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 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 16.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Draws 170W instead of 220W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 184), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

Why buy it

✅25.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅64.3% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (184 vs 112).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌
51.7% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 44.4 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌29.4% higher power demand at 220W vs 170W.

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 16.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Draws 170W instead of 220W, a 50W reduction.

Why buy it

✅25.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅64.3% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (184 vs 112).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 184), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌
51.7% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 44.4 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌29.4% higher power demand at 220W vs 170W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3070 better than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3070 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 25.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data, 30.5% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 184 vs 112 Tensor cores. It also comes from 2020 instead of 2021, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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 2020 and more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 8 GB. 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 3070 is about 51.7% more expensive on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 25.1% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 30.5% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 3070 is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3060 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

When does GeForce RTX 3060 make more sense than GeForce RTX 3070?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 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, lower power draw (170W vs 220W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $329 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3070. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3070 currently gives you 30.5% higher G3D Mark and 25.1% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. GeForce RTX 3060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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 3060 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3070 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	149 FPS	158 FPS
medium	131 FPS	140 FPS
high	118 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	134 FPS
medium	104 FPS	109 FPS
high	92 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	80 FPS
medium	58 FPS	67 FPS
high	39 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	45 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3070

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	354 FPS	470 FPS
medium	310 FPS	405 FPS
high	249 FPS	327 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	277 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	294 FPS
medium	196 FPS	246 FPS
high	160 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	179 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	141 FPS
medium	94 FPS	120 FPS
high	77 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	83 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3070

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	765 FPS	885 FPS
medium	612 FPS	712 FPS
high	510 FPS	619 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	499 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	692 FPS
medium	432 FPS	557 FPS
high	366 FPS	473 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	374 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	479 FPS
medium	298 FPS	388 FPS
high	221 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	249 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3070

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	523 FPS	600 FPS
medium	452 FPS	527 FPS
high	383 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	385 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	489 FPS
medium	371 FPS	433 FPS
high	298 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	297 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	292 FPS
medium	259 FPS	270 FPS
high	225 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	200 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 3070

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and GeForce RTX 3070

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.

GeForce RTX 3070

The GeForce RTX 3070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1725 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,172 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 3070's 22,172 — the GeForce RTX 3070 leads by 30.5%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3070 uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 20.31 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3070). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1725 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 46 (GeForce RTX 3070) with 112 Tensor cores vs 184.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
G3D Mark Score	16,995	22,172+30%
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	3584	5888+64%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	20.31 TFLOPS+59%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+3%	1725 MHz
ROPs	48	96+100%
TMUs	112	184+64%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	5.8 MB+66%
L2 Cache	3 MB	4 MB+33%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	46+64%
Tensor Cores	112	184+64%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
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 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3070 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3070) — a 24.4% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3070. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3070) — the GeForce RTX 3070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	448 GB/s+24%
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	3 MB	4 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3070). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 3070's 220W — a 25.6% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 3070). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 3070
TDP	170W-23%	220W
Recommended PSU	550W-15%	650W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	242mm
Height	112mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75	75°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	100.8

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3070 launched at $499. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 34.1% less ($170 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 44.4 (GeForce RTX 3070) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 16.4% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2020).