfall Performance 1080p Godfall - 86.31440p Godfall - 67.52160p Godfall - 40.4 Experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Available now on Steam. Shadow of the Tomb Raider Performance 1080p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1201440p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 912160p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 52 For the first time, players take control of Noctis's greatest foe in this brand-new episode of FINAL FANTASY XV! Delve into the dark tale of scorned saviour Ardyn Lucis Caelum and unravel the secrets surrounding his mysterious past. Available now on Steam. Final Fantasy XV Performance 1080p Final Fantasy XV - 90721440p Final Fantasy XV - 67212160p Final Fantasy XV - 4011 Experience Aloy’s entire legendary quest to unravel the mysteries of a world ruled by deadly Machines. An outcast from her tribe, the young hunter fights to uncover her past, discover her destiny… and stop a catastrophic threat to the future. Unleash devastating, tactical attacks against unique Machines and rival tribes as you explore an open world teeming with wildlife and danger. Horizon Zero Dawn is a multi-award-winning action role-playing game – and this Complete Edition for PC includes the huge expansion The Frozen Wilds, featuring new lands, skills, weapons and Machines. Available now on Steam. Horizon Zero Dawn Performance 1080p Horizon Zero Dawn - 1091440p Horizon Zero Dawn - 792160p Horizon Zero Dawn - 43 The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and a mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four new Vault Hunters. Play solo or with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy. At the hard edge of the galaxy lies a group of planets ruthlessly exploited by militarized corporations. Brimming with loot and violence, this is your home—the Borderlands. Now, a crazed cult known as The Children of the Vault has emerged and is spreading like an interstellar plague. Play solo or co-op as one of four unique Vault Hunters, score loads of loot and save the galaxy from this fanatical threat. Available now on Epic Games Store. Borderlands 3 Performance 1080p Borderlands 3 - 97.041440p Borderlands 3 - 70.182160p Borderlands 3 - 37.49 Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first-person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created. Flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet. Explore the Russian wilderness in vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter. Available now on Epic Game Store. Metro Exodus Performance 1080p Metro Exodus - 82.731440p Metro Exodus - 63.62160p Metro Exodus - 38.41 A corruptive presence has invaded the Federal Bureau of Control…Only you have the power to stop it. The world is now your weapon in an epic fight to annihilate an ominous enemy through deep and unpredictable environments. Containment has failed, humanity is at stake. Will you regain control? Winner of over 80 awards, Control is a visually stunning third-person action-adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Blending open-ended environments with the signature world-building and storytelling of renowned developer, Remedy Entertainment, Control presents an expansive and intensely gratifying gameplay experience. Available now on Steam. Control Performance 1080p Control - 87.941440p Control - 57.0552160p Control - 28.28 Seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe, civilization re-emerges from the chaos to find a world dramatically changed. In Hope County, Montana, the remaining populace has gathered into different groups, each with their own rules for survival. In this new world order, the vicious Highwaymen, led by twin sisters Mickey and Lou, travel from place to place bleeding people dry of all available resources. As the Survivors try to defend their lands against the Highwaymen's relentless onslaught, it's up to you to come to their aid and lead the fight. In the latest instalment of the award-winning Far Cry franchise, you are the last line of defence in a transformed, post-apocalyptic Hope County. Help the community of Survivors grow stronger, craft a makeshift arsenal through Turf Wars and cross-country Expeditions, and form unexpected alliances to fight for survival in a dangerous new frontier. Available now on UPlay. Far Cry New Dawn Performance 1080p Far Cry New Dawn - 1161440p Far Cry New Dawn - 982160p Far Cry New Dawn - 55 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint puts you in the boots of the Ghosts, an Elite US Special Operations Unit stranded behind enemy lines. This time there is no briefing. All contact has been lost with Auroa. This archipelago is home to Skell Technology, a high-tech company. You are sent there with your unit for a recon mission, but your helicopters are shot down: Skell Tech has fallen into the wrong hands. The Wolves, a lethal ex-US military unit gone rogue, have taken over the island. Led by your ex-brother-in-arms, Colonel Cole D. Walker, they have reprogrammed Skell’s drones into killing machines and are ready to use them, no matter the casualties. