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 $320 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 34.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 38.5 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 170W instead of 300W, a 130W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 267mm, a 25mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon RX 6800 XT across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).

Radeon RX 6800 XT

2020

Why buy it

✅36.7% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 12 GB).

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
❌
97.3% HIGHER MSRP
$649 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 38.5 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($649 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌76.5% higher power demand at 300W vs 170W.
❌10.3% longer card at 267mm vs 242mm.

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Radeon RX 6800 XT

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $320 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 34.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 38.5 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 170W instead of 300W, a 130W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 267mm, a 25mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅36.7% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 12 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon RX 6800 XT across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
❌
97.3% HIGHER MSRP
$649 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 38.5 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($649 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌76.5% higher power demand at 300W vs 170W.
❌10.3% longer card at 267mm vs 242mm.

Quick Answers

So, is Radeon RX 6800 XT better than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. Radeon RX 6800 XT is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 36.7% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data, 47.1% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 16 GB vs 12 GB of VRAM. 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 the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR 3 + AFMF. That broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.

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

Radeon RX 6800 XT is about 97.3% more expensive on MSRP at $649 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 36.7% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 47.1% 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, Radeon RX 6800 XT 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 Radeon RX 6800 XT?

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 300W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $329 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of Radeon RX 6800 XT. The trade-off is that Radeon RX 6800 XT currently gives you 47.1% higher G3D Mark and 36.7% more estimated average FPS across 49 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

Radeon RX 6800 XT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
1080p
low	149 FPS	221 FPS
medium	131 FPS	203 FPS
high	118 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	161 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	200 FPS
medium	104 FPS	167 FPS
high	92 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	129 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	135 FPS
medium	58 FPS	114 FPS
high	39 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	83 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 6800 XT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
1080p
low	354 FPS	565 FPS
medium	310 FPS	477 FPS
high	249 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	327 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	359 FPS
medium	196 FPS	296 FPS
high	160 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	201 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	150 FPS
medium	94 FPS	132 FPS
high	77 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	89 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 6800 XT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
1080p
low	765 FPS	924 FPS
medium	612 FPS	767 FPS
high	510 FPS	683 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	562 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	714 FPS
medium	432 FPS	587 FPS
high	366 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	498 FPS
medium	298 FPS	412 FPS
high	221 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	281 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 6800 XT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
1080p
low	523 FPS	663 FPS
medium	452 FPS	552 FPS
high	383 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	439 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	553 FPS
medium	371 FPS	466 FPS
high	298 FPS	407 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	359 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	355 FPS
medium	259 FPS	309 FPS
high	225 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	252 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 6800 XT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Radeon RX 6800 XT

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.

Radeon RX 6800 XT

The Radeon RX 6800 XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 28 2020. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1825 MHz to 2250 MHz. It has 4608 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. It features 72 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 24,995 points. Launch price was $649.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Radeon RX 6800 XT's 24,995 — the Radeon RX 6800 XT leads by 47.1%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 6800 XT uses RDNA 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4,608 (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 20.74 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2250 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 72 (Radeon RX 6800 XT) with 112 Tensor cores.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
G3D Mark Score	16,995	24,995+47%
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	7 nm
Shading Units	3584	4608+29%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	20.74 TFLOPS+63%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2250 MHz+27%
ROPs	48	128+167%
TMUs	112	288+157%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+250%	1 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB	4 MB+33%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	72+157%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 6800 XT is support for FSR Frame Generation + AFMF. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce RTX 3060 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 3060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 6800 XT relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR 3
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation + AFMF
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 6800 XT has 16 GB. The Radeon RX 6800 XT offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 512 GB/s (Radeon RX 6800 XT) — a 42.2% advantage for the Radeon RX 6800 XT. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4 MB (Radeon RX 6800 XT) — the Radeon RX 6800 XT has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	16 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	512 GB/s+42%
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 (12_2) (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs VCN 3.0 (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs VCN 3.0. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (Radeon RX 6800 XT).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	VCN 3.0
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	VCN 3.0
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Radeon RX 6800 XT's 300W — a 55.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 750W (Radeon RX 6800 XT). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 6800 XT
TDP	170W-43%	300W
Recommended PSU	550W-27%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	242mm	267mm
Height	112mm	120mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75	75
Perf/Watt	100.0+20%	83.3

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 6800 XT launched at $649. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 49.3% less ($320 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 38.5 (Radeon RX 6800 XT) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 34.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2020).