GeForce RTX 3060 vs RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700
GeForce RTX 3060
Popular choices:
RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700
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. 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 GeForce RTX 3060
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 40364.3% higher G3D Mark score and 2300% more VRAM (12 GB vs 512 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700.
| Insight | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+40364.3%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-40364.3%) |
| Longevity | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere / 8nm) | RDNA 4.0 (2025) (4nm) |
| Ecosystem | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | 🎮 High Capacity (12 GB) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce RTX 3060 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Although it costs $289 (vs $30), its significant performance lead justifies the premium, offering 4100.4% better value per dollar than the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700.
| Insight | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+4100.4%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($289) | ✅More affordable ($30) |
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 GeForce RTX 3060 and RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700
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.
RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700
The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in July 23 2025. It features the RDNA 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1660 MHz to 2920 MHz. It has 4096 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 64 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 42 points. Launch price was $1,299.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700's 42 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 40364.3%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 uses RDNA 4.0, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4,096 (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 47.84 TFLOPS (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2920 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 64 (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) with 112 Tensor cores vs 128.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 16,995+40364% | 42 |
| Architecture | Ampere | RDNA 4.0 |
| Process Node | 8 nm | 4 nm |
| Shading Units | 3584 | 4096+14% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 12.74 TFLOPS | 47.84 TFLOPS+276% |
| Boost Clock | 1777 MHz | 2920 MHz+64% |
| ROPs | 48 | 128+167% |
| TMUs | 112 | 256+129% |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB | 8 MB+167% |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28 | 64+129% |
| Tensor Cores | 112 | 128+14% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
The GeForce RTX 3060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | DLSS 2.0 | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | NVIDIA Reflex | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce RTX 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 has 512 MB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 2300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 8 MB (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) — the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB+2300% | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 192-bit+200% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB | 8 MB+167% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 9.0 (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700). Vulkan: 1.3 vs N/A. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 2.0. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 Ultimate+33% | 9.0 |
| Vulkan | 1.3 | N/A |
| OpenGL | 4.6+130% | 2.0 |
| Max Displays | 4+100% | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs None (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs VideoShader. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-2 (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 7th Gen | None |
| Decoder | NVDEC 5th Gen | VideoShader |
| Codecs | AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 | MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700's 300W — a 55.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 350W (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Legacy. Card length: 242mm vs 175mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 70.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 170W-43% | 300W |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 350W-36% |
| Power Connector | 8-pin | Legacy |
| Length | 242mm | 175mm |
| Height | 112mm | 100mm |
| Slots | 2 | 1-50% |
| Temp (Load) | 75 | 70-7% |
| Perf/Watt | 100.0+99900% | 0.1 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP and currently averages $289, while the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 launched at $0 and now averages $30. The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 costs 89.6% less ($259 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 58.8 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1.4 (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 4100% better value. The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2021).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $329 | $0-100% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $289 | $30-90% |
| Performance per Dollar | 58.8+4100% | 1.4 |
| Codename | GA106 | Navi 48 |
| Release | January 12 2021 | July 23 2025 |
| Ranking | #114 | #23 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on GeForce RTX 3060 and RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700