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a military shooter set in a diverse, hostile, and mysterious open world that you can play entirely solo or in four-player co-op. Injured, without support, and hunted down by ex-Ghosts, you must fight to survive while lost in Auroa. Choose the right alliances and decide how to take down your toughest enemy. Available now on UPLAY. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint 1080p Breakpoint - 1481440p Breakpoint - 1172160p Breakpoint - 70 Nineteen years after the events of Wolfenstein II, BJ Blazkowicz has disappeared after a mission into Nazi-occupied Paris. Now, after years of training from their battle-hardened father, BJ’s twin daughters, Jess and Soph Blazkowicz, are forced into action. Team up with a friend or play alone. Level up, explore, and complete missions to unlock new abilities, weapons, gadgets, cosmetics, and more to complement your playstyle and customize your appearance. Wolfenstein: Youngblood features the most open-ended Wolfenstein experience to date. From a new base of operations located deep in the heart of the Paris catacombs, plan how and when to attack and dismantle the Nazi regime. Available now on Steam. Wolfenstein Youngblood Performance 1080p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 2391440p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 1522160p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 84 Control Ray Tracing - 32.975/17.196/50.292Dirt 5 RT - 30.8Metro Exodus RT - 24.1/45.64/35.74Shadow of the Tomb Raider RT Shadows - 60/30Watch Dogs Legion RT - 63/20/85 Control Dirt 5 Metro Exodus Shadow of the Tomb Raider Watch Dogs Legion Power Consumption Temperatures Acoustics How Much Does It Cost? Of course, during this continued pandemic, post-Brexit world, the supply of these graphics cards is going to be limited. It will improve in time, but for now, there are less GPUs being manufactured due to complications in the component supply chain. To add to that, consumer demand is higher than ever, so when the stock does land, it gets snapped up. Be patient, and may luck be on your side when shopping for something closer to MSRP. Unfortunately, that is the next issue, we know the MSRP of this card is closer to £300, but even before launch, I'm writing this knowing that the prices will be higher right out the gate. This card will be launching with a store price that matches the RTX 3070 at its launch... If you have a decent 1000 or 2000 series Nvidia GPU, this might not be the cost vs performance upgrade you were looking for. However, if you're building a new PC, or upgrading from something much older, then perhaps that pill won't be so hard to swallow. Overview Gigabyte has crafted an incredible graphics card here, and what I really didn't expect is that it would go head to head with the much more expensive and more heavily engineered MSI RTX 3060 Gaming X Trio we're also testing this week. In most benchmarks, it actually performed better by a tiny fraction. Admittedly, the performance is so close, it's basically a photo finish in every benchmark. However, that just shows how well-refined Gigabyte have got their coolers; it's able to max out this card with minimal effort. Build Quality Gigabyte "only" have a single 8-pin PSU header on this card, vs the dual 8-pin of the MSI card. However, both cards still drew nearly identical levels of power, so clearly, one is enough. Gigabyte may not change their cooler design very often, but that's for a good reason. They've got a seriously well dialled-in formula and design, we know this cooler can cool a more powerful RTX card, so it made light work of the RTX 3060. Temperatures never exceeded 64c, which is nothing for a GPU that could likely sit at 80c without cause for concern. Plus, it was just 42.9 dBa, so noise levels aren't a concern either. The cooler looks great, the shroud feels well made, and the addition of a good quality backplate make this more affordable model feel just as premium as any other. Should I Buy One? This really is a tricky one, as it may not be the most powerful GPU, but it could be the entry point for a lot of new PC gamers right now. Fewer cores but faster speeds, combined with more VRAM, makes for pretty decent performance, and even gaming at 4K achievable at this price range now. If you can find stock, this will be one of the more affordable RTX 3060's, but as we've seen in our benchmarks, it's just as fast as the more expensive models. Gigabyte RTX 3060 Gaming OC Graphics Card Review