Nvidia is reportedly discontinuing the RTX 3060, a highly acclaimed graphics card that has been a top performer in recent years. This news comes after the GPU reached its third anniversary, and Nvidia has apparently notified its board partners that the next order for RTX 3060 cards will be their final shipment. The announcement was made on Board Channels, a forum where board partners discuss internal company developments. While Nvidia hasn’t officially confirmed the discontinuation, it seems likely considering the age of the RTX 3060 and the emergence of newer models like the RTX 4060 and competitors such as the Intel Arc A750.
The RTX 3060 has held the title of most popular GPU on Steam for a considerable period, accounting for a significant 5.71% of gaming PCs, according to the latest Steam hardware survey. The GTX 1650, which sits in second place, is found in 3.88% of gaming PCs. Despite its widespread popularity, Nvidia’s newer RTX 4060 has been steadily climbing the Steam hardware survey rankings, currently holding a 3.36% share.
Although board partners are likely placing their final orders for the RTX 3060, it will take several months for the card to disappear from store shelves entirely. Retailers will continue receiving shipments from board partners, and the final orders from Nvidia to its partners will be sent out over the next few months. This means that while the RTX 3060 will gradually fade from availability, it won’t completely vanish for some time.
By the time the RTX 3060 is fully phased out, Nvidia is expected to have its RTX 5060 ready for release. Rumors surrounding Nvidia’s RTX 50-series GPUs have been circulating for months, suggesting a launch later this year. Similar to the RTX 3060, the introduction of a new card in this class is likely to push the previous generation RTX 4060 up in the Steam hardware survey rankings.
While the RTX 3060 remains a popular choice, it might not be the best buy in 2024. Prices for the GPU haven’t dropped significantly, meaning you’ll likely pay around $300 for one. At that price point, both Nvidia’s RTX 4060 and AMD’s RX 7600 offer better value for money and performance.
