50

RTX 3060 Graphics Card

Ampere · 12 GB GDDR6

$329

MSRP

78

RX 9070 XT Graphics Card

RDNA 4 · 16 GB GDDR6

$549

MSRP

Our verdict

The RX 9070 XT Graphics Card takes the performance lead with a 56% higher overall score, driven by its more shader cores, 16 GB of memory, and 36.2 TFLOPS TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 93% more frames per second across demanding titles like Alan Wake 2 and Black Myth Wukong.

However, the RX 9070 XT Graphics Card tells a compelling value story. At $549 versus the RTX 3060 Graphics Card's $329 price tag, it costs $220 less while delivering performance that's only 56% behind. Its 16 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 RX 9070 XT Graphics Card is the smarter purchase. The RTX 3060 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

RX 9070 XT Graphics Card

56% faster overall

Best value for money

RX 9070 XT Graphics Card

18% better value per dollar

RTX 3060 Graphics Card best for

Value for money

18% better value per dollar

Memory

Memory
12 GB
16 GB
Memory type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory bus
192-bit
256-bit
Memory bandwidth
360 GB/s
650 GB/s

Performance

Boost clock
1,777 MHz
2,950 MHz
Base clock
1,320 MHz
2,416 MHz
FP32 performance
12.7 TFLOPS
36.2 TFLOPS

Physical

Transistors
13.3 billion
25.6 billion
Process
8 nm
3 nm
PCIe
PCIe 4
PCIe 4
Card length
228 mm
267 mm

Power

TDP
170W
300W
Power connector
8-pin
2x8-pin

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1440p ultra)

Alan Wake 2
34 fps
74 fps
Black Myth Wukong
38 fps
82 fps
Counter-Strike 2
240 fps
420 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
42 fps
92 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
43 fps
93 fps
Spider-Man 2
45 fps
98 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Geekbench 6 Compute
85,000 points
175,000 points
3DMark Fire Strike
19,000 points
40,000 points
3DMark Time Spy
11,000 points
24,000 points

Frequently asked questions

Is the RX 9070 XT Graphics Card worth $220 more than the RTX 3060 Graphics Card?

It depends on your needs. The RX 9070 XT Graphics Card scores 78 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 RX 9070 XT Graphics Card?

The RX 9070 XT Graphics Card delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The RX 9070 XT 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 RX 9070 XT Graphics Card is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the RTX 3060 Graphics Card or RX 9070 XT 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 RX 9070 XT Graphics Card if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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