GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs Quadro M520

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

✅+588.4% 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

❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 9.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
❌580% higher power demand at 170W vs 25W.

Quadro M520

2017

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 9.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 170W, a 145W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (1,913 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.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022

Quadro M520

2017

Why buy it

✅+588.4% 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

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 9.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 170W, a 145W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 9.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
❌580% higher power demand at 170W vs 25W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (1,913 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.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU better than Quadro M520?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 13,170 vs 1,913 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is a 2022 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Quadro M520 is a 2017 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 2017, 588.4% 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 the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus $200 MSRP, and you are getting 588.4% higher G3D Mark. Quadro M520 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Quadro M520 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Quadro M520 is 2017 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM, 1,913 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

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

Quadro M520 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Quadro M520
1080p
low	109 FPS	33 FPS
medium	98 FPS	20 FPS
high	84 FPS	13 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	7 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	20 FPS
medium	83 FPS	12 FPS
high	70 FPS	6 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	3 FPS
4K
low	48 FPS	8 FPS
medium	43 FPS	6 FPS
high	30 FPS	3 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	2 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open Quadro M520

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Quadro M520
1080p
low	351 FPS	71 FPS
medium	307 FPS	45 FPS
high	246 FPS	32 FPS
ultra	194 FPS	20 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	20 FPS
medium	195 FPS	15 FPS
high	159 FPS	10 FPS
ultra	127 FPS	7 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	6 FPS
medium	93 FPS	4 FPS
high	77 FPS	4 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	2 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open Quadro M520

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Quadro M520
1080p
low	593 FPS	86 FPS
medium	474 FPS	69 FPS
high	395 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	296 FPS	43 FPS
1440p
low	444 FPS	65 FPS
medium	356 FPS	52 FPS
high	296 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	32 FPS
4K
low	296 FPS	43 FPS
medium	237 FPS	34 FPS
high	198 FPS	29 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	22 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open Quadro M520

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Quadro M520
1080p
low	519 FPS	84 FPS
medium	439 FPS	68 FPS
high	376 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	296 FPS	43 FPS
1440p
low	425 FPS	15 FPS
medium	356 FPS	12 FPS
high	296 FPS	11 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	9 FPS
4K
low	277 FPS	11 FPS
medium	237 FPS	8 FPS
high	198 FPS	7 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	5 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open Quadro M520

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and Quadro M520

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.

Quadro M520

The Quadro M520 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2017. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1041 MHz to 1019 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,913 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the Quadro M520's 1,913 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU leads by 588.4%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is built on Ampere while the Quadro M520 uses Maxwell, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 384 (Quadro M520). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 0.7995 TFLOPS (Quadro M520). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1019 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Quadro M520
G3D Mark Score	13,170+588%	1,913
Architecture	Ampere	Maxwell
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	3584+833%	384
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+1493%	0.7995 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+74%	1019 MHz
ROPs	48+500%	8
TMUs	112+600%	16
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+2592%	0.13 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB+200%	1 MB

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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 Quadro M520 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Quadro M520
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 Quadro M520 has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 1 MB (Quadro M520) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Quadro M520
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+200%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB+200%	1 MB

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU draws 170W versus the Quadro M520's 25W — a 148.7% difference. The Quadro M520 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 350W (Quadro M520). Power connectors: Mobile vs PCIe-powered.