GeForce RTX 3060 vs HD Graphics 530

CPU

GPU

GeForce RTX 3060

2021Core: 1320 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

HD Graphics 530

2015Core: 350 MHzBoost: 950 MHz

Popular choices:

•RTX 3060••••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce RTX 3060

12 GB 170

16,995

+413.3%

GeForce RTX 3050 4GB Mobile

GeForce RTX 2060 (Mobile)

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

RTX 2000 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

TITAN V

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB

GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile

GeForce RTX 5070

HD Graphics 530

Shared System RAM 15

3,311

0.0%

Arc A530M

Arc A580

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.

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

2021

Why buy it

✅+413.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs Unknown).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌1033.3% higher power demand at 170W vs 15W.

HD Graphics 530

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 170W, a 155W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,311 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

HD Graphics 530

2015

Why buy it

✅+413.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs Unknown).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 170W, a 155W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌1033.3% higher power demand at 170W vs 15W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,311 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than HD Graphics 530?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 3,311 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while HD Graphics 530 is a 2015 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2021 generation instead of 2015, 413.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of Unknown, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3060 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $329 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 413.3% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is HD Graphics 530 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. HD Graphics 530 is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is still fine for 1080p, but 1440p and especially 4K require more compromise. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around an unclear MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3060 is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

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 Benchmark Check

HD Graphics 530 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
1080p
low	149 FPS	15 FPS
medium	131 FPS	11 FPS
high	118 FPS	6 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	3 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	10 FPS
medium	104 FPS	6 FPS
high	92 FPS	3 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	1 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	4 FPS
medium	58 FPS	2 FPS
high	39 FPS	1 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	1 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open HD Graphics 530

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
1080p
low	354 FPS	75 FPS
medium	310 FPS	49 FPS
high	249 FPS	32 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	23 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	47 FPS
medium	196 FPS	26 FPS
high	160 FPS	19 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	14 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	22 FPS
medium	94 FPS	14 FPS
high	77 FPS	11 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	8 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open HD Graphics 530

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
1080p
low	765 FPS	115 FPS
medium	612 FPS	93 FPS
high	510 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	52 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	97 FPS
medium	432 FPS	78 FPS
high	366 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	39 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	67 FPS
medium	298 FPS	59 FPS
high	221 FPS	32 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	26 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open HD Graphics 530

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
1080p
low	523 FPS	62 FPS
medium	452 FPS	47 FPS
high	383 FPS	27 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	19 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	9 FPS
medium	371 FPS	7 FPS
high	298 FPS	5 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	4 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	6 FPS
medium	259 FPS	4 FPS
high	225 FPS	3 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	2 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open HD Graphics 530

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and HD Graphics 530

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.

HD Graphics 530

The HD Graphics 530 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in September 1 2015. It features the Generation 9.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 350 MHz to 950 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm+ process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the HD Graphics 530's 3,311 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 413.3%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the HD Graphics 530 uses Generation 9.0, both on 8 nm vs 14 nm+. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 192 (HD Graphics 530). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 0.3648 TFLOPS (HD Graphics 530). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 950 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
G3D Mark Score	16,995+413%	3,311
Architecture	Ampere	Generation 9.0
Process Node	8 nm	14 nm+
Shading Units	3584+1767%	192
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+3392%	0.3648 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+87%	950 MHz
ROPs	48+1500%	3
TMUs	112+367%	24

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The HD Graphics 530 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the HD Graphics 530 has 0 MB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs System.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR6	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	System
Bus Width	192-bit	System

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 (HD Graphics 530). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 3.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12
Vulkan	1.3+8%	1.2
OpenGL	4.6+7%	4.3
Max Displays	4+33%	3

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs Quick Sync (Skylake) (HD Graphics 530). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs Gen 9. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,HEVC (8-bit),VP8 (HD Graphics 530).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	Quick Sync (Skylake)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	Gen 9
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,HEVC (8-bit),VP8

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the HD Graphics 530's 15W — a 167.6% difference. The HD Graphics 530 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1W (HD Graphics 530). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Integrated. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	HD Graphics 530
TDP	170W	15W-91%
Recommended PSU	550W	1W-100%
Power Connector	8-pin	Integrated
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	75	75°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	220.7+121%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the HD Graphics 530 launched at $0. The HD Graphics 530 costs 100+% less ($329 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs Infinity (HD Graphics 530) — the HD Graphics 530 offers Infinity% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2015).