GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs Radeon RX 6700 XT
On raw speed the Radeon RX 6700 XT comes out ahead: well ahead on speed, about 33% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. 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)
Radeon RX 6700 XT vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon RX 6700 XT vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The Radeon RX 6700 XT is significantly faster, around 33% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB currently lists from $342 GBP, $24 GBP less than the Radeon RX 6700 XT at $366 GBP. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the Radeon RX 6700 XT wins on performance-per-dollar by about 25%. The Radeon RX 6700 XT is trading below its $479 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 170W against 230W, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power.
Features & Ecosystem
Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX 6700 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 6700 XT?
The Radeon RX 6700 XT 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 3060 12GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Radeon RX 6700 XT better than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the Radeon RX 6700 XT?
Is the Radeon RX 6700 XT worth the extra $24 GBP over the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or Radeon RX 6700 XT?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Radeon RX 6700 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | RDNA 2 |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC N7 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors) | 3,584✓ | 2,560 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28 | 40✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 112 | — |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Radeon RX 6700 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz | 2,321 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz | 2,581 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Radeon RX 6700 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps | 16 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 360 GB/s | 384 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Radeon RX 6700 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 170 W✓ | 230 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Feb 2021 | Mar 2021 |
Related Reading
How to Run Powerful Local LLMs on a Budget GPU in 2026
An 8GB GPU can now run near-flagship open models locally. Here's how QAT, MoE, llama.cpp offloading and MTP turn a budget PC into a private AI rig in 2026.
Intel Arc Alchemist in 2026: Is a Used A580, A750 or A770 Still Worth Buying?
Every Arc Alchemist card is discontinued, and Battlemage replaced them. So what does a used A580, A750 or A770 still buy you — and at what price does it beat a new Arc B580? An honest retrospective on Intel's first discrete GPUs.