GeForce RTX 3060 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060

2021Core: 1320 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz
RTX family
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VS
Intel

Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020
Similar parts
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GeForce RTX 3060 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7 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 Iris Xe Graphics G7: 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

  • +413.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Delivers 212% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 16.6 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs Unknown).
  • Better long-term bet: Ampere on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • 466.7% higher power demand at 170W vs 30W.

Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020

Why buy it

  • Costs $129 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
  • Draws 30W instead of 170W, a 140W 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.
  • 2020 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 16.6 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 3060 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 413.3% in PassMark G3D (16,995 vs 3,311), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 3060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs Unknown of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 10nm, and 28 vs 0 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 3060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $129 more expensive on MSRP at $329 vs $200, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 212% (51.7 vs 16.6), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7 Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

Intel

Iris Xe Graphics G7

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in August 15 2020. It features the Gen. 11 Ice Lake architecture. It has 96 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 10 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Iris Xe Graphics G7's 3,311 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 413.3%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 uses Gen. 11 Ice Lake, both on 8 nm vs 10 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 96 (Iris Xe Graphics G7).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Iris Xe Graphics G7
G3D Mark Score
16,995+413%
3,311
Architecture
Ampere
Gen. 11 Ice Lake
Process Node
8 nm
10 nm
Shading Units
3584+3633%
96

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Iris Xe Graphics G7
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 has 12 GB of VRAM, while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 carries 0 MB. GeForce RTX 3060 gives you 100+% 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 System on the Iris Xe Graphics G7.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Iris Xe Graphics G7
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 12.1 (Iris Xe Graphics G7). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Iris Xe Graphics G7
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12.1
Vulkan
1.3+8%
1.2
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs QuickSync (Iris Xe Graphics G7). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs QuickSync. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Iris Xe Graphics G7).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Iris Xe Graphics G7
Encoder
NVENC 7th Gen
QuickSync
Decoder
NVDEC 5th Gen
QuickSync
Codecs
AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9
H.264,HEVC,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Iris Xe Graphics G7's 30W — a 140% difference. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1W (Iris Xe Graphics G7). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Integrated. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 85°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Iris Xe Graphics G7
TDP
170W
30W-82%
Recommended PSU
550W
1W-100%
Power Connector
8-pin
Integrated
Length
242mm
Height
112mm
Slots
2
Temp (Load)
75-12%
85°C
Perf/Watt
100.0
110.4+10%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 came in at $329, while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 launched at $200. On MSRP, Iris Xe Graphics G7 was 39.2% cheaper ($129 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 16.6 (Iris Xe Graphics G7) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 211.4% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 (2021 vs 2020).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Iris Xe Graphics G7
MSRP
$329
$200-39%
Performance per Dollar
51.7+211%
16.6
Codename
GA106
Tiger Lake Xe
Release
January 12 2021
August 15 2020
Ranking
#114
#493

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