GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs Radeon R9 280

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

✅+138.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 170W instead of 200W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 19.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $279 MSRP).

Radeon R9 280

2014

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 19.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,532 vs 13,170).
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌17.6% higher power demand at 200W vs 170W.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022

Radeon R9 280

2014

Why buy it

✅+138.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 170W instead of 200W, a 30W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 19.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 19.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $279 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,532 vs 13,170).
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌17.6% higher power demand at 200W vs 170W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU better than Radeon R9 280?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 13,170 vs 5,532 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is a 2022 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Radeon R9 280 is a 2014 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. 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 2014, 138.1% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 6 GB instead of 3 GB, and the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR upscaling. 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 $279 MSRP, and you are getting 138.1% higher G3D Mark. Radeon R9 280 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Radeon R9 280 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Radeon R9 280 is 2014 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM, 5,532 in G3D Mark, and FSR upscaling. 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

Radeon R9 280 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon R9 280
1080p
low	109 FPS	77 FPS
medium	98 FPS	63 FPS
high	84 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	33 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	65 FPS
medium	83 FPS	54 FPS
high	70 FPS	38 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	24 FPS
4K
low	48 FPS	24 FPS
medium	43 FPS	23 FPS
high	30 FPS	14 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	12 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open Radeon R9 280

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon R9 280
1080p
low	357 FPS	129 FPS
medium	310 FPS	100 FPS
high	248 FPS	79 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	53 FPS
1440p
low	221 FPS	73 FPS
medium	190 FPS	53 FPS
high	154 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	28 FPS
4K
low	108 FPS	28 FPS
medium	89 FPS	20 FPS
high	72 FPS	16 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	11 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open Radeon R9 280

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon R9 280
1080p
low	593 FPS	249 FPS
medium	474 FPS	199 FPS
high	395 FPS	166 FPS
ultra	296 FPS	124 FPS
1440p
low	444 FPS	187 FPS
medium	356 FPS	149 FPS
high	296 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	93 FPS
4K
low	296 FPS	124 FPS
medium	237 FPS	100 FPS
high	198 FPS	83 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open Radeon R9 280

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon R9 280
1080p
low	565 FPS	140 FPS
medium	474 FPS	116 FPS
high	395 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	296 FPS	85 FPS
1440p
low	444 FPS	103 FPS
medium	356 FPS	85 FPS
high	296 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	59 FPS
4K
low	296 FPS	62 FPS
medium	237 FPS	48 FPS
high	198 FPS	38 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	27 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Open Radeon R9 280

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and Radeon R9 280

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 R9 280

The Radeon R9 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 4 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 933 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,532 points. Launch price was $279.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the Radeon R9 280's 5,532 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU leads by 138.1%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is built on Ampere while the Radeon R9 280 uses GCN 1.0, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 1,792 (Radeon R9 280). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 3.344 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 280). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 933 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon R9 280
G3D Mark Score	13,170+138%	5,532
Architecture	Ampere	GCN 1.0
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	3584+100%	1792
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+281%	3.344 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+90%	933 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	112	112
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+695%	0.44 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB+300%	0.75 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 Radeon R9 280 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon R9 280
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 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 280 has 3 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 240 GB/s (Radeon R9 280) — a 40% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. Bus width: 192-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 0.75 MB (Radeon R9 280) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	Radeon R9 280
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+100%	3 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s+40%	240 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
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 R9 280's 200W — a 16.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 500W (Radeon R9 280). Power connectors: Mobile vs 6-pin + 8-pin.