Radeon R9 290X vs GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Radeon R9 290X
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GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
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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. 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
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
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 R9 290X 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 141.1% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (8 GB vs 4 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R9 290X.
| Insight | Radeon R9 290X | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-141.1%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+141.1%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 2.0 (2013−2017)) | 🔮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 | Standard Size (275mm) | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R9 290X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $60 versus $280 for the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, it costs 79% less. While it maintains significantly lower raw performance, this results in a 93.6% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 290X | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+93.6%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($60) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($280) |
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 R9 290X and GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Radeon R9 290X
The Radeon R9 290X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 24 2013. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 947 MHz. It has 2816 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,426 points. Launch price was $549.
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 R9 290X scores 8,426 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 20,312 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti leads by 141.1%. The Radeon R9 290X is built on GCN 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,816 (Radeon R9 290X) vs 4,864 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Raw compute: 5.632 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 290X) vs 16.2 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Boost clocks: 947 MHz vs 1665 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 8,426 | 20,312+141% |
| Architecture | GCN 2.0 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 2816 | 4864+73% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 5.632 TFLOPS | 16.2 TFLOPS+188% |
| Boost Clock | 947 MHz | 1665 MHz+76% |
| ROPs | 64 | 80+25% |
| TMUs | 176+16% | 152 |
| L1 Cache | 0.69 MB | 4.8 MB+596% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 4 MB+300% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X | 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 R9 290X comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 320 GB/s (Radeon R9 290X) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — a 40% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. Bus width: 512-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (Radeon R9 290X) vs 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 320 GB/s | 448 GB/s+40% |
| Bus Width | 512-bit+100% | 256-bit |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 4 MB+300% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12.0 (Radeon R9 290X) vs 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 6 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12.0 | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |
| Vulkan | 1.1 | 1.3+18% |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 6+50% | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 2.0 (Radeon R9 290X) vs NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Decoder: UVD 4.2 vs NVDEC (Ampere). Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 (Radeon R9 290X) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti).
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 2.0 | NVENC (Ampere) |
| Decoder | UVD 4.2 | NVDEC (Ampere) |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 | H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 290X draws 350W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 200W — a 54.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (Radeon R9 290X) vs 600W (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 275mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 95°C vs 75.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 350W | 200W-43% |
| Recommended PSU | 750W | 600W-20% |
| Power Connector | 6-pin + 8-pin | 8-pin |
| Length | 275mm | 242mm |
| Height | 109mm | 112mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 95°C | 75-21% |
| Perf/Watt | 24.1 | 101.6+322% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 290X launched at $549 MSRP and currently averages $60, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti launched at $399 and now averages $280. The Radeon R9 290X costs 78.6% less ($220 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 140.4 (Radeon R9 290X) vs 72.5 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — the Radeon R9 290X offers 93.7% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $549 | $399-27% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60-79% | $280 |
| Performance per Dollar | 140.4+94% | 72.5 |
| Codename | Hawaii | GA104 |
| Release | October 24 2013 | December 1 2020 |
| Ranking | #342 | #73 |
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