Radeon RX 6950 XT vs GeForce RTX 3060
Radeon RX 6950 XT
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GeForce RTX 3060
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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 Radeon RX 6950 XT
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3060
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon RX 6950 XT is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 65.2% higher G3D Mark score and 33.3% more VRAM (16 GB vs 12 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce RTX 3060.
| Insight | Radeon RX 6950 XT | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+65.2%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-65.2%) |
| Longevity | 🔮Strong Longevity (RDNA 2.0 (2020−2025) / 7nm) | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling |
| VRAM | 🎮 High Capacity (16 GB) | 🎮 High Capacity (12 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce RTX 3060 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $289 versus $850 for the Radeon RX 6950 XT, it costs 66% less. While it maintains lower overall performance, this results in a 78% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon RX 6950 XT | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+78%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($850) | ✅More affordable ($289) |
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 RX 6950 XT and GeForce RTX 3060
Radeon RX 6950 XT
The Radeon RX 6950 XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 10 2022. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1925 MHz to 2324 MHz. It has 5120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 335W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. It features 80 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 28,076 points. Launch price was $1,099.
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.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the Radeon RX 6950 XT scores 28,076 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the Radeon RX 6950 XT leads by 65.2%. The Radeon RX 6950 XT is built on RDNA 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 7 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 5,120 (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 23.8 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060). Boost clocks: 2324 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 80 RT cores (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 112.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6950 XT | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 28,076+65% | 16,995 |
| Architecture | RDNA 2.0 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 7 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 5120+43% | 3584 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 23.8 TFLOPS+87% | 12.74 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 2324 MHz+31% | 1777 MHz |
| ROPs | 128+167% | 48 |
| TMUs | 320+186% | 112 |
| L1 Cache | 1 MB | 3.5 MB+250% |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 80+186% | 28 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 6950 XT is support for FSR 3 / AFMF. 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.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6950 XT | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 3 (Native) | DLSS 2.0 |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 / AFMF (Driver) | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon RX 6950 XT comes with 16 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB. The Radeon RX 6950 XT offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 576 GB/s (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) — a 60% advantage for the Radeon RX 6950 XT. Bus width: 256-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) — the Radeon RX 6950 XT has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6950 XT | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 16 GB+33% | 12 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 576 GB/s+60% | 360 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 256-bit+33% | 192-bit |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6950 XT | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 Ultimate | 12 Ultimate |
| Vulkan | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: RDNA 2 (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060). Decoder: RDNA 2 vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 decode (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060).
| Feature | Radeon RX 6950 XT | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | RDNA 2 | NVENC 7th Gen |
| Decoder | RDNA 2 | NVDEC 5th Gen |
| Codecs | H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 decode | AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon RX 6950 XT draws 335W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 65.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 850W (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 242mm, occupying 3 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 83°C vs 75.
| Feature | Radeon RX 6950 XT | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 335W | 170W-49% |
| Recommended PSU | 850W | 550W-35% |
| Power Connector | 2x 8-pin | 8-pin |
| Length | 267mm | 242mm |
| Height | 120mm | 112mm |
| Slots | 3 | 2-33% |
| Temp (Load) | 83°C | 75-10% |
| Perf/Watt | 83.8 | 100.0+19% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon RX 6950 XT launched at $1099 MSRP and currently averages $850, while the GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 and now averages $289. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 66% less ($561 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 33.0 (Radeon RX 6950 XT) vs 58.8 (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 78.2% better value. The Radeon RX 6950 XT is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2021).
| Feature | Radeon RX 6950 XT | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1099 | $329-70% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $850 | $289-66% |
| Performance per Dollar | 33.0 | 58.8+78% |
| Codename | Navi 21 | GA106 |
| Release | May 10 2022 | January 12 2021 |
| Ranking | #25 | #114 |
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