Why Is The NVIDIA RTX 3060 Still The Most Popular GPU On Steam? - Engadget
Nvidia's mid-range RTX 3060, launched in 2021, continues to lead Steam's hardware survey, tying with the newer RTX 5070 at 3.78% of surveyed systems.
Nvidia's mid-range RTX 3060, launched in February 2021 for $329, has outlasted two generations of successors to remain the most popular GPU on Steam. According to Valve's October hardware survey, it tied with the newer RTX 5070, each used in 3.78% of surveyed systems.
The card's longevity stems from several factors. Its 12GB of VRAM exceeds what either of its direct successors shipped with, making it still adequate for 1080p gaming—the most common resolution among Steam users at 50.23%. Additionally, AI-driven memory shortages have kept prices for newer cards elevated, encouraging users to retain their older hardware.
Inflated prices make 3060 attractive
Nvidia lists the RTX 5070 at $549, but market prices have soared to $899.99—a 64% premium. This inflation stems from the GDDR7 memory shortage affecting GPU supply. In response, Nvidia allegedly restarted production of the RTX 3060 12GB in June 2026, almost two years after discontinuing it.
Our theory is consumers rushed to buy AIBs before the prices went any higher.
Despite the revived production, most RTX 3060 versions now sell for around $500 or more. Desktop graphics card shipments reached 12.5 million in Q2 2026, the highest since early 2022, but growth concentrated in the high-end market.
VRAM adequacy for mainstream gaming
When launched, the RTX 3060 featured 12GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus—more than its higher-tier RTX 3070 and 3080 counterparts. Its successors, the RTX 4060 and 5060, reduced this to 8GB on a 128-bit bus, limiting texture data loading capabilities.
For 1080p gaming, the 3060's 12GB remains generally adequate. Owners can also use DLSS upscaling to improve frame rates at higher resolutions, though DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution, released in January 2026, comes with a heavier performance cost on 20- and 30-series GPUs.
Related
