Radeon RX 780 vs GeForce RTX 3060
Radeon RX 780
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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. The Radeon RX 780 is positioned at rank #296 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 RX 780
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3060
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 121.9% higher G3D Mark score and 200% more VRAM (12 GB vs 4 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon RX 780.
| Insight | Radeon RX 780 | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-121.9%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+121.9%) |
| Longevity | 🏆Elite Architecture (RDNA 3.0 (2022−2026) / 5nm) | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | ✨ FSR 3 / AFMF Support | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (12 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce RTX 3060 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $289 versus $721 for the Radeon RX 780, it costs 60% less. While it maintains competitive performance, this results in a 453.7% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon RX 780 | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+453.7%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($721) | ✅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 780 and GeForce RTX 3060
Radeon RX 780
The Radeon RX 780 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 11 2024. It features the RDNA 3.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1295 MHz to 2335 MHz. It has 3840 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 180W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 60 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,658 points.
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 780 scores 7,658 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 121.9%. The Radeon RX 780 is built on RDNA 3.0 while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 5 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 3,840 (Radeon RX 780) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 35.87 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 780) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060). Boost clocks: 2335 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 60 RT cores (Radeon RX 780) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 112.
| Feature | Radeon RX 780 | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 7,658 | 16,995+122% |
| Architecture | RDNA 3.0 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 5 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 3840+7% | 3584 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 35.87 TFLOPS+182% | 12.74 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 2335 MHz+31% | 1777 MHz |
| ROPs | 96+100% | 48 |
| TMUs | 240+114% | 112 |
| L1 Cache | 0.75 MB | 3.5 MB+367% |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 60+114% | 28 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 780 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 780 | 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 780 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (Radeon RX 780) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) — the Radeon RX 780 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon RX 780 | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 12 GB+200% |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | 360 GB/s |
| Bus Width | System | 192-bit |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (12_2) (Radeon RX 780) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon RX 780 | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (12_2) | 12 Ultimate |
| Vulkan | 1.4+8% | 1.3 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: RDNA 3 Dual Media Engine (Radeon RX 780) vs NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060). Decoder: VCN 4.0 vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Radeon RX 780) vs AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060).
| Feature | Radeon RX 780 | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | RDNA 3 Dual Media Engine | NVENC 7th Gen |
| Decoder | VCN 4.0 | NVDEC 5th Gen |
| Codecs | H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 | AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon RX 780 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 5.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon RX 780) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 8-pin. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 75.
| Feature | Radeon RX 780 | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 180W | 170W-6% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-36% | 550W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 8-pin |
| Length | — | 242mm |
| Height | — | 112mm |
| Slots | 0-100% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 85°C | 75-12% |
| Perf/Watt | 42.5 | 100.0+135% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon RX 780 launched at $499 MSRP and currently averages $721, while the GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 and now averages $289. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 59.9% less ($432 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 10.6 (Radeon RX 780) vs 58.8 (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 454.7% better value. The Radeon RX 780 is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2021).
| Feature | Radeon RX 780 | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $499 | $329-34% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $721 | $289-60% |
| Performance per Dollar | 10.6 | 58.8+455% |
| Codename | Navi 32 | GA106 |
| Release | September 11 2024 | January 12 2021 |
| Ranking | #131 | #114 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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