G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 2060 12GB

2021

Why buy it

✅+21% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 33.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($470 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅142.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 112).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022

Why buy it

✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (13,170 vs 15,935).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 33.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $470 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 2060 12GB

2021

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022

Why buy it

✅+21% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 33.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($470 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅142.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 112).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).

Why buy it

✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (13,170 vs 15,935).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 33.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $470 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 2060 12GB better than GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU?

Yes. GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 21% higher PassMark G3D performance, 272 vs 112 Tensor cores, and 12 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2021 instead of 2022, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2021 and a 8nm process instead of 12nm. That makes it the safer long-run choice for modern games.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $470 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 21.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the newer 2022 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU make more sense than GeForce RTX 2060 12GB?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, future-proofing, and staying closer to an unclear MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 2060 12GB. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 2060 12GB currently gives you 21.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
1080p
low	155 FPS	109 FPS
medium	137 FPS	98 FPS
high	124 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	70 FPS
1440p
low	132 FPS	95 FPS
medium	107 FPS	83 FPS
high	95 FPS	70 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	59 FPS
4K
low	75 FPS	48 FPS
medium	64 FPS	43 FPS
high	49 FPS	30 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	26 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
1080p
low	317 FPS	357 FPS
medium	269 FPS	310 FPS
high	218 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	210 FPS	221 FPS
medium	180 FPS	190 FPS
high	146 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	123 FPS
4K
low	111 FPS	108 FPS
medium	93 FPS	89 FPS
high	77 FPS	72 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
1080p
low	717 FPS	593 FPS
medium	574 FPS	474 FPS
high	478 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	359 FPS	296 FPS
1440p
low	538 FPS	444 FPS
medium	430 FPS	356 FPS
high	359 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	269 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	359 FPS	296 FPS
medium	287 FPS	237 FPS
high	239 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	148 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
1080p
low	432 FPS	519 FPS
medium	366 FPS	439 FPS
high	296 FPS	376 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	296 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	425 FPS
medium	308 FPS	356 FPS
high	239 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	198 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	205 FPS	277 FPS
medium	169 FPS	237 FPS
high	157 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	148 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 2060 12GB and GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

GeForce RTX 2060 12GB

The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 7 2021. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1470 MHz to 1650 MHz. It has 2176 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 184W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 15,935 points.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 12 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 13,170 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB scores 15,935 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 13,170 — the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB leads by 21%. The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,176 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 7.181 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1650 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 34 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) with 272 Tensor cores vs 112.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	15,935+21%	13,170
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2176	3584+65%
Compute (TFLOPS)	7.181 TFLOPS	12.74 TFLOPS+77%
Boost Clock	1650 MHz	1777 MHz+8%
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	136+21%	112
L1 Cache	2.1 MB	3.5 MB+67%
L2 Cache	3 MB	3 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	34+21%	28
Tensor Cores	272+143%	112

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6 GB. The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+100%	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	336 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	3 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
DirectX	12.1	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 6.0 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP9 vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC 6.0	NVENC (7th Gen)
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP9	NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB draws 184W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 170W — a 7.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 88°C vs 75°C.