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

✅+82.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 54.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 33.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation (2023).

Radeon RX 590

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation (2023).
✅Measures 241mm instead of 242mm, a 1mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (9,315 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 8 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.4 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Radeon RX 590

2018

Why buy it

✅+82.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 54.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 33.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation (2023).
✅Measures 241mm instead of 242mm, a 1mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation (2023).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (9,315 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 8 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.4 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than Radeon RX 590?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 9,315 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Radeon RX 590 is a 2018 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling + limited Frame Generation. 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, 82.4% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 8 GB, and the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR upscaling + limited Frame Generation. 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 17.9% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $279 MSRP, and you are getting 82.4% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 54.7%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is Radeon RX 590 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. Radeon RX 590 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 $279 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

Radeon RX 590 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
1080p
low	149 FPS	175 FPS
medium	131 FPS	159 FPS
high	118 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	153 FPS
medium	104 FPS	126 FPS
high	92 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	76 FPS
medium	58 FPS	64 FPS
high	39 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	43 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 590

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
1080p
low	354 FPS	170 FPS
medium	310 FPS	145 FPS
high	249 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	96 FPS
medium	196 FPS	75 FPS
high	160 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	49 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	46 FPS
medium	94 FPS	36 FPS
high	77 FPS	31 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	26 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 590

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
1080p
low	765 FPS	419 FPS
medium	612 FPS	335 FPS
high	510 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	210 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	314 FPS
medium	432 FPS	252 FPS
high	366 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	157 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	210 FPS
medium	298 FPS	168 FPS
high	221 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	105 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 590

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
1080p
low	523 FPS	419 FPS
medium	452 FPS	335 FPS
high	383 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	210 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	314 FPS
medium	371 FPS	252 FPS
high	298 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	157 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	190 FPS
medium	259 FPS	149 FPS
high	225 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	105 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open Radeon RX 590

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Radeon RX 590

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 RX 590

The Radeon RX 590 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 15 2018. It features the GCN 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1469 MHz to 1545 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 175W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,315 points. Launch price was $279.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Radeon RX 590's 9,315 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 82.4%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 590 uses GCN 4.0, both on 8 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2,304 (Radeon RX 590). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 7.119 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 590). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1545 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
G3D Mark Score	16,995+82%	9,315
Architecture	Ampere	GCN 4.0
Process Node	8 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	3584+56%	2304
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+79%	7.119 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+15%	1545 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	112	144+29%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+525%	0.56 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB+50%	2 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 590 is support for FSR Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce RTX 3060 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.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 RX 590 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 590 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 256 GB/s (Radeon RX 590) — a 40.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2 MB (Radeon RX 590) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+41%	256 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	3 MB+50%	2 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.0 (Radeon RX 590). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.0
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 VCE 3.4 (Radeon RX 590). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs UVD 6.3. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (Radeon RX 590).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	VCE 3.4
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	UVD 6.3
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Radeon RX 590's 175W — a 2.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 500W (Radeon RX 590). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 241mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon RX 590
TDP	170W-3%	175W
Recommended PSU	550W	500W-9%
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	241mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0+88%	53.2

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 590 launched at $279. The Radeon RX 590 costs 15.2% less ($50 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 33.4 (Radeon RX 590) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 54.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2018).