MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB review

    The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is a bit of a strange case. Actually, there is nothing particularly wrong with this GPU – the strange thing is, when the GeForce RTX 3080 10GB debuted, the green company was ensuring everyone that 10GB video memory is just fine even for 4K gaming. Some months later, they released this mid-range GPU with 12GB of VRAM buffer which is more than you got with the RTX 3070 Ti or even with the RTX 3030 10GB.

    On the other hand, the memory configuration is tied with the memory bus, and in this scenario, the 12GB memory option sounds like a logical choice for a 192-bit bus (the other possible variant is 6GB VRAM which should be extremely too low for some of today’s games).

    So, we got a mid-range GPU that has a bigger VRAM buffer compared to its bigger sibling – the RTX 3060 Ti 8GB. However, even the competition from the red team (AMD Radeon RX 6600 and Radeon 6600 XT) offers 8GB of video memory as well. If we put the still-not-normalized GPU pricing aside, the RTX 3060 12GB looks like a decent mid-range video card, at least on paper.

    For today’s review, we got the MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB for testing – this one feature a massive dual-fan cooling solution (for a GPU of this caliber), a metal backplate, it doesn’t come with a million glowing RGBs, and we think this one should be a near-silent product given our previous experience with the MSI RTX 3060 Ti GAMING X OC which has a similar cooling design.

    You can check the current price of MSI RTX 3060 12GB Gaming X here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

    Contents


    Specs Sheet

     

     MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB
    ArchitectureAmpere
    GPU chipGA106
    Shader units3584
    ROPs48
    TMUs112
    Transistors12000M
    Base Clock (MHz)1320
    Boost clock (MHz)1837
    Memory clock (MHz)1875
    Memory size (MB)12288
    Memory typeGDDR6
    Memory bus width (bit)192
    Default board power limit170W
    Max board power limit180W
    Power Connectors8-pin + 6-pin
    Recommended PSU550W
    Dimensions276 x 131 x 51 mm
    Weight996g
    I/O3x Display Port v1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1
    Max Resolution7680×4320
    DirectX version12.2
    Technology8nm
    RTX capabilitiesYes
    Release date02.2021

    Test Configuration

    CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K
    Motherboard: MSI MPG Z690 Carbon
    RAM: 2x16GB DDR5 G.SKILL Trident Z5 6000MHz CL36
    Power Supply: EVGA P+ 1300W
    Cooling: COUGAR AQUA 360
    Monitor: LG 43UN700-B
    Case: Open test bench

    Software

    OS: Windows 11 x64 with the latest updates
    Drivers: NVIDIA 516.59 drivers

    Drivers

    The GPU drivers for the MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB can be found in the following link:
    https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/drivers/

    What’s in the box?

    As we said in the introduction, this video card looks almost the same as the MSI RTX 3060 Ti GAMING X OC. The box is the same, the same goes for the accessories and for the overall look of the GPU. The package weighs 1567 grams while the GPU weight is a bit below one kilo – 996 grams. The box is super sturdy and inside of it, the GPU is well-secured as well.


    Design and looks

    No surprises here, this is a typical MSI design and this cooler can be found in some other video cards from the same brand. Speaking of which, the GPU is 276 mm long and it should fit with ease in most modern ATX and mATX cases. The video card takes 2.5 slots so it can possibly block one PCIe slot depending on what motherboard you have.

    The pair of fans is called TORX FAN 4.0 and it’s their latest and greatest version which in theory should be better compared to the previous variants in terms of cooling. Aside from that, the fans look good and modern while the shroud around them is made from plastic which doesn’t feel cheap on the touch and it’s sturdy at the same time. Yes, a metal shroud is a rare find these days.

    For powering the graphics card, you have to connect an 8-pin and a 6-pin PCIe cable as well. This sounds like overkill for a GA106-based GPU but it’s weird that the maximum power limit is just 180W – that’s too low for an 8-pin + 6-pin configuration.

    The metal anti-bending strap is here again – it looks good, and it provides some additional reinforcement to the overall sturdiness of the card. The backplate is made of metal and it has some cut-outs so the hot air can be dissipated more quickly.


    Synthetic benchmarks, BIOS, and overclock

    So, let’s test the GPUs’ raw performance with the aid of some popular benchmarks like 3DMark Fire Strike, 3DMark Time Spy, and Unigine Superposition. Let’s the stock results.

    Now, let’s see the OC results.

    3Dmark Fire Strike Graphics Score3Dmark Time Spy Graphics ScoreUnigine SuperpositionBlender
    MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB Stock22516861850882470
    MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB OC24311 (+8%)9415 (+9%)5484 (+8%)2720 (+10%)

    The gain from overclocking is around 9% on average.

