GeForce FX 5900 vs GeForce RTX 3060

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.

GeForce FX 5900 vs GeForce RTX 3060 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce FX 5900 vs GeForce RTX 3060: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce FX 5900

2011

Why buy it

✅Measures 218mm instead of 242mm, a 24mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 128 MB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌2011 hardware with 128 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
21.3% HIGHER MSRP
$399 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅14548.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $70 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 58788.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0.1 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅9500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 128 MB).

Trade-offs

❌11% longer card at 242mm vs 218mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 14548.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 48457.1% in PassMark G3D (16,995 vs 35), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 128 MB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 40nm, and 28 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $70 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $399, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 58788.4% (51.7 vs 0.1), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce FX 5900 vs GeForce RTX 3060 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce FX 5900

The GeForce FX 5900 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 24 2011. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock speed is 607 MHz. It has 1024 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 365W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 35 points. Launch price was $699.

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.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce FX 5900 scores 35 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 48457.1%. The GeForce FX 5900 is built on Rankine while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 40 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce FX 5900) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 1.244 TFLOPS ×2 (GeForce FX 5900) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060).

Feature	GeForce FX 5900	GeForce RTX 3060
G3D Mark Score	35	16,995+48457%
Architecture	Rankine	Ampere
Process Node	40 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1024 ×2	3584+250%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.244 TFLOPS ×2	12.74 TFLOPS+924%
ROPs	48 ×2	48
TMUs	64 ×2	112+75%
L1 Cache	1 MB	3.5 MB+250%
L2 Cache	0.75 MB	3 MB+300%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce FX 5900 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce FX 5900	GeForce RTX 3060
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce FX 5900 has 128 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 gives you 9500% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce FX 5900 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060. L2 Cache: 0.75 MB (GeForce FX 5900) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce FX 5900	GeForce RTX 3060
VRAM Capacity	0.125 GB	12 GB+9500%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	360 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	0.75 MB	3 MB+300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 9.0a (GeForce FX 5900) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060). OpenGL: 1.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce FX 5900	GeForce RTX 3060
DirectX	9.0a	12 Ultimate+33%
OpenGL	1.5	4.6+207%
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5900 draws 365W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 72.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5900) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: Legacy vs 8-pin. Card length: 218mm vs 242mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce FX 5900	GeForce RTX 3060
TDP	365W	170W-53%
Recommended PSU	350W-36%	550W
Power Connector	Legacy	8-pin
Length	218mm	242mm
Height	—	112mm
Slots	1-50%	2
Temp (Load)	—	75
Perf/Watt	0.1	100.0+99900%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5900 came in at $399, while the GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 was 17.5% cheaper ($70 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.1 (GeForce FX 5900) vs 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 51600% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 (2021 vs 2011).

Feature	GeForce FX 5900	GeForce RTX 3060
MSRP	$399	$329-18%
Performance per Dollar	0.1	51.7+51600%
Codename	GF110	GA106
Release	March 24 2011	January 12 2021
Ranking	#555	#114

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