GeForce RTX 3060 vs Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

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

✅+209% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 181.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 18.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $29 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,500 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) 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.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 18.3 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($300 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

2012

Why buy it

✅+209% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 181.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 18.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $29 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,500 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) 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.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 18.3 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($300 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 5,500 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire is a 2012 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. 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, 209.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 4 GB, and the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR upscaling. 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 by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3060 is about 9.7% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $300 MSRP, and you are getting 209.0% higher G3D Mark. Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire is 2012 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM, 5,500 in G3D Mark, and FSR upscaling. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

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

Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
1080p
low	149 FPS	96 FPS
medium	131 FPS	84 FPS
high	118 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	39 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	87 FPS
medium	104 FPS	75 FPS
high	92 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	30 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	27 FPS
medium	58 FPS	26 FPS
high	39 FPS	17 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	14 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
1080p
low	354 FPS	94 FPS
medium	310 FPS	65 FPS
high	249 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	31 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	53 FPS
medium	196 FPS	31 FPS
high	160 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	16 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	18 FPS
medium	94 FPS	11 FPS
high	77 FPS	9 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	7 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
1080p
low	765 FPS	248 FPS
medium	612 FPS	198 FPS
high	510 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	124 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	186 FPS
medium	432 FPS	148 FPS
high	366 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	93 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	124 FPS
medium	298 FPS	99 FPS
high	221 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
1080p
low	523 FPS	156 FPS
medium	452 FPS	128 FPS
high	383 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	114 FPS
medium	371 FPS	95 FPS
high	298 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	66 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	66 FPS
medium	259 FPS	52 FPS
high	225 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	31 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

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.

Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

The Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 1 2012. It features the GCN architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,500 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire's 5,500 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 209%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire uses GCN, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2,560 (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 900 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
G3D Mark Score	16,995+209%	5,500
Architecture	Ampere	GCN
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	3584+40%	2560
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+97%	900 MHz

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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 Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire has 4 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 153.6 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire) — a 134.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit x2.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+200%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+134%	153.6 GB/s x2
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit x2+33%

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire's 200W — a 16.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
TDP	170W-15%	200W
Recommended PSU	550W	350W-36%
Power Connector	8-pin	1x 6-pin
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	75	—
Perf/Watt	100.0+264%	27.5

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire launched at $300. The Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire costs 8.8% less ($29 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 18.3 (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 182.5% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2012).