CPU
GPU
Radeon HD 8790M
Popular choices:
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The Radeon HD 8790M is positioned at rank #207 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 8790M
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Why is GeForce RTX 3060 Ti better than Radeon HD 8790M?
The matchup between the Radeon HD 8790M and the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti demonstrates the monumental leap in graphics technology over nearly a decade between mobile and desktop platforms. The Radeon HD 8790M was a mid-range mobile GPU for business laptops in 2013, while the RTX 3060 Ti is a 2020 desktop powerhouse from the Ampere generation.\n\nThe performance difference is staggering, with the RTX 3060 Ti offering roughly 12-15 times the raw throughput. It also introduces dedicated hardware for Ray Tracing and AI-driven DLSS, features that weren't even on the roadmap when the HD 8790M was released. With 8GB of modern VRAM and a much more advanced architecture, the RTX card can run any modern title at ultra settings, whereas the HD 8790M lacks the hardware and driver support necessary to even launch many current games.\n\nUltimately, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the superior choice for any current gaming or creative task. The Radeon HD 8790M served its purpose in mobile workstations over ten years ago, but it is now outclassed even by modern budget integrated graphics. Transitioning to a modern RTX 30-series card represents a night-and-day difference in speed, resolution, and overall system capability.
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is significantly newer (2020 vs 2013). The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon HD 8790M lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1455.3% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (8 GB vs 2 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 8790M.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8790M | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1455.3%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1455.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere (2020−2025) / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (8 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
Performance Check
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 7800X3D 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Radeon HD 8790M and GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Radeon HD 8790M
The Radeon HD 8790M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 1 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,306 points.
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1410 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 4864 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 38 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $399.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the Radeon HD 8790M scores 1,306 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 20,312 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti leads by 1455.3%. The Radeon HD 8790M is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 384 (Radeon HD 8790M) vs 4,864 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Raw compute: 0.6912 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8790M) vs 16.2 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 1665 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,306 | 20,312+1455% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 4864+1167% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.6912 TFLOPS | 16.2 TFLOPS+2244% |
| Boost Clock | 900 MHz | 1665 MHz+85% |
| ROPs | 8 | 80+900% |
| TMUs | 24 | 152+533% |
| L1 Cache | 0.09 MB | 4.8 MB+5233% |
| L2 Cache | 0.25 MB | 4 MB+1500% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | DLSS 2.0 |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 8790M comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 0.25 MB (Radeon HD 8790M) vs 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 8 GB+300% |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | 448 GB/s |
| Bus Width | System | 256-bit |
| L2 Cache | 0.25 MB | 4 MB+1500% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.1 (11_1) (Radeon HD 8790M) vs 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 0 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.1 (11_1) | 12 Ultimate (12_2)+8% |
| Vulkan | 1.2 | 1.3+8% |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 0 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 1.0 (Radeon HD 8790M) vs NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Decoder: UVD 3.0 vs NVDEC (Ampere). Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 (Radeon HD 8790M) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 1.0 | NVENC (Ampere) |
| Decoder | UVD 3.0 | NVDEC (Ampere) |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 | H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 8790M draws 50W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 200W — a 120% difference. The Radeon HD 8790M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8790M) vs 600W (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 242mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 50W-75% | 200W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-42% | 600W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 8-pin |
| Length | 0mm | 242mm |
| Height | 0mm | 112mm |
| Slots | 0-100% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 75 | 75 |
| Perf/Watt | 26.1 | 101.6+289% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $399 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $280 |
| Codename | Mars | GA104 |
| Release | April 1 2013 | December 1 2020 |
| Ranking | #797 | #73 |
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