50

RTX 3060 Graphics Card

Ampere · 12 GB GDDR6

$329

MSRP

97

RTX 5090 Graphics Card

Blackwell · 32 GB GDDR7

$1999

MSRP

Our verdict

The RTX 5090 Graphics Card takes the performance lead with a 94% higher overall score, driven by its 21,760 shader cores, 32 GB of memory, and 104.8 TFLOPS TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 208% more frames per second across demanding titles like Alan Wake 2 and Black Myth Wukong.

However, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card tells a compelling value story. At $329 versus the RTX 5090 Graphics Card's $1999 price tag, it costs 508% less while delivering performance that's only 94% behind. Its 12 GB of memory is still more than enough for 1440p and even 4K gaming in most titles.

Our recommendation: for the majority of gamers targeting 1440p or even 4K with upscaling enabled, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card is the smarter purchase. The RTX 5090 Graphics Card only makes sense if you need the absolute maximum performance for native 4K ray tracing, professional 3D rendering, or AI workloads where the extra VRAM and compute power provide a tangible advantage.

Performance winner

RTX 5090 Graphics Card

94% faster overall

Best value for money

RTX 3060 Graphics Card

38% better value per dollar

RTX 3060 Graphics Card best for

Value for money

38% better value per dollar

Memory

Memory
12 GB
32 GB
Memory type
GDDR6
GDDR7
Memory bus
192-bit
512-bit
Memory bandwidth
360 GB/s
1,792 GB/s

Performance

CUDA cores
3,584
21,760
Boost clock
1,777 MHz
2,407 MHz
Base clock
1,320 MHz
2,012 MHz
FP32 performance
12.7 TFLOPS
104.8 TFLOPS
RT cores
28
170
Tensor cores
112
680

Physical

Transistors
13.3 billion
92.2 billion
Process
8 nm
4 nm
PCIe
PCIe 4
PCIe 5
Card length
228 mm
336 mm

Power

TDP
170W
575W
Power connector
8-pin
16-pin

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1440p ultra)

Alan Wake 2
34 fps
132 fps
Black Myth Wukong
38 fps
148 fps
Counter-Strike 2
240 fps
580 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
42 fps
165 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
43 fps
170 fps
Spider-Man 2
45 fps
175 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Geekbench 6 Compute
85,000 points
285,000 points
3DMark Fire Strike
19,000 points
62,000 points
3DMark Time Spy
11,000 points
38,000 points

Frequently asked questions

Is the RTX 5090 Graphics Card worth $1670 more than the RTX 3060 Graphics Card?

It depends on your needs. The RTX 5090 Graphics Card scores 97 overall vs 50 for the RTX 3060 Graphics Card. If you need the extra performance for demanding tasks, the premium is justified. For most users gaming at 1440p or below, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card or RTX 5090 Graphics Card?

The RTX 5090 Graphics Card delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The RTX 5090 Graphics Card provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the RTX 3060 Graphics Card still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the RTX 3060 Graphics Card handle 4K gaming?

The RTX 3060 Graphics Card can handle 4K gaming in less demanding titles and with upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR. For native 4K at ultra settings in demanding games, the RTX 5090 Graphics Card is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card or RTX 5090 Graphics Card?

Choose the RTX 3060 Graphics Card if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the RTX 5090 Graphics Card if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

Related comparisons

RTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RX 7600 Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS Arc B580 Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS Arc A750 Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RTX 4060 Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RX 7600 XT Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS Arc A770 Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RTX 4090 Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RTX 5080 Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RX 7900 XTX Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RTX 4080 SUPER Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RTX 4080 Graphics CardRTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RTX 5070 Ti Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RX 7600 Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS Arc B580 Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS Arc A750 Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RTX 4060 Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RX 7600 XT Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS Arc A770 Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RTX 4090 Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RTX 5080 Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RX 7900 XTX Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RTX 4080 SUPER Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RTX 4080 Graphics CardRTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RTX 5070 Ti Graphics Card

RTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RX 7600 Graphics Card

Score 50 VS 50

RTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RX 7600 Graphics Card

Score 97 VS 50

RTX 3060 Graphics Card VS Arc B580 Graphics Card

Score 50 VS 52

RTX 5090 Graphics Card VS Arc B580 Graphics Card

Score 97 VS 52

RTX 3060 Graphics Card VS Arc A750 Graphics Card

Score 50 VS 48

RTX 5090 Graphics Card VS Arc A750 Graphics Card

Score 97 VS 48

RTX 3060 Graphics Card VS RTX 4060 Graphics Card

Score 50 VS 55

RTX 5090 Graphics Card VS RTX 4060 Graphics Card

Score 97 VS 55

Build a complete system

Pairing with a CPU? See our CPU rankings →