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GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs Radeon RX 5700 XT

Quick Verdict

On performance, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and Radeon RX 5700 XT are effectively a dead heat — under a few percent apart. The Radeon RX 5700 XT, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $1,283 SEK cheaper.

Market Value Leader

Radeon RX 5700 XT is the clear winner, offering 22.8% better value than GeForce RTX 3060 12GB.

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

VS
Price
SEK 6,908
Performance
18/100
VRAM
12 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+40% CUDA Cores (3,584 vs 2,560)
AMD
Radeon RX 5700 XT
Price
SEK 5,625
Performance
18/100
VRAM
8 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+33% Memory Bus (256-bit vs 192-bit)
+24% Bandwidth (448 GB/s vs 360 GB/s)
+7% Boost Clock (1,905 MHz vs 1,777 MHz)

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs Radeon RX 5700 XT: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs Radeon RX 5700 XT

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and Radeon RX 5700 XT post nearly the same score in our performance index, so neither holds a meaningful raw-speed advantage. Both are best suited to 1080p gaming.

Price & Value

Right now the Radeon RX 5700 XT starts at $5,625 SEK against $6,908 SEK for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 5700 XT offers the better performance-per-dollar (~23% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 5700 XT still sits about $5,226 SEK above its $399 SEK MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB still sits about $6,579 SEK above its $329 SEK MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB draws just 170W versus 225W for the Radeon RX 5700 XT, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

With 12GB against 8GB, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the Radeon RX 5700 XT's 8GB can fall short.

Generation & Longevity

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is roughly 2 years newer than the Radeon RX 5700 XT (Ampere vs RDNA), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX 5700 XT 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 12GB or Radeon RX 5700 XT?

Choose the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX 5700 XT stretches your money further for near-identical performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than the Radeon RX 5700 XT?

They're very close on raw performance. The Radeon RX 5700 XT edges ahead on value, so price and availability should decide it.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the Radeon RX 5700 XT?

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 GeForce RTX 3060 12GB worth the extra $1,283 SEK over the Radeon RX 5700 XT?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon RX 5700 XT comes out ahead.

Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 12GB (vs 8GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or Radeon RX 5700 XT?

Choose the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX 5700 XT stretches your money further for near-identical performance.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and Radeon RX 5700 XT
SpecificationGeForce RTX 3060 12GBRadeon RX 5700 XT
ArchitectureAmpereRDNA
Process NodeSamsung 8nmTSMC N7
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)3,5842,560
Ray Tracing Cores28
Tensor / AI Cores112

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and Radeon RX 5700 XT
SpecificationGeForce RTX 3060 12GBRadeon RX 5700 XT
Base Clock1,320 MHz1,605 MHz
Boost Clock1,777 MHz1,905 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and Radeon RX 5700 XT
SpecificationGeForce RTX 3060 12GBRadeon RX 5700 XT
VRAM Capacity12 GB8 GB
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR6
Memory Bus192-bit256-bit
Memory Speed15 Gbps14 Gbps
Bandwidth360 GB/s448 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and Radeon RX 5700 XT
SpecificationGeForce RTX 3060 12GBRadeon RX 5700 XT
InterfacePCIe 4.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x16
TDP170 W225 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin
ReleasedFeb 2021Jul 2019