GeForce RTX 3060 vs RADEON 9600SE
GeForce RTX 3060
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RADEON 9600SE
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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 GeForce RTX 3060
Performance Per Dollar RADEON 9600SE
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 62844.4% 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 9600SE.
| Insight | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9600SE |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+62844.4%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-62844.4%) |
| Longevity | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere / 8nm) | RDNA 3.5 (2024−2025) (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 $65), its significant performance lead justifies the premium, offering 14057.1% better value per dollar than the RADEON 9600SE.
| Insight | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9600SE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+14057.1%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($289) | ✅More affordable ($65) |
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 9600SE
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 9600SE
The RADEON 9600SE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 6 2025. It features the RDNA 3.5 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1295 MHz to 2900 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 55W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 27 points.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the RADEON 9600SE's 27 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 62844.4%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the RADEON 9600SE uses RDNA 3.5, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2,560 (RADEON 9600SE). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 14.85 TFLOPS (RADEON 9600SE). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2900 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 40 (RADEON 9600SE) with 112 Tensor cores.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9600SE |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 16,995+62844% | 27 |
| Architecture | Ampere | RDNA 3.5 |
| Process Node | 8 nm | 4 nm |
| Shading Units | 3584+40% | 2560 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 12.74 TFLOPS | 14.85 TFLOPS+17% |
| Boost Clock | 1777 MHz | 2900 MHz+63% |
| ROPs | 48 | 64+33% |
| TMUs | 112 | 160+43% |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB | 8 MB+167% |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28 | 40+43% |
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 9600SE relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9600SE |
|---|---|---|
| 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 9600SE 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 9600SE) — the RADEON 9600SE has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9600SE |
|---|---|---|
| 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 9600SE). Vulkan: 1.3 vs N/A. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 2.0. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9600SE |
|---|---|---|
| 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 9600SE). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs None. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-2 (RADEON 9600SE).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9600SE |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 7th Gen | None |
| Decoder | NVDEC 5th Gen | None |
| Codecs | AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 | MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the RADEON 9600SE's 55W — a 102.2% difference. The RADEON 9600SE is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 350W (RADEON 9600SE). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Legacy. Card length: 242mm vs 168mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 60.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9600SE |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 170W | 55W-68% |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 350W-36% |
| Power Connector | 8-pin | Legacy |
| Length | 242mm | 168mm |
| Height | 112mm | 111mm |
| Slots | 2 | 1-50% |
| Temp (Load) | 75 | 60-20% |
| Perf/Watt | 100.0+19900% | 0.5 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP and currently averages $289, while the RADEON 9600SE launched at $65 and now averages $65. The RADEON 9600SE costs 77.5% less ($224 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 58.8 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 0.4 (RADEON 9600SE) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 14600% better value. The RADEON 9600SE is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2021).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 | RADEON 9600SE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $329 | $65-80% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $289 | $65-78% |
| Performance per Dollar | 58.8+14600% | 0.4 |
| Codename | GA106 | Strix Halo |
| Release | January 12 2021 | January 6 2025 |
| Ranking | #114 | #98 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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