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.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs M1 8-Core 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 Laptop GPU vs M1 8-Core 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 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).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base 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.
❌GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 163.4% in PassMark G3D (13,170 vs 5,000), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 6 GB vs 2 GB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, 28 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2022 generation instead of 2020. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs M1 8-Core GPU 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.

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 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The M1 8-Core GPU leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

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 has 6 GB of VRAM, while the M1 8-Core GPU carries 2 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU gives you 200% 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 68 GB/s (M1 8-Core GPU) — a 394.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and Unified on the M1 8-Core GPU.

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

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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.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
TDP	170W	30W-82%
Recommended PSU	500W	350W-30%
Power Connector	Mobile	PCIe-powered
Slots	—	0
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	77.5	166.7+115%

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU (2022 vs 2020).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	M1 8-Core GPU
MSRP	—	$0
Codename	GA106	—
Release	October 12 2022	November 10 2020
Ranking	#147	#428

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