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 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 5060 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 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 5060: 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 Laptop GPU

2022

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌GeForce RTX 5060 is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 69.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 5060

2025

Why buy it

✅30.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 69.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

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 5060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 30.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 58.2% in PassMark G3D (20,836 vs 13,170), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 5060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025), while GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and 30 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 5060 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 5060 Technical Specifications

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

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.

GeForce RTX 5060

The GeForce RTX 5060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 19 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2280 MHz to 2497 MHz. It has 3840 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 145W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 30 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,836 points. Launch price was $299.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the GeForce RTX 5060's 20,836 — the GeForce RTX 5060 leads by 58.2%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 5060 uses Blackwell 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 3,840 (GeForce RTX 5060). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 19.18 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5060). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2497 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 30 (GeForce RTX 5060) with 112 Tensor cores vs 120.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5060
G3D Mark Score	13,170	20,836+58%
Architecture	Ampere	Blackwell 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	3840+7%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	19.18 TFLOPS+51%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2497 MHz+41%
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	112	120+7%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	3.8 MB+9%
L2 Cache	3 MB	32 MB+967%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	30+7%
Tensor Cores	112	120+7%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 5060 is support for DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 5060 supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5060
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 4)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5060 carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 5060 gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5060) — a 33.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5060. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 5060. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 5060) — the GeForce RTX 5060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5060
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR7
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	448 GB/s+33%
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	32 MB+967%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 5060). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5060
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4	1.4
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

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Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs NVENC 9th gen (GeForce RTX 5060). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs NVDEC 6th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 5060).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5060
Encoder	NVENC (7th Gen)	NVENC 9th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (5th Gen)	NVDEC 6th gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 5060's 145W — a 15.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 5060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 5060). Power connectors: Mobile vs 8-pin. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 65°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5060
TDP	170W	145W-15%
Recommended PSU	500W	450W-10%
Power Connector	Mobile	8-pin
Length	—	241mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	—	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	65°C-13%
Perf/Watt	77.5	143.7+85%

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 5060 (2025 vs 2022).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5060
MSRP	—	$299
Codename	GA106	GB206
Release	October 12 2022	May 19 2025
Ranking	#147	#69

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