GeForce RTX 3090 vs GeForce RTX 5060
Performance-wise the GeForce RTX 3090 is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 50% up on the GeForce RTX 5060. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
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GeForce RTX 3090 vs GeForce RTX 5060: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3090 vs GeForce RTX 5060
The GeForce RTX 3090 is dramatically faster, around 50% ahead of the GeForce RTX 5060. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 3090 packs 10,496 CUDA cores versus 3,840 on the GeForce RTX 5060.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 5060 starts at $590 CAD against $800 CAD for the GeForce RTX 3090. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3090 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 11%. The GeForce RTX 5060 still sits about $291 CAD above its $299 CAD MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3090 is trading below its $1,499 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 5060 sips power at 145W next to the GeForce RTX 3090's 350W, and still leads on performance-per-watt — quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3090's 24GB (vs 8GB on the GeForce RTX 5060) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce RTX 3090's memory is also faster — 936 GB/s versus 448 GB/s (384-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 5060 is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3090 (Blackwell vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 5060?
The GeForce RTX 3090 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce RTX 5060 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3090 better than the GeForce RTX 5060?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3090 or the GeForce RTX 5060?
Is the GeForce RTX 3090 worth the extra $210 CAD over the GeForce RTX 5060?
Does the GeForce RTX 3090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 5060?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 10,496✓ | 3,840 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 82✓ | 30 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 328✓ | 120 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,395 MHz | 2,280 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,695 MHz | 2,497 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 24 GB✓ | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19.5 Gbps | 28 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 936 GB/s✓ | 448 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| TDP | 350 W | 145 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Sep 2020 | May 2025 |
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