ASUS launches new GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB Series Graphics Cards
ROG Strix, TUF Gaming and ASUS Dual models unleash the power of NVIDIA® Ampere architecture with dynamic designs
KEY POINTS
- ASUS GeForce RTX™ 3060 12 GB series debuts with enhanced designs that complement second-generation NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs.
- ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB graphics cards offer exceptional power delivery and superior cooling technology.
- TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB graphics cards deliver exemplary thermal performance and durability.
- ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB graphics cards provide incredible performance for compact builds.
ASUS today launched new ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, and ASUS Dual graphics cards that feature the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB GPU. The lineup marks an expanded offering of the NVIDIA Ampere architecture, formerly featured in upmarket GPUs, and each graphics card brings out the best of the latest NVIDIA chipset with next-level thermal solutions, enhanced PCBs and robust power designs.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB GPU
With its efficient, high-performance architecture and the second generation of NVIDIA RTX™ platform, the GeForce® RTX 3060 brings amazing hardware ray-tracing capabilities and support for NVIDIA DLSS and other technologies, and is priced starting at $329.
Like all RTX 30 series GPUs, the RTX 3060 supports the trifecta of GeForce gaming innovations ― NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex and NVIDIA Broadcast ― which accelerate performance and enhance image quality. Together with real-time ray tracing, these technologies are the foundation of the GeForce gaming platform, which brings unparalleled performance and features to games and gamers everywhere.
ROG Strix
From top to bottom, ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB graphics cards deliver powerful thermal designs and are optimized for the dynamic NVIDIA Ampere architecture.
A shroud with metal accents encompasses a trio of fans featuring the cutting-edge ASUS Axial-tech fan design: a more compact fan hub allows for longer fan blades, and full-height barrier rings provide boosted static pressure to pump air through the heatsink fins and onto the GPU heat spreader. A reversal of the center fan’s rotational direction lessens turbulence to enhance airflow efficiency. The fans and top of the graphics card are also illuminated by an addressable RGB element that can be customized with Armoury Crate software.
A large heatsink that fills most of the card’s 2.7-slot footprint was designed to leverage the increased airflow. To get heat up off the die and into the heatsink array, MaxContact technology has been utilized to polish the surface of the heat spreader and improve smoothness at the microscopic level. The extra flatness allows for better contact with the die for enhanced thermal transfer.
In addition to an enhanced cooling array, Super Alloy Power II components, including top-shelf capacitors, chokes and power stages, effortlessly deliver hundreds of watts at a millisecond’s notice. The card’s components are soldered to the PCB using ASUS-exclusive Auto-Extreme Technology to ensure precise joints and that each card meets rigorous ROG specifications for reliability.
Also included are FanConnect II headers that allow PWM fans to be tuned based on CPU and GPU temperatures, providing extra intake or exhaust for demanding 3D tasks and compute workloads. Builders looking for a quick and simple way to adjust their card’s default fan speeds can flick an onboard Dual BIOS switch to choose between “performance” and “quiet” profiles, without additional software. Another ease-of-use feature is an onboard voltage-sensing circuit that monitors PSU rail voltage. The circuit is fast enough to catch any transients that result in the rail voltage dropping too low. If that happens, a red LED will light up to indicate a power supply issue, making it easier to debug the source of crashes during gameplay.
Flipping the card around reveals more design improvements. For enhanced heat dissipation, a wide backplate vent and shortened PCB allow hot air to escape towards chassis exhaust fans instead of being recycled back into the cooler. Stainless steel is used for the I/O bracket to protect ports and provide a more secure mount. To top it off, an ROG logo with addressable RGB backlighting adds flair.
TUF Gaming: Built TUF
TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB graphics cards provide exceptionally robust power and cooling. An all-metal shroud houses three powerful Axial-tech fans that utilize durable dual ball fan bearings. Fan rotation has been optimized for reduced turbulence, and a stop mode brings all three fans to a halt at low temperatures. In line with the TUF Gaming legacy, components are selected based on their durability and performance. In addition to top-shelf chokes and MOSFETs, capacitors with military-grade certification make TUF Gaming stand tall amongst the competition. A manufacturing process employing Auto-Extreme Technology ensures components are placed and attached with high precision, and each card is subjected to a grueling 144-hour validation trial to ensure flawless performance when it counts.
Most of the rear is swathed in a protective metal backplate that prominently features a wide vent to prevent heat buildup. Beneath the GPU, a bracket provides consistent mounting pressure between the die and heat spreader, and the card’s I/O bracket is forged from stainless steel to protect ports and provide a more secure mount. A conveniently placed Dual BIOS switch allows customization of the card’s default performance profile without software.
ASUS Dual: 2X Fans, 2X Fun
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB delivers the ultimate combination of dynamic thermal performance and broad compatibility, making it the perfect choice for small-form-factor builds.
A sleek shroud surrounds two Axial-tech fans that are designed to maximize airflow through the large heatsink, and 0 dB technology automatically brings the fans to a halt at lower temperatures. The ASUS Dual graphics card is 20 cm long and fits into a 2-slot design, allowing its excellent thermal performance to be leveraged for more compact builds.
Auto-Extreme Technology enables components to be mounted and soldered to the PCB with greater precision and reliability, and these are protected by the structural rigidity and durability of an aluminum backplate and stainless steel I/O bracket. The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB graphics card gives gamers with small-form-factor builds the exceptional thermal performance they need for extended AAA gaming sessions.
