NVIDIA to Discontinue GeForce RTX 3060
8/03/2024NVIDIA to Discontinue GeForce RTX 3060: What PC Gamers Need to Know
NVIDIA has announced the discontinuation of its popular GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, marking the end of an era for one of the most beloved GPUs among gamers. According to reports from Board Channels, NVIDIA has informed major board partners, including Colorful and Palit, that this is their last chance to place orders for the RTX 3060 series.
Impact on the Market
The market impact of this decision will not be immediate. The final orders will take months to fulfill, as they are sent in batches. Even after the RTX 3060 is discontinued, NVIDIA will continue to ship existing orders to partners, who will then distribute the cards to retailers. Therefore, the actual market effect may take several months to become noticeable.
The Legacy of the GeForce RTX 3060
Launched in February 2021, the GeForce RTX 3060 quickly became a favorite among gamers. According to the latest Steam Survey, the RTX 3060 holds a 5.9% share among all gamers who participated in the survey, making it the most popular GPU on the platform. The RTX 3060, equipped with 12GB of VRAM, was a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the RTX 2060. NVIDIA later introduced an 8GB variant as a more affordable alternative.
Technical Specifications
The RTX 3060 is based on NVIDIA’s GA106 “Ampere” graphics processor, featuring 3,584 CUDA cores and a boost clock of 1,770 MHz. It offers 12GB of GDDR6 memory with a 192-bit memory bus, providing a bandwidth of 360 GB/s. The card has a TDP of 170W, making it a power-efficient choice for mid-range gaming.
| Model | Launch Date | GPU | CUDA Cores | Boost Clock | Memory | Memory Bus | Memory Speed | Bandwidth | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 3060 | February 2021 | GA106-300/302 | 3,584 | 1,770 MHz | 12GB G6 | 192-bit | 15 Gbps | 360 GB/s | 170W |
| GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | October 2022 | GA106-302 | 3,584 | 1,770 MHz | 8GB G6 | 128-bit | 15 Gbps | 240 GB/s | 170W |
Future of NVIDIA’s GPU Lineup
While the RTX 3060 is being phased out, there is no official word yet on the discontinuation of other RTX 30 series models. However, the introduction of the RTX 4060 series suggests that NVIDIA is shifting its focus to newer, more advanced GPUs.
Conclusion
The discontinuation of the GeForce RTX 3060 marks a significant shift in NVIDIA’s product lineup. Gamers who have relied on this GPU for its excellent performance and value will need to look towards newer models in the RTX 40 series. As the market adjusts to this change, it will be interesting to see how the gaming community adapts.
For more updates on NVIDIA’s latest products and market trends, stay tuned!