GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs Radeon RX Vega 56
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB comes out significantly faster — about 33% ahead of the Radeon RX Vega 56. But the Radeon RX Vega 56 is the better value, undercutting it by $335 EUR for the performance you get.
Market Value Leader
Radeon RX Vega 56 is the clear winner, offering 8.2% better value than GeForce RTX 3060 8GB.
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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 Radeon RX Vega 56 currently lists from $758 EUR, $335 EUR less than the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB at $1,094 EUR. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX Vega 56 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~8% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX Vega 56 still sits about $359 EUR above its $399 EUR MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB still sits about $765 EUR above its $329 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?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX Vega 56 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB better than the Radeon RX Vega 56?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or the Radeon RX Vega 56?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB worth the extra $335 EUR over the Radeon RX Vega 56?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or Radeon RX Vega 56?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | Radeon RX Vega 56 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | GCN 5.0 (Vega) |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | GloFo 14nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors) | 3,584 | 3,584 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28 | — |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 112 | — |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | Radeon RX Vega 56 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz✓ | 1,156 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz✓ | 1,471 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | Radeon RX Vega 56 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | HBM2 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 2048-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps✓ | 1.6 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 240 GB/s | 409.6 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | Radeon RX Vega 56 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 170 W✓ | 210 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Feb 2021 | Aug 2017 |