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

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 160), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌47.8% higher power demand at 170W vs 115W.
❌130.5% longer card at 242mm vs 105mm.

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅10.1% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅42.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (160 vs 112).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 115W instead of 170W, a 55W reduction.
✅Measures 105mm instead of 242mm, a 137mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Why buy it

✅10.1% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅42.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (160 vs 112).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 115W instead of 170W, a 55W reduction.
✅Measures 105mm instead of 242mm, a 137mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 160), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌47.8% higher power demand at 170W vs 115W.
❌130.5% longer card at 242mm vs 105mm.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU better than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 10.1% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data, 48.7% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 160 vs 112 Tensor cores. It also comes from 2023 instead of 2021, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2021, 48.7% more raw performance headroom, the stronger feature stack with no meaningful modern upscaling stack 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?

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 10.1% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 48.7% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3060 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $329 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

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

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
1080p
low	149 FPS	141 FPS
medium	131 FPS	122 FPS
high	118 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	73 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	113 FPS
medium	104 FPS	94 FPS
high	92 FPS	73 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	51 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	50 FPS
medium	58 FPS	44 FPS
high	39 FPS	32 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	27 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
1080p
low	354 FPS	370 FPS
medium	310 FPS	316 FPS
high	249 FPS	250 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	213 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	277 FPS
medium	196 FPS	230 FPS
high	160 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	146 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	130 FPS
medium	94 FPS	111 FPS
high	77 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	68 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
1080p
low	765 FPS	826 FPS
medium	612 FPS	679 FPS
high	510 FPS	612 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	538 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	628 FPS
medium	432 FPS	510 FPS
high	366 FPS	451 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	391 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	405 FPS
medium	298 FPS	323 FPS
high	221 FPS	264 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	209 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
1080p
low	523 FPS	287 FPS
medium	452 FPS	248 FPS
high	383 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	228 FPS
medium	371 FPS	200 FPS
high	298 FPS	167 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	142 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	140 FPS
medium	259 FPS	118 FPS
high	225 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	78 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

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.

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 21 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 975 MHz to 1500 MHz. It has 5120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 25,267 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU's 25,267 — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU leads by 48.7%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 5,120 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 15.82 TFLOPS (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1500 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 40 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU) with 112 Tensor cores vs 160.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
G3D Mark Score	16,995	25,267+49%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	5120+43%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	15.82 TFLOPS+24%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+18%	1500 MHz
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	112	160+43%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	5 MB+43%
L2 Cache	3 MB	48 MB+1500%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	40+43%
Tensor Cores	112	160+43%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

Both cards feature 12 GB of GDDR6. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 432 GB/s (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU) — a 20% advantage for the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 48 MB (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU) — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	12 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	432 GB/s+20%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	48 MB+1500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 Ultimate (12_2) (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs NVENC 8th Gen (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). 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 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU's 115W — a 38.6% difference. The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 650W (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 242mm vs 105mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 85.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Embedded GPU
TDP	170W	115W-32%
Recommended PSU	550W-15%	650W
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	105mm
Height	112mm	82mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75-12%	85
Perf/Watt	100.0	219.7+120%