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

✅8.2% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $1,370 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 316.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 12.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,699 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 2 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (16,995 vs 21,094).
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 224), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

RTX A4500

2021

Why buy it

✅+24.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅100% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (224 vs 112).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
416.4% HIGHER MSRP
$1,699 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 12.4 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($1,699 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

RTX A4500

2021

Why buy it

✅8.2% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $1,370 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 316.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 12.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,699 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 2 GB).

Why buy it

✅+24.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅100% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (224 vs 112).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (16,995 vs 21,094).
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 224), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
416.4% HIGHER MSRP
$1,699 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 12.4 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($1,699 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than RTX A4500?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 8.2% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data, 24.1% higher PassMark G3D performance, DLSS 2 Super Resolution, and 12 GB vs 2 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 more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 2 GB and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

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 $1,370 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $1,699 MSRP, and you are getting 8.2% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and a lower G3D Mark (16,995 vs 21,094). It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 316.1%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is RTX A4500 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. RTX A4500 is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $1,699 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.

GeForce RTX 3060 Benchmark Check

RTX A4500 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
1080p
low	149 FPS	104 FPS
medium	131 FPS	88 FPS
high	118 FPS	73 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	51 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	82 FPS
medium	104 FPS	68 FPS
high	92 FPS	51 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	35 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	34 FPS
medium	58 FPS	31 FPS
high	39 FPS	23 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	20 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open RTX A4500

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
1080p
low	354 FPS	441 FPS
medium	310 FPS	377 FPS
high	249 FPS	299 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	260 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	332 FPS
medium	196 FPS	276 FPS
high	160 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	184 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	166 FPS
medium	94 FPS	140 FPS
high	77 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	96 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open RTX A4500

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
1080p
low	765 FPS	564 FPS
medium	612 FPS	477 FPS
high	510 FPS	407 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	339 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	442 FPS
medium	432 FPS	372 FPS
high	366 FPS	323 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	260 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	287 FPS
medium	298 FPS	237 FPS
high	221 FPS	190 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	149 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open RTX A4500

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
1080p
low	523 FPS	174 FPS
medium	452 FPS	144 FPS
high	383 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	109 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	128 FPS
medium	371 FPS	109 FPS
high	298 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	75 FPS
medium	259 FPS	63 FPS
high	225 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	39 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open RTX A4500

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and RTX A4500

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 A4500

The RTX A4500 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 23 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1050 MHz to 1650 MHz. It has 7168 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 56 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 21,094 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the RTX A4500's 21,094 — the RTX A4500 leads by 24.1%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the RTX A4500 uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 7,168 (RTX A4500). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 23.65 TFLOPS (RTX A4500). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1650 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 56 (RTX A4500) with 112 Tensor cores vs 224.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
G3D Mark Score	16,995	21,094+24%
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	3584	7168+100%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	23.65 TFLOPS+86%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+8%	1650 MHz
ROPs	48	96+100%
TMUs	112	224+100%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	7 MB+100%
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	56+100%
Tensor Cores	112	224+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The RTX A4500 supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
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)

The GeForce RTX 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the RTX A4500 has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 500% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 448 GB/s (RTX A4500) — a 24.4% advantage for the RTX A4500. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 6 MB (RTX A4500) — the RTX A4500 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+500%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	448 GB/s+24%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.1 (RTX A4500). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.1
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 7th Gen NVENC (2x) (RTX A4500). 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) (RTX A4500).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	7th Gen NVENC (2x)
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 RTX A4500's 200W — a 16.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 450W (RTX A4500). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX A4500
TDP	170W-15%	200W
Recommended PSU	550W	450W-18%
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	267mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	105.5+6%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the RTX A4500 launched at $1699. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 80.6% less ($1370 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.4 (RTX A4500) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 316.9% better value.