GeForce RTX 3070 vs Radeon RX 6500M

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3070

2020Core: 1500 MHzBoost: 1725 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Radeon RX 6500M

2022Core: 2000 MHzBoost: 2400 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 3070

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 3070

2020

Why buy it

  • +197.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).

Trade-offs

  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
  • 340% higher power demand at 220W vs 50W.

Radeon RX 6500M

2022

Why buy it

  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
  • Draws 50W instead of 220W, a 170W reduction.
  • More future proof: RDNA 2.0 (2020−2025) on 6nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (7,443 vs 22,172).
  • Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 44.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3070 better than Radeon RX 6500M?
Yes. GeForce RTX 3070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 22,172 vs 7,443 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3070 is a 2020 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Radeon RX 6500M is a 2022 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 6500M is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2020, 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 6nm 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 3070 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3070 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $499 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 197.9% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. Radeon RX 6500M is the newer 2022 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture, lower power draw (50W vs 220W), and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.
When does Radeon RX 6500M make more sense than GeForce RTX 3070?
Yes. Radeon RX 6500M 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, lower power draw (50W vs 220W), future-proofing, and staying closer to an unclear MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3070. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3070 currently gives you 197.9% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%.

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 3070Radeon RX 6500M
1080p
low158 FPS129 FPS
medium140 FPS115 FPS
high123 FPS98 FPS
ultra104 FPS73 FPS
1440p
low134 FPS118 FPS
medium109 FPS99 FPS
high96 FPS83 FPS
ultra86 FPS62 FPS
4K
low80 FPS52 FPS
medium67 FPS48 FPS
high52 FPS35 FPS
ultra45 FPS31 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
1080p
low470 FPS179 FPS
medium405 FPS139 FPS
high327 FPS103 FPS
ultra277 FPS66 FPS
1440p
low294 FPS116 FPS
medium246 FPS89 FPS
high213 FPS67 FPS
ultra179 FPS47 FPS
4K
low141 FPS57 FPS
medium120 FPS44 FPS
high105 FPS35 FPS
ultra83 FPS24 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
1080p
low885 FPS335 FPS
medium712 FPS268 FPS
high619 FPS223 FPS
ultra499 FPS167 FPS
1440p
low692 FPS251 FPS
medium557 FPS201 FPS
high473 FPS167 FPS
ultra374 FPS126 FPS
4K
low479 FPS167 FPS
medium388 FPS134 FPS
high330 FPS107 FPS
ultra249 FPS74 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
1080p
low600 FPS303 FPS
medium527 FPS233 FPS
high433 FPS205 FPS
ultra385 FPS167 FPS
1440p
low489 FPS222 FPS
medium433 FPS165 FPS
high339 FPS137 FPS
ultra297 FPS109 FPS
4K
low292 FPS109 FPS
medium270 FPS82 FPS
high238 FPS71 FPS
ultra200 FPS55 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3070 and Radeon RX 6500M

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3070

The GeForce RTX 3070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1725 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,172 points. Launch price was $499.

AMD

Radeon RX 6500M

The Radeon RX 6500M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2000 MHz to 2400 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 6 nm process technology. It features 16 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,443 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3070 scores 22,172 versus the Radeon RX 6500M's 7,443 — the GeForce RTX 3070 leads by 197.9%. The GeForce RTX 3070 is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 6500M uses RDNA 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 6 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 1,024 (Radeon RX 6500M). Raw compute: 20.31 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 4.915 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 6500M). Boost clocks: 1725 MHz vs 2400 MHz. Ray tracing: 46 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 16 (Radeon RX 6500M) with 184 Tensor cores.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
G3D Mark Score
22,172+198%
7,443
Architecture
Ampere
RDNA 2.0
Process Node
8 nm
6 nm
Shading Units
5888+475%
1024
Compute (TFLOPS)
20.31 TFLOPS+313%
4.915 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1725 MHz
2400 MHz+39%
ROPs
96+200%
32
TMUs
184+188%
64
L1 Cache
5.8 MB+2220%
0.25 MB
L2 Cache
4 MB+300%
1 MB
Ray Tracing Cores
46+188%
16

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 6500M 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 3070 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 3070 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 6500M relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
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 3070 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 6500M has 4 GB. The GeForce RTX 3070 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 144 GB/s (Radeon RX 6500M) — a 211.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3070. Bus width: 256-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 1 MB (Radeon RX 6500M) — the GeForce RTX 3070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
VRAM Capacity
8 GB+100%
4 GB
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
448 GB/s+211%
144 GB/s
Bus Width
256-bit+300%
64-bit
L2 Cache
4 MB+300%
1 MB
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 12 (12_2) (Radeon RX 6500M). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 3.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12 (12_2)
Vulkan
1.4
1.4
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4+33%
3
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3070) vs VCN 3.0 (Radeon RX 6500M). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs VCN 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Decode Only) (Radeon RX 6500M).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
Encoder
NVENC 7th gen
VCN 3.0
Decoder
NVDEC 5th gen
VCN 3.0
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9
H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Decode Only)
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3070 draws 220W versus the Radeon RX 6500M's 50W — a 125.9% difference. The Radeon RX 6500M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 350W (Radeon RX 6500M). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
TDP
220W
50W-77%
Recommended PSU
650W
350W-46%
Power Connector
8-pin
Mobile
Length
242mm
Height
112mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
75°C-12%
85°C
Perf/Watt
100.8
148.9+48%
💰

Value Analysis

The Radeon RX 6500M is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2020).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070Radeon RX 6500M
MSRP
$499
Codename
GA104
Navi 24
Release
September 1 2020
January 4 2022
Ranking
#63
#341