GeForce RTX 3060 vs L2

CPU

GPU

GeForce RTX 3060

2021Core: 1320 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

L2

2023Core: 1440 MHzBoost: 2520 MHz

Popular choices:

•RTX 3060••••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce RTX 3060

12 GB 170

16,995

+210.9%

GeForce RTX 3050 4GB Mobile

GeForce RTX 2060 (Mobile)

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

RTX 2000 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

TITAN V

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB

GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile

GeForce RTX 5070

4 GB 275

5,467

0.0%

GeForce RTX 2070 Super Mobile

RTX 4000 Ada Generation Laptop 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

✅+210.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $1,671 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1789.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 2.7 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,000 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

❌44% longer card at 242mm vs 168mm.

L2

2023

Why buy it

✅Measures 168mm instead of 242mm, a 74mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,467 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
507.9% HIGHER MSRP
$2,000 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

L2

2023

Why buy it

✅+210.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $1,671 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1789.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 2.7 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,000 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

✅Measures 168mm instead of 242mm, a 74mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌44% longer card at 242mm vs 168mm.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,467 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
507.9% HIGHER MSRP
$2,000 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than L2?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 5,467 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while L2 is a 2023 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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 210.9% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 4 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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 about $1,671 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $2,000 MSRP, and you are getting 210.9% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 1789.8%. L2 is the newer 2023 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does L2 make more sense than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. L2 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 and staying closer to $2,000 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3060. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3060 currently gives you 210.9% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 1789.8%.

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

L2 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
1080p
low	149 FPS	202 FPS
medium	131 FPS	190 FPS
high	118 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	180 FPS
medium	104 FPS	148 FPS
high	92 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	88 FPS
medium	58 FPS	76 FPS
high	39 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	51 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open L2

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
1080p
low	354 FPS	246 FPS
medium	310 FPS	197 FPS
high	249 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	123 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	185 FPS
medium	196 FPS	148 FPS
high	160 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	123 FPS
medium	94 FPS	98 FPS
high	77 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open L2

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
1080p
low	765 FPS	246 FPS
medium	612 FPS	197 FPS
high	510 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	123 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	185 FPS
medium	432 FPS	148 FPS
high	366 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	123 FPS
medium	298 FPS	98 FPS
high	221 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open L2

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
1080p
low	523 FPS	246 FPS
medium	452 FPS	197 FPS
high	383 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	123 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	185 FPS
medium	371 FPS	148 FPS
high	298 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	123 FPS
medium	259 FPS	98 FPS
high	225 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open L2

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and L2

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.

L2

The L2 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 16 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1440 MHz to 2520 MHz. It has 11776 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 275W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 92 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,467 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the L2's 5,467 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 210.9%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the L2 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 11,776 (L2). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 59.35 TFLOPS (L2). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2520 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 92 (L2) with 112 Tensor cores vs 368.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
G3D Mark Score	16,995+211%	5,467
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	11776+229%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	59.35 TFLOPS+366%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2520 MHz+42%
ROPs	48	128+167%
TMUs	112	368+229%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	11.5 MB+229%
L2 Cache	3 MB	96 MB+3100%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	92+229%
Tensor Cores	112	368+229%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The L2 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the L2 has 4 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 96 MB (L2) — the L2 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+200%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	96 MB+3100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12_2 (L2). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 0.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12_2
Max Displays	4	0

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs NVENC 8th Gen (L2). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,H.265,AV1 (L2).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	NVENC 8th Gen
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,H.265,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the L2's 275W — a 47.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 350W (L2). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 242mm vs 168mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L2
TDP	170W-38%	275W
Recommended PSU	550W	350W-36%
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	168mm
Height	112mm	69mm
Slots	2	1-50%
Temp (Load)	75	—
Perf/Watt	100.0+403%	19.9

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the L2 launched at $2000. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 83.5% less ($1671 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2.7 (L2) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 1814.8% better value. The L2 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2021).