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 3070 vs GeForce3 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 3070 vs GeForce3: 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 3070

2020

Why buy it

✅18222.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 443340% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 0.0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅12598.4% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 65 MB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌566.7% higher power demand at 220W vs 33W.
❌46.7% longer card at 242mm vs 165mm.

GeForce3

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 33W instead of 220W, a 187W reduction.
✅Measures 165mm instead of 242mm, a 77mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 65 MB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌2015 hardware with 65 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.0 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3070 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 18222.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 443340% in PassMark G3D (22,172 vs 5), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 3070 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 65 MB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 28nm, and 46 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3070 makes the most sense to buy today. It is priced the same on MSRP at $499 vs $499, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 443340% (44.4 vs 0.0), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 3070 vs GeForce3 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3070

The GeForce RTX 3070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1725 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,172 points. Launch price was $499.

GeForce3

The GeForce3 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 13 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 928 MHz to 941 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 33W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3070 scores 22,172 versus the GeForce3's 5 — the GeForce RTX 3070 leads by 443340%. The GeForce RTX 3070 is built on Ampere while the GeForce3 uses Maxwell, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 384 (GeForce3). Raw compute: 20.31 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 0.7227 TFLOPS (GeForce3). Boost clocks: 1725 MHz vs 941 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	GeForce3
G3D Mark Score	22,172+443340%	5
Architecture	Ampere	Maxwell
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	5888+1433%	384
Compute (TFLOPS)	20.31 TFLOPS+2710%	0.7227 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1725 MHz+83%	941 MHz
ROPs	96+1100%	8
TMUs	184+667%	24
L1 Cache	5.8 MB+2953%	0.19 MB
L2 Cache	4 MB+300%	1 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce3 supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3070 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	GeForce3
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 3070 has 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce3 carries 65 MB. GeForce RTX 3070 gives you 12598.4% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce RTX 3070 and 64-bit on the GeForce3. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 1 MB (GeForce3) — the GeForce RTX 3070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	GeForce3
VRAM Capacity	8 GB+12598%	0.063 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Bus Width	256-bit+300%	64-bit
L2 Cache	4 MB+300%	1 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 8.1 (GeForce3). Vulkan: 1.4 vs N/A. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 1.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	GeForce3
DirectX	12 Ultimate+48%	8.1
Vulkan	1.4	N/A
OpenGL	4.6+254%	1.3
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3070) vs None (GeForce3). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs None. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs MPEG-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce3).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	GeForce3
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	None
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	None
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9	MPEG-1,MPEG-2

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3070 draws 220W versus the GeForce3's 33W — a 147.8% difference. The GeForce3 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 350W (GeForce3). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 242mm vs 165mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	GeForce3
TDP	220W	33W-85%
Recommended PSU	650W	350W-46%
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	165mm
Height	112mm	100mm
Slots	2	1-50%
Temp (Load)	75°C-12%	85
Perf/Watt	100.8+50300%	0.2

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3070 came in at $499, while the GeForce3 launched at $499. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.4 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 0.0 (GeForce3) — the GeForce RTX 3070 offers 100+% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3070 (2020 vs 2015).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	GeForce3
MSRP	$499	$499
Performance per Dollar	44.4	0.0
Codename	GA104	GM108
Release	September 1 2020	March 13 2015
Ranking	#63	#810

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