Conclusion
At 4K these video cards require sacrifices in order to maintain 60 FPS averages, this was something we noticed when gathering data for both this review and our last review. What it showed us was that these GeForce RTX 3060 Ti series video cards are meant for that 1440p sweet spot that gamers have long embraced. And at those settings we saw our EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC GAMING compete well given its lower price point. Our lowest average frame rate in pure rasterization titles was 48FPS average in Cyberpunk 2077. This was just a small bit behind our more expensive MSI model which managed 50 fps average in the same scenario.
Our EVGA card was able to consistently outperform our NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super FE throughout our entire test suite. With an overclock we were also able to hover between 2-4% faster than the stock MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GAMING X TRIO. Throughout our test suite this card performed great at 1440p with the exception of Cyberpunk 2077. In this one title I would recommend utilizing DLSS without ray tracing in order to achieve a smooth gaming experience.
Ray Tracing and DLSS
Ray Tracing is becoming more commonplace as the days roll by us. Ampere promises impressive performance gains when it comes to ray tracing and it shows. In titles like Watch Dogs Legions, our mid-range Ampere video card was 16% faster than our high-end Turing card with DLSS on and 13% faster with DLSS off. We would be remiss if we did not take the time to remind you that this is a $459.99 video card beating a card that released at $699.
With Cyberpunk 2077 we saw improvements but simply not enough to recommend utilizing ray tracing. This is a title that really pushes these cards to the limits and it shows. In Wolfenstein: Youngblood we saw our EVGA card manage to perform about 9% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super FE. In Watch Dogs Legions we simply could not utilize ray tracing without enabling DLSS. It’s impressive to see a 46% increase in average FPS just by enabling one feature that barely makes a perceptible impact on visual quality. DLSS is a game changing technology that is allowing mainstream cards to provide an almost high-end experience.
Temperature
Our EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC GAMING manages to stay quiet and cool in its stock configuration. With a maximum gaming temperature of 68c when set up on our open test bench. In a closed case you might see temperatures increase slightly but it would still be nothing to concern yourself with. This low temperature allows the fans to barely kick in, which in turn makes this card almost entirely silent. I would still argue that the MSI model is quieter as it should be given its massive thermal solution.
When you took things a step further with an overclock things were different. First our maximum temperature increased to 72c, not that bad on its face until you remember we had the fans spinning at 100% to obtain this result. While this did allow us to increase clock speeds, its was simply untenable, as the noise was incredibly loud. If you plan on getting this card and overclocking it, be prepared to setup a custom fan curve as you will need it.
Power
The EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC GAMING consumes power as a midrange card should, that is to say, not that much at all. At a total system wattage of 328W it really was not a big deal from a power stand point. According to NVIDIA any user with a decently efficient 600W power supply should be ok. From our testing this looks completely accurate, meaning this card can fit into most system without breaking the power budget. When overclocking, we saw a decent jump in our total system wattage, going from 328W to 369W an 11% increase over stock. This is a 40-watt jump, meaning these +100MHz jumps over stock boost do not come without a cost.
Overclocking
Overclocking this card was a mixed bag, as you may have realized given some of the settings we had to apply. You see, while our clock speeds were respectable, our fan noise was atrocious. The reality is you will struggle to maintain much higher boost clocks than stock without seriously impacting your rooms noise level. This trade off is not worth it in our opinions. If you are looking to overclock then you will need to modify the cooling solution if you don’t want to blow your ears out.
Final Points
In our review we had a great time taking the EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC GAMING for a spin. Even if it has no RGB compared to its bigger brother, the EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 FTW3 ULTRA GAMING. With an MSRP of $459.99 this card lays in the middle of the pack as far as pricing is concerned. This is a slight premium over the Founders Edition models at $399, although initially EVGA had intended for this card to launch at a much closer MSRP of $409.99. Market changes have forced their hand, and we speculate their will be more price increases across most companies as we move further into 2021. That being said, with that $50 dollar premium over a Founders Edition card (If you can find one) you are getting a compact card that allows you a wider variety of compatible cases, a standard 8-pin PCI-E power connector, and EVGA’s amazing warranty and customer service. Many users will find that worth the $50 dollar premium.
Some of us would rather save the money and get roughly equal performance, while others may value silent gaming operation, some of us may enjoy building a sub-8-liter gaming machine, while others want to push more Wattage than they should through the PCB. So, the question about what to buy becomes more about preference and your systems dimensions.
For those that do not enjoy overclocking, but enjoy building powerful compact machines, the EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC GAMING is exactly what you need. While those that enjoy absolute silence and overclocking are bound to get more enjoyment from the MSI model. Normally price would be a big factor here, but the market is so turbulent its hard to even find these devices at MSRP. Consider what type of user you are, then do your best to find that product as close to MSRP as you can.
EVGA created a small GeForce RTX 3060 Ti class video card in order to satisfy those in the community that live or die by small form factor computer cases. In this attempt they have managed to create a video card that not only fits in these more restrictive cases, but performs well without reaching temperatures that one would consider uncomfortable. In all of our tests we saw that our EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC GAMING was always ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super FE, while consistently just behind the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GAMING X TRIO. As for which card to choose? Well, we don’t look to make that decision for you here, but rather to simply give you enough information to make an informed decision.
We rather enjoyed this video card here at the FPS review, it brings big performance to a compact design. Its current $459.99 MSRP is fair and EVGA’s incredible warranty and customer service support make that price easier to swallow. This company is actually honoring the previous price for all customers who were in queue before the adjustment, that’s good customer service. When you add it all together, EVGA is providing a compelling package here and one we are confident recommending.
