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GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs Radeon RX Vega 56

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB comes out significantly faster — about 33% ahead of the Radeon RX Vega 56. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.

Market Value Leader

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the clear winner, offering 95.9% better value than Radeon RX Vega 56.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
Price
€425
Performance
16/100
VRAM
8 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+21% Boost Clock (1,777 MHz vs 1,471 MHz)
Price
€624
Performance
12/100
VRAM
8 GB HBM2
Key Specs Advantage
+1500% Memory Bus (2048-bit vs 128-bit)
+71% Bandwidth (409.6 GB/s vs 240 GB/s)

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs Radeon RX Vega 56: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs Radeon RX Vega 56

The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is significantly faster, around 33% ahead of the Radeon RX Vega 56. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the Radeon RX Vega 56 is better matched to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB currently lists from $425 EUR, $199 EUR less than the Radeon RX Vega 56 at $624 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB wins on performance-per-dollar by about 96%. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB still sits about $96 EUR above its $329 EUR MSRP. The Radeon RX Vega 56 still sits about $225 EUR above its $399 EUR MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

At 170W against 210W, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

Generation & Longevity

The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is roughly 4 years newer than the Radeon RX Vega 56 (Ampere vs GCN 5.0 (Vega)), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX Vega 56 offers AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.

Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or Radeon RX Vega 56?

The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon RX Vega 56 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB better than the Radeon RX Vega 56?

The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is significantly faster, roughly 33% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or the Radeon RX Vega 56?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the Radeon RX Vega 56 worth the extra $199 EUR over the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB comes out ahead.

Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or Radeon RX Vega 56?

The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon RX Vega 56 if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce RTX 3060 8GB and Radeon RX Vega 56
SpecificationGeForce RTX 3060 8GBRadeon RX Vega 56
ArchitectureAmpereGCN 5.0 (Vega)
Process NodeSamsung 8nmGloFo 14nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)3,5843,584
Ray Tracing Cores28
Tensor / AI Cores112

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce RTX 3060 8GB and Radeon RX Vega 56
SpecificationGeForce RTX 3060 8GBRadeon RX Vega 56
Base Clock1,320 MHz1,156 MHz
Boost Clock1,777 MHz1,471 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce RTX 3060 8GB and Radeon RX Vega 56
SpecificationGeForce RTX 3060 8GBRadeon RX Vega 56
VRAM Capacity8 GB8 GB
Memory TypeGDDR6HBM2
Memory Bus128-bit2048-bit
Memory Speed15 Gbps1.6 Gbps
Bandwidth240 GB/s409.6 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce RTX 3060 8GB and Radeon RX Vega 56
SpecificationGeForce RTX 3060 8GBRadeon RX Vega 56
InterfacePCIe 4.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP170 W210 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin2x 8-pin
ReleasedFeb 2021Aug 2017