GeForce RTX 3060
GeForce3
GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce3 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 vs GeForce3 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce3: 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
2021Why buy it
- ✅14548.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
- ✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 515432.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0.0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
- ✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
- ✅18947.6% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 65 MB).
Trade-offs
- ❌415.2% higher power demand at 170W vs 33W.
- ❌46.7% longer card at 242mm vs 165mm.
GeForce3
2015Why buy it
- ✅Draws 33W instead of 170W, a 137W reduction.
- ✅Measures 165mm instead of 242mm, a 77mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
- ❌Less VRAM, with 65 MB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
- ❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
- ❌2015 hardware with 65 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
- ❌51.7% HIGHER MSRP$499 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
Quick Answers
Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce3 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.
GeForce3
The GeForce3 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 13 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 928 MHz to 941 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 33W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5 points.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce3's 5 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 339800%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce3 uses Maxwell, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 384 (GeForce3). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 0.7227 TFLOPS (GeForce3). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 941 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | GeForce3 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 16,995+339800% | 5 |
| Architecture | Ampere | Maxwell |
| Process Node | 8 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 3584+833% | 384 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 12.74 TFLOPS+1663% | 0.7227 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 1777 MHz+89% | 941 MHz |
| ROPs | 48+500% | 8 |
| TMUs | 112+367% | 24 |
| L1 Cache | 3.5 MB+1742% | 0.19 MB |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+200% | 1 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
The GeForce3 supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | GeForce3 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | DLSS 2 Super Resolution | Upscaling support |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | NVIDIA Reflex | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce3 carries 65 MB. GeForce RTX 3060 gives you 18947.6% 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 and 64-bit on the GeForce3. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1 MB (GeForce3) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | GeForce3 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB+18948% | 0.063 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 192-bit+200% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+200% | 1 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 8.1 (GeForce3). Vulkan: 1.3 vs N/A. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 1.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | GeForce3 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 Ultimate+48% | 8.1 |
| Vulkan | 1.3 | N/A |
| OpenGL | 4.6+254% | 1.3 |
| Max Displays | 4+100% | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs None (GeForce3). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs None. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce3).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | GeForce3 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 7th Gen | None |
| Decoder | NVDEC 5th Gen | None |
| Codecs | AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 | MPEG-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce3's 33W — a 135% difference. The GeForce3 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 350W (GeForce3). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 242mm vs 165mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 85.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | GeForce3 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 170W | 33W-81% |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 350W-36% |
| Power Connector | 8-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 242mm | 165mm |
| Height | 112mm | 100mm |
| Slots | 2 | 1-50% |
| Temp (Load) | 75-12% | 85 |
| Perf/Watt | 100.0+49900% | 0.2 |
Value Analysis
At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 came in at $329, while the GeForce3 launched at $499. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 was 34.1% cheaper ($170 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 0.0 (GeForce3) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 100+% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 (2021 vs 2015).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | GeForce3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $329-34% | $499 |
| Performance per Dollar | 51.7 | 0.0 |
| Codename | GA106 | GM108 |
| Release | January 12 2021 | March 13 2015 |
| Ranking | #114 | #810 |
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