GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs Radeon HD 7290

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 Radeon HD 7290 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 Radeon HD 7290: 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

✅4268.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅1100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 512 MB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 170W instead of 375W, a 205W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 5.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $20 MSRP).

Radeon HD 7290

2013

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 5.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($20 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌2013 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌120.6% higher power demand at 375W vs 170W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 4268.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 11658.9% in PassMark G3D (13,170 vs 112), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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 512 MB of VRAM, a 8nm process instead of 28nm, 28 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2022 generation instead of 2013. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon HD 7290 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Radeon HD 7290 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and lighter 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs Radeon HD 7290 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.

Radeon HD 7290

The Radeon HD 7290 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 24 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 950 MHz to 1000 MHz. It has 2048 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 375W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 112 points. Launch price was $999.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the Radeon HD 7290's 112 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU leads by 11658.9%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is built on Ampere while the Radeon HD 7290 uses GCN 1.0, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 2,048 (Radeon HD 7290). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 4.096 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 7290). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon HD 7290
G3D Mark Score	13,170+11659%	112
Architecture	Ampere	GCN 1.0
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	3584+75%	2048 ×2
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+211%	4.096 TFLOPS ×2
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+78%	1000 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32 ×2
TMUs	112	128 ×2+14%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+600%	0.5 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB+300%	0.75 MB

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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 Radeon HD 7290 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon HD 7290
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7290 carries 512 MB. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU gives you 1100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and 128-bit on the Radeon HD 7290. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 0.75 MB (Radeon HD 7290) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon HD 7290
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+1100%	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	Unknown
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB+300%	0.75 MB

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU draws 170W versus the Radeon HD 7290's 375W — a 75.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7290). Power connectors: Mobile vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon HD 7290
TDP	170W-55%	375W
Recommended PSU	500W	350W-30%
Power Connector	Mobile	1x 6-pin
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	77.5+25733%	0.3

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU (2022 vs 2013).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon HD 7290
MSRP	—	$20
Codename	GA106	Malta
Release	October 12 2022	April 24 2013
Ranking	#147	#412

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