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

✅10.8% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (16,995 vs 19,883).
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
10% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 51.7 vs 66.5 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

2025

Why buy it

✅+17% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 28.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 66.5 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
✅More future proof: RDNA 4.0 (2025) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

2025

Why buy it

✅10.8% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).

Why buy it

✅+17% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 28.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 66.5 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
✅More future proof: RDNA 4.0 (2025) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (16,995 vs 19,883).
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
10% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 51.7 vs 66.5 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.

Quick Answers

So, is Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB better than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. GeForce RTX 3060 averages 10.8% more FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 16,995 vs 19,883 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, FSR Upscaling + Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2025 generation instead of 2021, 17.0% more raw performance headroom, better upscaling support with FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025) instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 4nm 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?

Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is about $30 cheaper on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting lower estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 17.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 28.7%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce RTX 3060 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 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 $329 MSRP, even if Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB 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.

GeForce RTX 3060 Benchmark Check

Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
1080p
low	149 FPS	172 FPS
medium	131 FPS	152 FPS
high	118 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	112 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	144 FPS
medium	104 FPS	116 FPS
high	92 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	91 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	90 FPS
medium	58 FPS	77 FPS
high	39 FPS	61 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	54 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
1080p
low	354 FPS	437 FPS
medium	310 FPS	360 FPS
high	249 FPS	257 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	259 FPS
medium	196 FPS	214 FPS
high	160 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	120 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	125 FPS
medium	94 FPS	104 FPS
high	77 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
1080p
low	765 FPS	827 FPS
medium	612 FPS	675 FPS
high	510 FPS	593 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	447 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	640 FPS
medium	432 FPS	516 FPS
high	366 FPS	443 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	336 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	443 FPS
medium	298 FPS	354 FPS
high	221 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	224 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
1080p
low	523 FPS	693 FPS
medium	452 FPS	596 FPS
high	383 FPS	509 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	554 FPS
medium	371 FPS	477 FPS
high	298 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	336 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	342 FPS
medium	259 FPS	304 FPS
high	225 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	224 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

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 9060 XT 8GB

The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 4 2025. It features the RDNA 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1700 MHz to 3130 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 32 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,883 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB's 19,883 — the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB leads by 17%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB uses RDNA 4.0, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2,048 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 25.64 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 3130 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 32 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB) with 112 Tensor cores.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
G3D Mark Score	16,995	19,883+17%
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 4.0
Process Node	8 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	3584+75%	2048
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	25.64 TFLOPS+101%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	3130 MHz+76%
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	112	128+14%
L2 Cache	3 MB	4 MB+33%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	32+14%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is support for FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1. 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 9060 XT 8GB relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1
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 9060 XT 8GB 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 320 GB/s (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB) — a 12.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4 MB (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB) — the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+13%	320 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	4 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.2 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+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 VCN 5.0 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs VCN 5.0. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	VCN 5.0
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	VCN 5.0
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB's 150W — a 12.5% difference. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 500W (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
TDP	170W	150W-12%
Recommended PSU	550W	500W-9%
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	240mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75	75°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	132.6+33%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB launched at $299. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB costs 9.1% less ($30 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 66.5 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB) — the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB offers 28.6% better value. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2021).