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 GTX 480 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 GTX 480 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 GTX 480

2010

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 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.
❌2010 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
51.7% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅180.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 532.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 8.2 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅700% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 2 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

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 180.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 317.1% in PassMark G3D (16,995 vs 4,075), 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 2 GB 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 $170 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $499, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 532.6% (51.7 vs 8.2), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 480 vs GeForce RTX 3060 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 480

The GeForce GTX 480 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 26 2010. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 700 MHz. It has 480 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,075 points. Launch price was $499.

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 GTX 480 scores 4,075 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 317.1%. The GeForce GTX 480 is built on Fermi while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 40 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 480 (GeForce GTX 480) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 1.345 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 480) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce RTX 3060
G3D Mark Score	4,075	16,995+317%
Architecture	Fermi	Ampere
Process Node	40 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	480	3584+647%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.345 TFLOPS	12.74 TFLOPS+847%
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	60	112+87%
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	3.5 MB+272%
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 GTX 480 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	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 GTX 480 has 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 gives you 700% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 177.4 GB/s (GeForce GTX 480) vs 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) — a 102.9% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Memory bus width is 384-bit on the GeForce GTX 480 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060. L2 Cache: 0.75 MB (GeForce GTX 480) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce RTX 3060
VRAM Capacity	1.5 GB	12 GB+700%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	177.4 GB/s	360 GB/s+103%
Bus Width	384-bit+100%	192-bit
L2 Cache	0.75 MB	3 MB+300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 480) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce RTX 3060
DirectX	12 (11_0)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.2	1.3+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD VP4 (GeForce GTX 480) vs NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTX 480) vs AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce RTX 3060
Encoder	PureVideo HD VP4	NVENC 7th Gen
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP4	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 480 draws 250W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 38.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce GTX 480) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 75.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce RTX 3060
TDP	250W	170W-32%
Recommended PSU	600W	550W-8%
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	242mm
Height	111mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	90°C	75-17%
Perf/Watt	16.3	100.0+513%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 480 came in at $499, while the GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 was 34.1% cheaper ($170 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 8.2 (GeForce GTX 480) vs 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 530.5% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 (2021 vs 2010).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce RTX 3060
MSRP	$499	$329-34%
Performance per Dollar	8.2	51.7+530%
Codename	GF100	GA106
Release	March 26 2010	January 12 2021
Ranking	#488	#114

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