GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs M1 8-Core 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.

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 Laptop GPU

2022

Why buy it

✅+163.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌466.7% higher power demand at 170W vs 30W.

M1 8-Core GPU

2020

Why buy it

✅Draws 30W instead of 170W, a 140W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,000 vs 13,170).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022

M1 8-Core GPU

2020

Why buy it

✅+163.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Draws 30W instead of 170W, a 140W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌466.7% higher power demand at 170W vs 30W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,000 vs 13,170).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU better than M1 8-Core GPU?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 13,170 vs 5,000 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is a 2022 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while M1 8-Core GPU is a 2020 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2020, 163.4% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 6 GB instead of 2 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 163.4% higher G3D Mark. G3D-per-dollar is basically tied between them. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, M1 8-Core GPU still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

Is M1 8-Core GPU still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. M1 8-Core GPU is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to an unclear MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

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 Laptop GPU Benchmark Check

M1 8-Core GPU Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
1080p
low	109 FPS	91 FPS
medium	98 FPS	81 FPS
high	84 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	44 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	74 FPS
medium	83 FPS	63 FPS
high	70 FPS	42 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	33 FPS
4K
low	48 FPS	35 FPS
medium	43 FPS	33 FPS
high	30 FPS	20 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	18 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open M1 8-Core GPU

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
1080p
low	357 FPS	123 FPS
medium	310 FPS	92 FPS
high	248 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	43 FPS
1440p
low	221 FPS	83 FPS
medium	190 FPS	56 FPS
high	154 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	29 FPS
4K
low	108 FPS	37 FPS
medium	89 FPS	27 FPS
high	72 FPS	21 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	15 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open M1 8-Core GPU

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
1080p
low	593 FPS	225 FPS
medium	474 FPS	180 FPS
high	395 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	296 FPS	112 FPS
1440p
low	444 FPS	169 FPS
medium	356 FPS	135 FPS
high	296 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	296 FPS	112 FPS
medium	237 FPS	90 FPS
high	198 FPS	75 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	56 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open M1 8-Core GPU

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
1080p
low	565 FPS	184 FPS
medium	474 FPS	139 FPS
high	395 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	296 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	444 FPS	147 FPS
medium	356 FPS	109 FPS
high	296 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	296 FPS	78 FPS
medium	237 FPS	58 FPS
high	198 FPS	51 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	40 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open M1 8-Core GPU

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and M1 8-Core GPU

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.

M1 8-Core GPU

The M1 8-Core GPU is manufactured by Apple. It was released in November 10 2020. The core clock speed is 1278 MHz. It has 8 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,000 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the M1 8-Core GPU's 5,000 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU leads by 163.4%. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 8 (M1 8-Core GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
G3D Mark Score	13,170+163%	5,000
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584+44700%	8

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The M1 8-Core GPU relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the M1 8-Core GPU has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 68 GB/s (M1 8-Core GPU) — a 394.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. Bus width: 192-bit vs Unified.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+200%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s+394%	68 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	Unified

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs N/A (M1 8-Core GPU). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.1 (Rosetta 2). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	N/A
OpenGL	4.6+12%	4.1 (Rosetta 2)
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs Apple M1 Video Encoder (M1 8-Core GPU). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs Apple M1 Video Decoder. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs H.264,HEVC,ProRes,ProRes RAW (M1 8-Core GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
Encoder	NVENC (7th Gen)	Apple M1 Video Encoder
Decoder	NVDEC (5th Gen)	Apple M1 Video Decoder
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9	H.264,HEVC,ProRes,ProRes RAW

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU draws 170W versus the M1 8-Core GPU's 30W — a 140% difference. The M1 8-Core GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 350W (M1 8-Core GPU). Power connectors: Mobile vs PCIe-powered.