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

✅Costs $9,670 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $9,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 2492% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 2.0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $9,999 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 170W instead of 260W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Quadro RTX 8000 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 576), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quadro RTX 8000

2018

Why buy it

✅46.7% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅414.3% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (576 vs 112).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 12 GB).

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 48 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
2939.2% HIGHER MSRP
$9,999 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($9,999 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌52.9% higher power demand at 260W vs 170W.

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Quadro RTX 8000

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $9,670 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $9,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 2492% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 2.0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $9,999 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 170W instead of 260W, a 90W reduction.

Why buy it

✅46.7% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅414.3% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (576 vs 112).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 12 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Quadro RTX 8000 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (112 vs 576), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 48 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
2939.2% HIGHER MSRP
$9,999 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($9,999 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌52.9% higher power demand at 260W vs 170W.

Quick Answers

So, is Quadro RTX 8000 better than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. Quadro RTX 8000 is clearly the better overall GPU here. Quadro RTX 8000 averages 46.7% more FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 19,927 vs 16,995 in G3D Mark. On top of that, Quadro RTX 8000 is a 2018 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 model from an older generation with DLSS Super Resolution. 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 2018, better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, and a 8nm process instead of 12nm. 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?

Quadro RTX 8000 is about 2939.2% more expensive on MSRP at $9,999 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 46.7% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 17.3% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, Quadro RTX 8000 is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3060 still makes more sense on price alone, but the performance trade-off is much harder to justify by current standards.

When does GeForce RTX 3060 make more sense than Quadro RTX 8000?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (170W vs 260W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $329 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of Quadro RTX 8000. The trade-off is that Quadro RTX 8000 currently gives you 17.3% higher G3D Mark and 46.7% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. GeForce RTX 3060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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 RTX 8000 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
1080p
low	149 FPS	205 FPS
medium	131 FPS	190 FPS
high	118 FPS	166 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	151 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	187 FPS
medium	104 FPS	158 FPS
high	92 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	121 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	119 FPS
medium	58 FPS	100 FPS
high	39 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	70 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Quadro RTX 8000

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
1080p
low	354 FPS	499 FPS
medium	310 FPS	442 FPS
high	249 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	289 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	325 FPS
medium	196 FPS	274 FPS
high	160 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	183 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	153 FPS
medium	94 FPS	135 FPS
high	77 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	90 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Quadro RTX 8000

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
1080p
low	765 FPS	897 FPS
medium	612 FPS	717 FPS
high	510 FPS	598 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	448 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	673 FPS
medium	432 FPS	538 FPS
high	366 FPS	448 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	336 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	448 FPS
medium	298 FPS	359 FPS
high	221 FPS	299 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	224 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Quadro RTX 8000

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
1080p
low	523 FPS	673 FPS
medium	452 FPS	605 FPS
high	383 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	448 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	544 FPS
medium	371 FPS	487 FPS
high	298 FPS	418 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	336 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	355 FPS
medium	259 FPS	323 FPS
high	225 FPS	297 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	224 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Quadro RTX 8000

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Quadro RTX 8000

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 RTX 8000

The Quadro RTX 8000 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 13 2018. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1395 MHz to 1770 MHz. It has 4608 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 260W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 72 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,927 points. Launch price was $9,999.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Quadro RTX 8000's 19,927 — the Quadro RTX 8000 leads by 17.3%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Quadro RTX 8000 uses Turing, both on 8 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4,608 (Quadro RTX 8000). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 16.31 TFLOPS (Quadro RTX 8000). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1770 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 72 (Quadro RTX 8000) with 112 Tensor cores vs 576.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
G3D Mark Score	16,995	19,927+17%
Architecture	Ampere	Turing
Process Node	8 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	3584	4608+29%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	16.31 TFLOPS+28%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	1770 MHz
ROPs	48	96+100%
TMUs	112	288+157%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	4.5 MB+29%
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	72+157%
Tensor Cores	112	576+414%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The Quadro RTX 8000 supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
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 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Quadro RTX 8000 has 48 GB. The Quadro RTX 8000 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 768 GB/s (Quadro RTX 8000) — a 113.3% advantage for the Quadro RTX 8000. Bus width: 192-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 6 MB (Quadro RTX 8000) — the Quadro RTX 8000 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	48 GB+300%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	768 GB/s+113%
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
L2 Cache	3 MB	6 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.2 (Quadro RTX 8000). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
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 NVENC 7.0 (Quadro RTX 8000). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs PureVideo HD VP10. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Quadro RTX 8000).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	NVENC 7.0
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	PureVideo HD VP10
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Quadro RTX 8000's 260W — a 41.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 650W (Quadro RTX 8000). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Quadro RTX 8000
TDP	170W-35%	260W
Recommended PSU	550W-15%	650W
Power Connector	8-pin	1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin
Length	242mm	267mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0+31%	76.6

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the Quadro RTX 8000 launched at $9999. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 96.7% less ($9670 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2.0 (Quadro RTX 8000) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 2485% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2018).