    BIOS 

    You can have a look at the BIOS of the GPU and its stock clocks. The RTX 3060 12GB is a more efficient chip compared to the GA104-based RTX 3060 Ti and in our case, the cooler of the MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB is almost the same as the one that can be found on the MSI RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X LHR – this leads to some advantages. The first one is the idle temperature – 32°C is a great result. We will speak about the other pros in a minute.

    As you can see from the BIOS information, the stock power limit is 170W and it can be increased to just 180W – such a shame. Some not-so-premium RTX 3060 12GB from other brands have bigger TGP limits compared to the card that we’re reviewing.

    Overclock
    We’re using Unigine Heaven 4.0 in 4K for monitoring the stock and OC frequencies while testing for stability. Let’s inspect the stock frequencies. The advantage of having such a big cooler on an efficient chip like the GA106 is the temperatures under load as well as the low sound levels coming from the fans. The results are great – 58°C core temperature and 1200 RPM fan speed. This is definitely a ner-silent and cool under load video card.

    We tried some OC as always. Undervolting the GPU to exactly 1.0V is giving us some room for frequency increase. In this scenario, we aren’t lucky enough because the maximum possible GPU core clock is 2055 MHz. Still, the Samsung memory overclocks good – +1250 MHz (8750 MHz effective clock). Overall, the clock frequencies that we were able to reach using this particular GPU are decent. Keep in mind that the core is undervolted and compared to the stock results, the temperature, and the fans rotating speed are the same as the stock ones – 58°C core temperature and 1200 RPM for the fans. No matter the fact that the GPU is faster because of the bumped clocks, the temperatures, and the noise levels are not increased – neat.

    Gaming tests

    StrayHigh (Check settings)
    1080p189 fps
    1440p119 fps
    4K58 fps


     

    Far Cry 6Ultra (Check settings)
    1080p95 fps
    1440p69 fps
    4K39 fps


    Diablo ImmortalV.High (Check settings)
    1080p355 fps

    God Of WarUltra (Check settings)
    1080p78 fps
    1440p60 fps
    4K37 fps

     

    Forza Horizon 5Extreme (Check settings)
    1080p73 fps
    1440p62 fps
    4K44 fps


     

    Days GoneV.High (Check settings)
    1080p109 fps
    1440p75 fps
    4K40 fps


     

    Death StrandingV.High (Check settings)
    1080p132 fps
    1440p96 fps
    4K54 fps

     

    Call Of Duty Warzone (Caldera)Ultra (Check settings)
    1080p116 fps
    1440p84 fps
    4K48 fps


    Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon BreakpointUltra (Check settings)
    1080p99 fps
    1440p79 fps
    4K49 fps


     

    FIFA 22Ultra (Check settings)
    1080p370 fps
    1440p304 fps
    4K200 fps


     

    Resident Evil VillageMax (Check settings)
    1080p201 fps
    1440p130 fps
    4K65 fps


     

     

    Cyberpunk 2077Ultra (Check settings)
    1080p68 fps
    1440p42 fps
    4K18 fps


     

    Cyberpunk 2077 BenchmarkUltra (Check settings)
    1080p68 fps
    1440p42 fps
    4K18 fps


     

    Assassin’s Creed ValhallaUltra (Check settings)
    1080p73 fps
    1440p57 fps
    4K34 fps


     

    eFootball PES 2021High (Check settings)
    1080p236 fps
    1440p154 fps
    4K77 fps


    cs-go-benchmarks

     

    CS:GOMAX (Check settings)
    1080p496 fps
    1440p359 fps
    4K177 fps


     

     

    DOTA 2Ultra (Check settings)
    1080p212 fps
    1440p186 fps
    4K103 fps


    GTA-V-benchmarks

     

    Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5)Ultra (Check settings)
    1080p67 fps
    1440p45 fps
    4K23 fps


     

    For HonorExtreme (Check settings)
    1080p161 fps
    1440p108 fps


    Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six SiegeUltra (Check settings)
    1080p399 fps
    1440p267 fps
    4K137 fps

     

     

    Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)Highest (Check settings)
    1080p86 fps
    1440p56 fps
    4K28 fps

    Doom EternalU.Nightmare (Check settings)
    1080p203 fps
    1440p144 fps
    4K72 fps


     

    Red Dead Redemption 2MAX (Check settings)
    1080p27 fps
    1440p19 fps


     

    Metro ExodusExtreme (Check settings)
    1080p36 fps
    1440p28 fps


     

