GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

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 RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 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 RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU: 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 RTX 3060 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅39.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.0 vs 0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅150% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 112).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌105.9% higher power demand at 350W vs 170W.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 170W instead of 350W, a 180W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 12GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 51.0 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 39.5% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 27.4% in PassMark G3D (16,777 vs 13,170), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM and 70 vs 28 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 12GB makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,777 points. Launch price was $799.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 12 2022. 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: 13,170 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB scores 16,777 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 13,170 — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB leads by 27.4%. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) with 280 Tensor cores vs 112.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	16,777+27%	13,170
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	8960+150%	3584
Compute (TFLOPS)	30.64 TFLOPS+141%	12.74 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	1777 MHz+4%
ROPs	96+100%	48
TMUs	280+150%	112
L1 Cache	8.8 MB+151%	3.5 MB
L2 Cache	6 MB+100%	3 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	70+150%	28
Tensor Cores	280+150%	112

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	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 RTX 3060 12GB has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU carries 6 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) — a 7.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+100%	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+7%	336 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	6 MB+100%	3 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	NVENC (7th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB draws 350W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 170W — a 69.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.