GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs Intel Arc A730M
On performance, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and Intel Arc A730M are effectively a dead heat — under a few percent apart.
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Only verified data for GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is available. Benchmarks for other models are currently being processed.
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GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs Intel Arc A730M: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs Intel Arc A730M
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and Intel Arc A730M post nearly the same score in our performance index, so neither holds a meaningful raw-speed advantage. Both are best suited to 1080p gaming.
Power & Efficiency
The Intel Arc A730M draws just 120W versus 170W for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom. Its more modern Alchemist architecture on a TSMC N6 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
Features & Ecosystem
Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Intel Arc A730M offers Intel XeSS upscaling and AV1 encoding. 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 12GB or Intel Arc A730M?
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the faster card. Since one of these is a laptop GPU, its listed price covers the whole system rather than just the chip, so it isn't directly comparable — base your decision on the spec differences above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than the Intel Arc A730M?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the Intel Arc A730M?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or Intel Arc A730M?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Intel Arc A730M |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Alchemist |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC N6 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Shading Units) | 3,584✓ | 3,072 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28✓ | 24 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 112 | 384✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Intel Arc A730M |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz✓ | 1,100 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz | 2,050 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Intel Arc A730M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps✓ | 14 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 360 GB/s✓ | 336 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Intel Arc A730M |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 170 W | 120 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | None |
| Released | Feb 2021 | Mar 2022 |
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