I'm upgrading from a GTX 1070 Ti, which has started causing compatibility problems in newer games. Forza Horizon 6 crashes because the card is no longer supported, and I'm worried the same could happen with upcoming games like Gears: E-Day. I mainly play CS2, Hearthstone, and Resident Evil, and I'm planning to try Doom and Clair Obscur. I'm happy with medium or even low settings as long as the games run smoothly, but I'd like the new card to last as long as possible. My options are a refurbished RTX 3060 12GB for about $230 or a new 9060 XT 16GB for around $440. Is the extra cost worthwhile for better performance, VRAM, and long-term support?
3 Answers
The 1070 Ti is nearly a decade old, so the compatibility issue is unfortunately part of the normal upgrade cycle. Either replacement should be a major improvement for your current games, but the newer 16GB model is the better choice if longevity matters more than minimizing the upfront cost. The 3060 only makes the most sense if $230 is a firm budget limit.
You could also look for a used RTX 3080 around $350. It can outperform the 9060 XT, although buying used means accepting more uncertainty about condition, power consumption, and warranty. Mining history is also something to investigate before buying a particular card.
I’ve considered used cards, but the reassurance of buying new or refurbished from a major retailer is appealing. I’m also cautious because some RTX 30-series cards were heavily used for mining.
The 3060 is inexpensive, but the newer 16GB card should give you a much better performance jump, more VRAM headroom, improved efficiency, and a longer useful lifespan. I’d lean toward spending the extra money if you can afford it. A used 9060 XT below $400 would be an especially good compromise.
That’s what I’m leaning toward. Extra VRAM seems useful because running out of it can prevent a game from running properly, while lower clock speed or graphics settings are usually easier to work around.
I’ve seen new 16GB models sell closer to $350–$360, so it may be worth checking prices and waiting for a better deal before paying $440.
I know the 1070 Ti is definitely overdue for replacement. It was just frustrating to still get smooth 60–70 FPS in Forza and have the game crash because the GPU was no longer supported.