    Gears 5Ultra (Check settings)
    1080p107 fps
    1440p77 fps
    4K41 fps

     

    Assassin’s Creed OdysseyUltra High (Check settings)
    1080p73 fps
    1440p56 fps
    4K39 fps


     

    HearthstoneHigh (Check settings)
    1080p1201 fps
    1440p1078 fps


     

    World Of Tanks EncoreUltra (Check settings)
    1080p205 fps
    1440p131 fps
    4K65 fps


     

    MinecraftMaximum (Check settings)
    1080p238 fps
    1440p232 fps
    4K234 fps


     

    League Of LegendsV.High (Check settings)
    1080p730 fps
    1440p751 fps


     

    Rocket LeagueH.Quality (Check settings)
    1080p360 fps
    1440p318 fps
    4K169 fps


     

    OverwatchEpic (Check settings)
    1080p225 fps
    1440p153 fps
    4K81 fps




     

    PUBGUltra (Check settings)
    1080p167 fps
    1440p111 fps
    4K58 fps

     

    Borderlands 3Badass (Check settings)
    1080p80 fps
    1440p55 fps
    4K30 fps

     

    Team Fortress 2MAX (Check settings)
    1080p281 fps
    1440p282 fps


     

    Far Cry New DawnUltra (Check settings)
    1080p125 fps
    1440p93 fps

    The Witcher 3Ultra (Check settings)
    1080p113 fps
    1440p84 fps
    4K46 fps


     

    Need For Speed HeatUltra (Check settings)
    1080p117 fps
    1440p86 fps
    4K50 fps


     

    Apex LegendsMAX (Check settings)
    1080p180 fps
    1440p111 fps
    4K68 fps


     

    Battlefield VUltra (Check settings)
    1080p156 fps
    1440p118 fps
    4K65 fps

     

    ARK: Survival EvolvedEpic (Check settings)
    1080p57 fps
    1440p38 fps
    4K20 fps

     

    WarframeHigh (Check settings)
    1080p300 fps
    1440p197 fps


    Temperatures and comfort

    In this test we use 100% on the GPU, monitoring its frequencies and chip temperature.

    30 min Cyberpunk 2077 on 4K Ultra detailsClockCore TemperatureGPU Hot Sport TemperaturePowerFAN RPM
    MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB Stock1819 Mhz61°C71°C169.6W1290 RPM


    Cyberpunk 2077 on 4K and Ultra details is punishing the core clock harder compared to the 1080p resolution – 1819 MHz. However, the core temperature and the noise coming from the GPU are virtually the same across all three resolutions.

    Verdict

    The MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB has enough power for playing on 1080p and 1440p with greatly bumped visuals. Gaming on 4K resolution is possible too with lowered visual quality which depends on the game you’re playing – if the particular title supports DLSS it’s the easiest way to boost your FPS on 2160p resolution (or you can just simply lower the visuals until reaching comfort FPS values). The tested GPU has a good build quality – the card feels solid, it comes with a metal backplate and a metal anti-bending strap that protects the card from damage during installation, and GPU sag isn’t a problem at all. The shroud is plastic but it doesn’t feel cheap and it’s sturdy. The video card isn’t glowing like crazy which may be a con or a pro for some of you depending on your personal preferences.

    Using the MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB as is (ergo, on stock clocks and voltage) is just fine – the GPU is always cool and quiet and it’s hard to hear the fans spinning at all if the video card is fitted in a decent case with some amount of airflow. Overclocking the graphics card isn’t complicated if you have previous experience and the only downside (as always) is the fact that this process takes some time. However, we were pretty pleased with the results that we saw – the performance bump was just 9% but aside from that, the thermals of the GPU and the noise from the fans remained unchanged compared to the stock levels. This is possible thanks to the beefy cooling solution that can be found installed on other more expensive and faster MSI GPUs.

    The MSI RTX 3060 GAMING X 12GB is a product that doesn’t have a lot of cons, the main disadvantage should be the modest TGP limit which can be increased to just 180W while the GPU is configured with one 8-pin and 6-pin power inputs. However, the performance of the card is good and it can be considered as a super budget 4K gaming solution if you don’t mind spending some time tweaking the in-game visual settings or/and using DLSS at the same time.

    You can check the current price of MSI RTX 3060 12GB Gaming X here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

    Pros

    • Nearly silent under heavy load
    • Compact
    • Has a metal backplate
    • Cool and quiet during gaming
    • Idle fan stop
    • Has HDMI 2.1, PCI-Express 4.0, DLSS, and ray tracing
    • 8nm tech process


    Cons

    • 180W TGP is too low
    • Plastic shroud

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