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 2070

2018

Why buy it

✅157.1% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (288 vs 112).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 8 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
82.1% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.8 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅5.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 92.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 26.8 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 288), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 2070

2018

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅157.1% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (288 vs 112).

Why buy it

✅5.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 92.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 26.8 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 8 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
82.1% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.8 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 288), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than GeForce RTX 2070?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3060 averages 5.7% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 16,068 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while GeForce RTX 2070 is a 2018 model from an older generation with DLSS Super Resolution. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2021 generation instead of 2018, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 8 GB, and a 8nm process instead of 12nm. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 can still make sense if you find it at the right price, especially around $329 MSRP. GeForce RTX 3060 is still the smarter buy for most people, though, because the raw performance is close while the overall package is cleaner. GeForce RTX 3060 is about $270 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $599 MSRP, and you are getting 5.7% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 5.8% higher G3D Mark. Moving to $329 MSRP gets you newer hardware, and DLSS Super Resolution.

Is GeForce RTX 2070 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 2070 is still a strong gaming card in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. Price is really the swing factor here. If you find it at or below $599 MSRP, it remains a very sensible buy. GeForce RTX 3060 is still the safer recommendation for most fresh builds because it offers a cleaner overall package with newer hardware and DLSS Super Resolution.

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 2070 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	152 FPS	149 FPS
medium	134 FPS	131 FPS
high	117 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	131 FPS	126 FPS
medium	107 FPS	104 FPS
high	91 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	67 FPS
medium	63 FPS	58 FPS
high	48 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	42 FPS	32 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2070 Open GeForce RTX 3060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	321 FPS	354 FPS
medium	269 FPS	310 FPS
high	219 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	218 FPS	222 FPS
medium	182 FPS	196 FPS
high	150 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	128 FPS
4K
low	123 FPS	110 FPS
medium	105 FPS	94 FPS
high	85 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	64 FPS	60 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2070 Open GeForce RTX 3060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	723 FPS	765 FPS
medium	578 FPS	612 FPS
high	482 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	362 FPS	382 FPS
1440p
low	542 FPS	535 FPS
medium	434 FPS	432 FPS
high	362 FPS	366 FPS
ultra	271 FPS	287 FPS
4K
low	362 FPS	367 FPS
medium	289 FPS	298 FPS
high	241 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	176 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2070 Open GeForce RTX 3060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
1080p
low	434 FPS	523 FPS
medium	367 FPS	452 FPS
high	297 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	319 FPS
1440p
low	361 FPS	428 FPS
medium	309 FPS	371 FPS
high	239 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	245 FPS
4K
low	206 FPS	279 FPS
medium	170 FPS	259 FPS
high	158 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	186 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2070 Open GeForce RTX 3060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 2070 and GeForce RTX 3060

GeForce RTX 2070

The GeForce RTX 2070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 17 2018. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1410 MHz to 1620 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 175W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 36 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,068 points. Launch price was $499.

GeForce RTX 3060

The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. 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: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 2070 scores 16,068 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 5.8%. The GeForce RTX 2070 is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 2070) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 7.465 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2070) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060). Boost clocks: 1620 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 36 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2070) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060) with 288 Tensor cores vs 112.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
G3D Mark Score	16,068	16,995+6%
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2304	3584+56%
Compute (TFLOPS)	7.465 TFLOPS	12.74 TFLOPS+71%
Boost Clock	1620 MHz	1777 MHz+10%
ROPs	64+33%	48
TMUs	144+29%	112
L1 Cache	2.3 MB	3.5 MB+52%
L2 Cache	4 MB+33%	3 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	36+29%	28
Tensor Cores	288+157%	112

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
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 2070 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2070) vs 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) — a 24.4% advantage for the GeForce RTX 2070. Bus width: 256-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 2070) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 2070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	12 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	448 GB/s+24%	360 GB/s
Bus Width	256-bit+33%	192-bit
L2 Cache	4 MB+33%	3 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce RTX 2070) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
DirectX	12.1	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 6.0 (GeForce RTX 2070) vs NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP9 vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (GeForce RTX 2070) vs AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
Encoder	NVENC 6.0	NVENC 7th Gen
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP9	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 2070 draws 175W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 2.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 2070) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 75.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 3060
TDP	175W	170W-3%
Recommended PSU	550W	550W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	242mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	80°C	75-6%
Perf/Watt	91.8	100.0+9%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 2070 launched at $599 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 45.1% less ($270 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 26.8 (GeForce RTX 2070) vs 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 92.9% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2018).