GeForce RTX 3060 vs Radeon R9 280

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3060

#15

Radeon RX 6500 XT

MSRP: $199|Avg: $150

109%

#16

GeForce RTX 3070

MSRP: $499|Avg: $200

108%

#17

Radeon RX 6700

MSRP: $379|Avg: $300

107%

#18

Radeon RX 6600 XT

MSRP: $379|Avg: $170

105%

#19

Radeon RX590 GME

MSRP: $173|Avg: $115

105%

#20

Radeon RX 6650 XT

MSRP: $399|Avg: $230

104%

#21

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti

MSRP: $379|Avg: $379

103%

#22

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

MSRP: $169|Avg: $179

102%

#23

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

MSRP: $249|Avg: $209

102%

#24

Radeon RX 6600 LE

MSRP: $329|Avg: $160

102%

#25

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB

MSRP: $379|Avg: $379

101%

#26

Radeon RX 7700 XT

MSRP: $449|Avg: $380

101%

#27

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

MSRP: $399|Avg: $380

101%

#28

Radeon RX 6750 GRE 10GB

MSRP: $269|Avg: $318

100%

#29

Radeon RX 6700 XT

MSRP: $479|Avg: $230

100%

#30

GeForce RTX 3060

MSRP: $329|Avg: $289

100%

#31

Radeon RX 7400

MSRP: $199|Avg: $199

100%

#32

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB

MSRP: $349|Avg: $349

99%

#33

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

MSRP: $349|Avg: $349

98%

#34

Radeon RX 5300

MSRP: $129|Avg: $50

96%

#35

GeForce GTX 1650 Ti

MSRP: $150|Avg: $77

95%

#36

Radeon RX 6400

MSRP: $159|Avg: $139

95%

#37

GeForce RTX 3070 Ti

MSRP: $599|Avg: $330

94%

#38

Arc A750

MSRP: $289|Avg: $229

94%

#39

Radeon RX 6800

MSRP: $579|Avg: $370

93%

#40

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

MSRP: $329|Avg: $280

92%

#41

Radeon RX 6750 XT

MSRP: $549|Avg: $320

92%

#42

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

MSRP: $799|Avg: $590

91%

#43

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB

MSRP: $429|Avg: $429

90%

#44

GeForce RTX 5070

MSRP: $549|Avg: $550

89%

#45

Radeon RX 7600 XT

MSRP: $329|Avg: $330

89%

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Why is GeForce RTX 3060 better than Radeon R9 280?

Comparing the Radeon R9 280 to the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti highlights more than six years of rapid GPU evolution. The Radeon R9 280 was a mid-range flagship rebrand in 2014 based on the Tahiti architecture, while the RTX 3060 Ti is a 2020 desktop powerhouse from the Ampere generation that redefined value at the 1440p tier.\n\nIn raw benchmarks, the RTX 3060 Ti is roughly 2 to 3 times more powerful and introduces features that didn't exist when the R9 280 launched, such as hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing and AI-powered upscaling (DLSS). While the R9 280 was a respected card for its time, it lacks the driver support and modern feature set of the RTX card. The 3060 Ti handles modern AAA titles at ultra settings at 1440p with ease, whereas the older Radeon struggles even at 1080p in many contemporary games.\n\nUltimately, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the superior choice for any current gaming or creative workspace. The Radeon R9 280 served its purpose in the mid-2010s, but it has since been vastly outclassed by modern architecture. Upgrading to a 30-series card represents a night-and-day difference in resolution, system responsiveness, and visual quality.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

⚠️ Generational Difference

The GeForce RTX 3060 is significantly newer (2021 vs 2014). The GeForce RTX 3060 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon R9 280 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.

🚀 Performance Leadership

The GeForce RTX 3060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 207.2% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (12 GB vs 3 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R9 280.

Insight	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon R9 280
Performance	✅Leading raw performance (+207.2%)	❌Lower raw frame rates (-207.2%)
Longevity	🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere / 8nm)	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020))
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	—

💎 Value Proposition

The Radeon R9 280 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $40 versus $289 for the GeForce RTX 3060, it costs 86% less. While it maintains significantly lower raw performance, this results in a 135.2% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon R9 280
Cost Efficiency	❌Lower cost efficiency	✅Better overall value (+135.2%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️Higher upfront cost ($289)	✅More affordable ($40)

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.

GeForce RTX 3060 Benchmark Check

Radeon R9 280 Benchmark Check

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Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Radeon R9 280

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 R9 280

The Radeon R9 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 4 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 933 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,532 points. Launch price was $279.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Radeon R9 280's 5,532 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 207.2%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Radeon R9 280 uses GCN 1.0, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1,792 (Radeon R9 280). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 3.344 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 280). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 933 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon R9 280
G3D Mark Score	16,995+207%	5,532
Architecture	Ampere	GCN 1.0
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	3584+100%	1792
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+281%	3.344 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+90%	933 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	112	112
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+695%	0.44 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB+300%	0.75 MB

✨

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 R9 280 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon R9 280
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 R9 280 has 3 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 240 GB/s (Radeon R9 280) — a 50% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 0.75 MB (Radeon R9 280) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon R9 280
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+300%	3 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+50%	240 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
L2 Cache	3 MB+300%	0.75 MB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Radeon R9 280's 200W — a 16.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 500W (Radeon R9 280). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 6-pin + 8-pin.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	Radeon R9 280
TDP	170W-15%	200W
Recommended PSU	550W	500W-9%
Power Connector	8-pin	6-pin + 8-pin
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	75	—
Perf/Watt	100.0+261%	27.7

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP and currently averages $289, while the Radeon R9 280 launched at $279 and now averages $40. The Radeon R9 280 costs 86.2% less ($249 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 58.8 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 138.3 (Radeon R9 280) — the Radeon R9 280 offers 135.2% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2014).