GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs Radeon RX Vega 56
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB comes out ahead: well ahead on speed, about 33% ahead of the Radeon RX Vega 56. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
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 $615 EUR, $175 EUR less than the Radeon RX Vega 56 at $790 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB wins on performance-per-dollar by about 71%. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB still sits about $286 EUR above its $329 EUR MSRP. The Radeon RX Vega 56 still sits about $391 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?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or the Radeon RX Vega 56?
Is the Radeon RX Vega 56 worth the extra $175 EUR over the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB?
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 |