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 vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB 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 vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB: 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

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB

2025

Why buy it

✅41.8% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 12 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 41.8% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 34% in PassMark G3D (22,770 vs 16,995), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 16 GB vs 12 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025), while GeForce RTX 3060 is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and 36 vs 28 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $100 more expensive on MSRP at $429 vs $329, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 2.7% (53.1 vs 51.7), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3060

The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. 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: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB

The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 16 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2407 MHz to 2572 MHz. It has 4608 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 180W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 36 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,770 points. Launch price was $429.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB's 22,770 — the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB leads by 34%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB uses Blackwell 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4,608 (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 23.7 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2572 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 36 (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB) with 112 Tensor cores vs 144.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
G3D Mark Score	16,995	22,770+34%
Architecture	Ampere	Blackwell 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	4608+29%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	23.7 TFLOPS+86%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2572 MHz+45%
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	112	144+29%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	4.5 MB+29%
L2 Cache	3 MB	32 MB+967%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	36+29%
Tensor Cores	112	144+29%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is support for DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3060 does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 4)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB carries 16 GB. GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB) — a 24.4% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB) — the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	16 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR7
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	448 GB/s+24%
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	32 MB+967%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs NVENC (9th Gen) (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs NVDEC (6th Gen). Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	NVENC (9th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	NVDEC (6th Gen)
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB's 180W — a 5.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 68°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
TDP	170W-6%	180W
Recommended PSU	550W-15%	650W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75	68°C-9%
Perf/Watt	100.0	126.5+27%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB launched at $429. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 was 23.3% cheaper ($100 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 53.1 (GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB) — the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB offers 2.7% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB (2025 vs 2021).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
MSRP	$329-23%	$429
Performance per Dollar	51.7	53.1+3%
Codename	GA106	GB206
Release	January 12 2021	April 16 2025
Ranking	#114	#55

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