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

✅+326% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $2,170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 3136.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 1.6 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).

Trade-offs

❌39.3% higher power demand at 170W vs 122W.

Quadro K5000

2012

Why buy it

✅Draws 122W instead of 170W, a 48W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,989 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌
659.6% HIGHER MSRP
$2,499 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Quadro K5000

2012

Why buy it

✅+326% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $2,170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 3136.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 1.6 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).

Why buy it

✅Draws 122W instead of 170W, a 48W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌39.3% higher power demand at 170W vs 122W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,989 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌
659.6% HIGHER MSRP
$2,499 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than Quadro K5000?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 3,989 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Quadro K5000 is a 2012 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 2012, 326.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 4 GB, 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 about $2,170 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $2,499 MSRP, and you are getting 326.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 3136.1%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is Quadro K5000 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. Quadro K5000 is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $2,499 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

Quadro K5000 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
1080p
low	149 FPS	78 FPS
medium	131 FPS	67 FPS
high	118 FPS	53 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	35 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	68 FPS
medium	104 FPS	60 FPS
high	92 FPS	42 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	27 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	25 FPS
medium	58 FPS	23 FPS
high	39 FPS	15 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	13 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Quadro K5000

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
1080p
low	354 FPS	80 FPS
medium	310 FPS	57 FPS
high	249 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	29 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	45 FPS
medium	196 FPS	29 FPS
high	160 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	15 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	17 FPS
medium	94 FPS	11 FPS
high	77 FPS	9 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	7 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Quadro K5000

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
1080p
low	765 FPS	180 FPS
medium	612 FPS	144 FPS
high	510 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	135 FPS
medium	432 FPS	108 FPS
high	366 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	67 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	90 FPS
medium	298 FPS	72 FPS
high	221 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	45 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Quadro K5000

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
1080p
low	523 FPS	131 FPS
medium	452 FPS	103 FPS
high	383 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	71 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	99 FPS
medium	371 FPS	79 FPS
high	298 FPS	68 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	51 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	58 FPS
medium	259 FPS	44 FPS
high	225 FPS	35 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	24 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Quadro K5000

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Quadro K5000

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.

Quadro K5000

The Quadro K5000 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 17 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 706 MHz to 706 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 122W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,989 points. Launch price was $2,499.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Quadro K5000's 3,989 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 326%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Quadro K5000 uses Kepler, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1,536 (Quadro K5000). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2.169 TFLOPS (Quadro K5000). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 706 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
G3D Mark Score	16,995+326%	3,989
Architecture	Ampere	Kepler
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	3584+133%	1536
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+487%	2.169 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+152%	706 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	112	128+14%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+2592%	0.13 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB+500%	0.5 MB

✨

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 K5000 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
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 K5000 has 4 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 0.5 MB (Quadro K5000) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+200%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB+500%	0.5 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12_0 (Quadro K5000). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12_0
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs NVENC 2nd Gen (Quadro K5000). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs NVDEC 1st Gen.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	NVENC 2nd Gen
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	NVDEC 1st Gen
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	—

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Quadro K5000's 122W — a 32.9% difference. The Quadro K5000 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 350W (Quadro K5000). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 242mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro K5000
TDP	170W	122W-28%
Recommended PSU	550W	350W-36%
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	267mm
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75	—
Perf/Watt	100.0+206%	32.7

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the Quadro K5000 launched at $2499. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 86.8% less ($2170 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1.6 (Quadro K5000) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 3131.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2012).