GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs Radeon RX 6500

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022Core: 1320 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz
RTX family
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VS
AMD

Radeon RX 6500

RX family
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GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs Radeon RX 6500 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

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 RX 6500 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 RX 6500: 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

  • 165.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
  • 50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).
  • Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 38.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
  • 126.7% higher power demand at 170W vs 75W.

Radeon RX 6500

Why buy it

  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 38.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
  • Draws 75W instead of 170W, a 95W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) 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. In our data, it leads by 165.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 73.1% in PassMark G3D (13,170 vs 7,610), 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 4 GB of VRAM, a 8nm process instead of Unknown node, 28 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2022 generation instead of 0. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Radeon RX 6500 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 RX 6500 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 RX 6500 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

NVIDIA

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.

AMD

Radeon RX 6500

The Radeon RX 6500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in sem dados. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,610 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the Radeon RX 6500's 7,610 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU leads by 73.1%.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPURadeon RX 6500
G3D Mark Score
13,170+73%
7,610

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the Radeon RX 6500 is support for FSR Frame Generation + AFMF. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon RX 6500 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPURadeon RX 6500
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
FSR 3
Frame Generation
Not Supported
FSR Frame Generation + AFMF
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 6500 carries 4 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU gives you 50% 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 144 GB/s (Radeon RX 6500) — a 133.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and 64-bit on the Radeon RX 6500.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPURadeon RX 6500
VRAM Capacity
6 GB+50%
4 GB
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
336 GB/s+133%
144 GB/s
Bus Width
192-bit+200%
64-bit
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 12.2 (Radeon RX 6500). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPURadeon RX 6500
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12.2+2%
Vulkan
1.4+8%
1.3
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4+100%
2
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs None (Radeon RX 6500). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs VCN 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Radeon RX 6500).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPURadeon RX 6500
Encoder
NVENC (7th Gen)
None
Decoder
NVDEC (5th Gen)
VCN 3.0
Codecs
H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU draws 170W versus the Radeon RX 6500's 75W — a 77.6% difference. The Radeon RX 6500 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 400W (Radeon RX 6500). Power connectors: Mobile vs 1x 6-pin. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPURadeon RX 6500
TDP
170W
75W-56%
Recommended PSU
500W
400W-20%
Power Connector
Mobile
1x 6-pin
Length
172mm
Height
112mm
Slots
2
Temp (Load)
75°C-12%
85°C
Perf/Watt
77.5
101.5+31%