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.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅38.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅75% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (112 vs 64).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌385.7% higher power demand at 170W vs 35W.

RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile

2024

Why buy it

✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 35W instead of 170W, a 135W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (64 vs 112), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 38.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 52.3% in PassMark G3D (16,995 vs 11,162), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: the newer feature stack, with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025), while GeForce RTX 3060 is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and a newer 2024 generation instead of 2021. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and lighter 1440p, GeForce RTX 3060 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile

The RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 26 2024. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1485 MHz to 2025 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 35W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 16 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,162 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile's 11,162 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 52.3%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2,048 (RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 8.294 TFLOPS (RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2025 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 16 (RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile) with 112 Tensor cores vs 64.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile
G3D Mark Score	16,995+52%	11,162
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584+75%	2048
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+54%	8.294 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2025 MHz+14%
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	112+75%	64
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+75%	2 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB	12 MB+300%
Ray Tracing Cores	28+75%	16
Tensor Cores	112+75%	64

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile is support for DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3060 does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 4)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 gives you 50% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 128 GB/s (RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile) — a 181.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 and 64-bit on the RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 MB (RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile) — the RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+181%	128 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	12 MB+300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 (12_2) (RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 (12_2)
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 8th Gen NVENC (RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,H.265 (HEVC),AV1,VP9 (RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,H.265 (HEVC),AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile's 35W — a 131.7% difference. The RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 500W (RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile
TDP	170W	35W-79%
Recommended PSU	550W	500W-9%
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	318.9+219%

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile (2024 vs 2021).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 500 Ada Generation Mobile
MSRP	$329	—
Codename	GA106	AD107
Release	January 12 2021	February 26 2024
Ranking	#114	#254

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