GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060

2021Core: 1320 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile

2021Core: 900 MHzBoost: 1425 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 3060

Performance Spectrum - GPU

About G3D Mark

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

  • 23.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

  • Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 120), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
  • 112.5% higher power demand at 170W vs 80W.

GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile

2021

Why buy it

  • 7.1% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (120 vs 112).
  • Draws 80W instead of 170W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile?
Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 23.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data, 13.8% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 12 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM.
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 13.8% more raw performance headroom and more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 6 GB. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.
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 priced in an unclear MSRP range at $329 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 23.5% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 13.8% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.
Is GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around an unclear MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3060 is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
1080p
low149 FPS84 FPS
medium131 FPS73 FPS
high118 FPS60 FPS
ultra99 FPS39 FPS
1440p
low126 FPS74 FPS
medium104 FPS65 FPS
high92 FPS47 FPS
ultra80 FPS30 FPS
4K
low67 FPS28 FPS
medium58 FPS26 FPS
high39 FPS17 FPS
ultra32 FPS15 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
1080p
low354 FPS288 FPS
medium310 FPS247 FPS
high249 FPS195 FPS
ultra195 FPS151 FPS
1440p
low222 FPS200 FPS
medium196 FPS174 FPS
high160 FPS140 FPS
ultra128 FPS107 FPS
4K
low110 FPS104 FPS
medium94 FPS87 FPS
high77 FPS71 FPS
ultra60 FPS51 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
1080p
low765 FPS672 FPS
medium612 FPS538 FPS
high510 FPS448 FPS
ultra382 FPS336 FPS
1440p
low535 FPS499 FPS
medium432 FPS403 FPS
high366 FPS336 FPS
ultra287 FPS252 FPS
4K
low367 FPS336 FPS
medium298 FPS269 FPS
high221 FPS220 FPS
ultra176 FPS168 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
1080p
low523 FPS257 FPS
medium452 FPS218 FPS
high383 FPS184 FPS
ultra319 FPS150 FPS
1440p
low428 FPS198 FPS
medium371 FPS175 FPS
high298 FPS148 FPS
ultra245 FPS118 FPS
4K
low279 FPS126 FPS
medium259 FPS109 FPS
high225 FPS87 FPS
ultra186 FPS68 FPS

Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile

The GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 900 MHz to 1425 MHz. It has 3840 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 80W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 30 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 14,938 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile's 14,938 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 13.8%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 3,840 (GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 10.94 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1425 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 30 (GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile) with 112 Tensor cores vs 120.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
G3D Mark Score
16,995+14%
14,938
Architecture
Ampere
Ampere
Process Node
8 nm
8 nm
Shading Units
3584
3840+7%
Compute (TFLOPS)
12.74 TFLOPS+16%
10.94 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1777 MHz+25%
1425 MHz
ROPs
48
48
TMUs
112
120+7%
L1 Cache
3.5 MB
3.8 MB+9%
L2 Cache
3 MB
3 MB
Ray Tracing Cores
28
30+7%
Tensor Cores
112
120+7%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
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 3060 Mobile has 6 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile) — a 7.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
VRAM Capacity
12 GB+100%
6 GB
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
360 GB/s+7%
336 GB/s
Bus Width
192-bit
192-bit
L2 Cache
3 MB
3 MB
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 1.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12.2+2%
Vulkan
1.3+8%
1.2
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4+300%
1
🎬

Media & Encoding

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

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
Encoder
NVENC 7th Gen
7th Gen NVENC
Decoder
NVDEC 5th Gen
5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs
AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile's 80W — a 72% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Card length: 242mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile
TDP
170W
80W-53%
Recommended PSU
550W
500W-9%
Power Connector
8-pin
Mobile
Length
242mm
0mm
Height
112mm
0mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
75-6%
80°C
Perf/Watt
100.0
186.7+87%