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

✅+121.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 236.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 15.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 780 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Radeon RX 780

2024

Why buy it

✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅More future proof: RDNA 3.0 (2022−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅More future proof: RDNA 3.0 (2022−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (7,658 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
❌
51.7% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 15.3 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Radeon RX 780

2024

Why buy it

✅+121.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 236.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 15.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).

Why buy it

✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅More future proof: RDNA 3.0 (2022−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅More future proof: RDNA 3.0 (2022−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 780 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (7,658 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
❌
51.7% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 15.3 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than Radeon RX 780?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 7,658 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Radeon RX 780 is a 2024 model from an older generation with FSR 3 + AFMF. 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?

Radeon RX 780 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2024 generation instead of 2021, better upscaling support with FSR 3 (2023) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023) instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 5nm process instead of 8nm. 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?

GeForce RTX 3060 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3060 is about $170 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and you are getting 121.9% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 236.6%. Radeon RX 780 is the newer 2024 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 Radeon RX 780 make more sense than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. Radeon RX 780 is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, future-proofing, and staying closer to $499 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3060. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3060 currently gives you 121.9% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 236.6%.

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 780 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
1080p
low	149 FPS	159 FPS
medium	131 FPS	148 FPS
high	118 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	138 FPS
medium	104 FPS	118 FPS
high	92 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	66 FPS
medium	58 FPS	57 FPS
high	39 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	41 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 780

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
1080p
low	354 FPS	345 FPS
medium	310 FPS	276 FPS
high	249 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	172 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	258 FPS
medium	196 FPS	207 FPS
high	160 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	129 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	163 FPS
medium	94 FPS	133 FPS
high	77 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	86 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 780

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
1080p
low	765 FPS	345 FPS
medium	612 FPS	276 FPS
high	510 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	172 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	258 FPS
medium	432 FPS	207 FPS
high	366 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	129 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	172 FPS
medium	298 FPS	138 FPS
high	221 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	86 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 780

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
1080p
low	523 FPS	345 FPS
medium	452 FPS	276 FPS
high	383 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	172 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	258 FPS
medium	371 FPS	207 FPS
high	298 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	129 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	163 FPS
medium	259 FPS	138 FPS
high	225 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	86 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 780

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Radeon RX 780

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 780

The Radeon RX 780 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 11 2024. It features the RDNA 3.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1295 MHz to 2335 MHz. It has 3840 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 180W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 60 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,658 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Radeon RX 780's 7,658 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 121.9%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 780 uses RDNA 3.0, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 3,840 (Radeon RX 780). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 35.87 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 780). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2335 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 60 (Radeon RX 780) with 112 Tensor cores.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
G3D Mark Score	16,995+122%	7,658
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 3.0
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	3840+7%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	35.87 TFLOPS+182%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2335 MHz+31%
ROPs	48	96+100%
TMUs	112	240+114%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+367%	0.75 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB	4 MB+33%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	60+114%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 780 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 780 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
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 780 has 4 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs System. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4 MB (Radeon RX 780) — the Radeon RX 780 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+200%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	System
Bus Width	192-bit	System
L2 Cache	3 MB	4 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 (12_2) (Radeon RX 780). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 (12_2)
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 RDNA 3 Dual Media Engine (Radeon RX 780). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs VCN 4.0. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Radeon RX 780).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	RDNA 3 Dual Media Engine
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	VCN 4.0
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Radeon RX 780's 180W — a 5.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 350W (Radeon RX 780). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 780
TDP	170W-6%	180W
Recommended PSU	550W	350W-36%
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75-12%	85°C
Perf/Watt	100.0+135%	42.5

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 780 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 15.3 (Radeon RX 780) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 237.9% better value. The Radeon RX 780 is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2021).