GeForce RTX 3060 vs Quadro GP100

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060

2021Core: 1320 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
NVIDIA

Quadro GP100

2016Core: 1304 MHzBoost: 1442 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 3060

Performance Spectrum - GPU

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

  • 1.3% more average FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Costs $6,671 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $7,000 MSRP).
  • Delivers 2537.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 2.0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $7,000 MSRP).
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
  • More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

Quadro GP100

2016

Why buy it

  • 33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 12 GB).

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
  • Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 16 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
  • 2027.7% HIGHER MSRP
    $7,000 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($7,000 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than Quadro GP100?
Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3060 averages 1.3% more FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 13,710 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Quadro GP100 is a 2016 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 2016, 24.0% more raw performance headroom, better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, and a 8nm process instead of 16nm. That broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.
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 about $6,671 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $7,000 MSRP, and you are getting 1.3% more estimated average FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data and 24.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 2537.5%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.
Is Quadro GP100 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
Yes. Quadro GP100 is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $7,000 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
1080p
low149 FPS190 FPS
medium131 FPS177 FPS
high118 FPS152 FPS
ultra99 FPS138 FPS
1440p
low126 FPS177 FPS
medium104 FPS149 FPS
high92 FPS118 FPS
ultra80 FPS108 FPS
4K
low67 FPS109 FPS
medium58 FPS91 FPS
high39 FPS67 FPS
ultra32 FPS61 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
1080p
low354 FPS313 FPS
medium310 FPS274 FPS
high249 FPS207 FPS
ultra195 FPS171 FPS
1440p
low222 FPS212 FPS
medium196 FPS181 FPS
high160 FPS145 FPS
ultra128 FPS118 FPS
4K
low110 FPS108 FPS
medium94 FPS91 FPS
high77 FPS75 FPS
ultra60 FPS59 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
1080p
low765 FPS617 FPS
medium612 FPS494 FPS
high510 FPS411 FPS
ultra382 FPS308 FPS
1440p
low535 FPS463 FPS
medium432 FPS370 FPS
high366 FPS308 FPS
ultra287 FPS231 FPS
4K
low367 FPS308 FPS
medium298 FPS247 FPS
high221 FPS206 FPS
ultra176 FPS154 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
1080p
low523 FPS455 FPS
medium452 FPS417 FPS
high383 FPS334 FPS
ultra319 FPS286 FPS
1440p
low428 FPS365 FPS
medium371 FPS337 FPS
high298 FPS259 FPS
ultra245 FPS218 FPS
4K
low279 FPS234 FPS
medium259 FPS218 FPS
high225 FPS177 FPS
ultra186 FPS146 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Quadro GP100

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.

NVIDIA

Quadro GP100

The Quadro GP100 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 1 2016. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1304 MHz to 1442 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 235W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 13,710 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Quadro GP100's 13,710 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 24%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Quadro GP100 uses Pascal, both on 8 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 3,584 (Quadro GP100). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 10.34 TFLOPS (Quadro GP100). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1442 MHz.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
G3D Mark Score
16,995+24%
13,710
Architecture
Ampere
Pascal
Process Node
8 nm
16 nm
Shading Units
3584
3584
Compute (TFLOPS)
12.74 TFLOPS+23%
10.34 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1777 MHz+23%
1442 MHz
ROPs
48
96+100%
TMUs
112
224+100%
L1 Cache
3.5 MB+169%
1.3 MB
L2 Cache
3 MB
4 MB+33%

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 Quadro GP100 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
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 Quadro GP100 has 16 GB. The Quadro GP100 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1024 GB/s (Quadro GP100) — a 184.4% advantage for the Quadro GP100. Bus width: 192-bit vs 4096-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4 MB (Quadro GP100) — the Quadro GP100 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
VRAM Capacity
12 GB
16 GB+33%
Memory Type
GDDR6
HBM2
Memory Bandwidth
360 GB/s
1024 GB/s+184%
Bus Width
192-bit
4096-bit+2033%
L2 Cache
3 MB
4 MB+33%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 (Quadro GP100). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12
Vulkan
1.3
1.3
OpenGL
4.6+2%
4.5
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs NVENC 4th gen (Quadro GP100). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs NVDEC 3rd gen. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8,VP9 (Quadro GP100).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
Encoder
NVENC 7th Gen
NVENC 4th gen
Decoder
NVDEC 5th Gen
NVDEC 3rd gen
Codecs
AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9
H.264,H.265/HEVC,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8,VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Quadro GP100's 235W — a 32.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 500W (Quadro GP100). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 242mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
TDP
170W-28%
235W
Recommended PSU
550W
500W-9%
Power Connector
8-pin
PCIe-powered
Length
242mm
267mm
Height
112mm
111mm
Slots
2
2
Temp (Load)
75-6%
80°C
Perf/Watt
100.0+72%
58.3
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the Quadro GP100 launched at $7000. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 95.3% less ($6671 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2.0 (Quadro GP100) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 2485% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2016).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Quadro GP100
MSRP
$329-95%
$7000
Performance per Dollar
51.7+2485%
2.0
Codename
GA106
GP100
Release
January 12 2021
October 1 2016
Ranking
#114
#178