GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs RTX 3500 Ada Generation La...

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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop 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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop 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

✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 160), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌70% higher power demand at 170W vs 100W.

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅24.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅42.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (160 vs 112).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 100W instead of 170W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 24.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 49.2% in PassMark G3D (19,656 vs 13,170), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, 40 vs 28 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2023 generation instead of 2022. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

RTX 3500 Ada Generation 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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop 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.

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 21 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1110 MHz to 1545 MHz. It has 5120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,656 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU's 19,656 — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU leads by 49.2%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is built on Ampere while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 5,120 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 15.82 TFLOPS (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1545 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 40 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) with 112 Tensor cores vs 160.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	13,170	19,656+49%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	5120+43%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	15.82 TFLOPS+24%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+15%	1545 MHz
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	112	160+43%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	5 MB+43%
L2 Cache	3 MB	48 MB+1500%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	40+43%
Tensor Cores	112	160+43%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU carries 12 GB. RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU gives you 100% 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 432 GB/s (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — a 28.6% advantage for the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and 192-bit on the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 48 MB (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	12 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	432 GB/s+29%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	48 MB+1500%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 12 Ultimate (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

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Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs NVENC 8th gen (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC (7th Gen)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (5th Gen)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU draws 170W versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU's 100W — a 51.9% difference. The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 150W (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Power connectors: Mobile vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.