RX 5700 XT Vs RTX 3060 [Gaming Benchmarks]

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is a graphics card of early 2021, having GDDR6 memory with different capacities in two variants: one with 12GB and the other with 8GB. And AMD launched the Radeon RX 5700 XT with 8GB GDDR6 memory in mid-2019. In this article, we will compare the designation and gaming capabilities of the Radeon RX 5700 XT vs GeForce RTX 3060.

You can also read our Nvidia RTX 3060 vs GTX 1080 comparison if you’re looking for more options. 

Key Takeaways

• The GeForce RTX 3060 contains 112 third-generation Tensor cores, 3584 CUDA cores, and an Ampere architecture with a GA106 chip.
• The Radeon RX 5700 XT has an RDNA 1.0 architecture with Navi 10 chip and 2560 Stream processors.
• Compared to the Radeon RX 5700 XT, the GeForce RTX 3060 has a 20% higher power efficiency and a 15.7% higher thermal efficiency.
• The GeForce RTX 3060 has 12GB GDDR6 memory with 15 Gbps speed as opposed to the 8GB GDDR6 memory of the Radeon RX 5700 XT with 14 Gbps speed.
• The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 ($329) costs $70 less than AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT ($399), as per the MSRP.

Radeon RX 5700 XT Vs RTX 3060

Comparison Table

Architecture

The Radeon RX 5700 XT employs AMD’s RDNA 1.0 architecture, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 implements Nvidia’s Ampere architecture.

Ampere architecture is the successor to the Turing architecture of Nvidia and is employed in RTX 3000 series. Its standout attributes include increased streaming multiprocessors (SMs), third-generation Tensor cores, second-generation ray tracing cores, support for PCIe 4.0 for faster data transfer, high-speed GDDR6 memory, and DLSS 2.0 for a broader range of resolutions and frame rates.

The RDNA 1.0 graphics architecture has a unique compute unit design optimized for gaming workloads. RDNA 1.0 architecture considerably improved over earlier AMD graphics technology. One of its other distinguishing characteristics is the hardware-based capability for real-time ray tracing and variable rate shading. The Radeon RX 5000 series of GPUs was the first product line to include RDNA (RDNA 1.0). Cellular products also employ this architecture.

Also Read: AMD RX 6700 XT Vs Nvidia RTX 3060 [Benchmarks]

Design Chip

Nvidia offered the GA106 chip in the GeForce RTX 3060, and the Radeon RX 5700 XT came with the Navi 10 chip from AMD.

Navi 10 GPU chip implements the RDNA 1.0 architecture of AMD and is fabricated at TSMC on a 7nm production process. It is compatible with DirectX 12 (Feature Level 12 1). Navi 10 is an excellent chip with a die size of 251 mm² and 10,300 million transistors. It contains 160 texture mapping units, 2560 shading units, and 64 ROPs.

GA106 chip of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is fabricated at Samsung in an 8nm production process and uses an Ampere architecture. It is an intermediate chip having a die size of 276 mm² and 12,000 million transistors. The CUDA capability of GA106 is 8.6, and it also supports OpenCL 3.0 for software involving GPU computation. Its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate assures hardware raytracing and variable-rate shading for demanding video games. The GA106 has 48 ROPs, 3840 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 28 raytracing cores.

The above-mentioned chip features of the Radeon RX 5700 XT vs GeForce RTX 3060 indicate that the GA106 chip of GeForce RTX 3060 is more intelligent and capable of producing higher performance.

Clock Speed

The boost clock of the Radeon RX 5700 XT is 1.905 GHz, while that of the GeForce RTX 3060 is 1.78 GHz. Thus, the Radeon RX 5700 XT has ~7% higher speed than the GeForce RTX 3060. In the base clock, the GeForce RTX 3060 lacks behind the Radeon RX 5700 XT by 435 MHz. However, for real-time execution, the game performance benchmarks will show us which GPU actually operates more quickly and effectively.

GPU Memory

The GeForce RTX 3060 was launched with two variants; one has 8GB GDDR6 memory, and the other has 12GB GDDR6 memory. And the Radeon RX 5700 XT has 8GB GDDR6 memory.

The memory interface width of the 8GB GeForce RTX 3060 is 128-bit, and the 12GB GeForce RTX 3060 is 192-bit. However, the Radeon RX 5700 XT has a memory interface width of 256-bit. The memory speed of the GeForce RTX 3060 is 15 Gbps, while that of the Radeon RX 5700 XT is 14 Gbps. Considering memory bandwidth, the Radeon RX 5700 XT (up to 448 GB/s) has about 25% greater bandwidth than the GeForce RTX 3060 (up to 360 GB/s).

Also Read: Nvidia DLSS Vs AMD FSR

Gaming Benchmarks

After analyzing the feature differences between Radeon RX 5700 XT vs GeForce RTX 3060, it’s time to put these graphics cards to the test to see which one truly excels in gaming performance. We will compare the performance of two GPUs in eight games in 1440p resolution. We collected the metrics for these games from the channel Testing Games.

In fact, YouTubers track gaming statistics of the graphics cards’ and CPUs’ performance using apps like MSI Afterburner and others. These numbers might occasionally be incorrect. However, they typically only include minor inaccuracies, so this caution is unnecessary.

Gaming Rig

• OS: Windows 10 Pro
• CPU: Intel Core i9-10900K – Comet Lake 10-Core 3.7 GHz LGA 1200 125W
• Motherboard: MSI MPG Z490 GAMING PLUS LGA 1200 Intel Z490 SATA 6Gb/s ATX
• RAM: G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 3600
• SSD: SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2
• CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS10X Performa 120mm
• Power Supply: CORSAIR RM850i 850W ATX

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

• The Radeon RX 5700 XT offered ~14.5% greater performance than GeForce RTX 3060 in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
• The Radeon RX 5700 XT produced an average frame rate of 63 FPS, while GeForce RTX 3060 only delivered a 55 FPS average.
• During the gameplay, the GeForce RTX 3060 absorbed 193 watts of power, and the GeForce RTX 3060 razed 128 watts of electrical power.
• The average temperature of the GeForce RTX 3060 was 51 degrees, which is 12°C lower than the 63 degrees operating temperature of the Radeon RX 5700 XT during Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Battlefield V

• In Battlefield V, the Radeon RX 5700 XT outperformed the GeForce RTX 3060 by ~1.8%.
• The GeForce RTX 3060 only offered an average frame rate of 111 FPS compared to the Radeon RX 5700 XT’s 113 FPS.
• The GeForce RTX 3060 consumed 178 watts of electricity during Battlefield V, while Radeon RX 5700 XT absorbed 199 watts.
• During gameplay, the Radeon RX 5700 XT’s average temperature was 62 degrees, seven degrees hotter than the GeForce RTX 3060’s operating temperature of 55 degrees.

Also Check: RX 5700 XT Vs RTX 3060 [Gaming Benchmarks]

Cyberpunk 2077

• The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 performed ~16.7% better in Cyberpunk 2077 than the Radeon RX 5700 XT.
• In contrast to the Radeon RX 5700 XT’s 36 FPS, the GeForce RTX 3060 provided an average frame rate of 42 FPS.
• In Cyberpunk 2077, the GeForce RTX 3060 used 178 watts of power, while the Radeon RX 5700 XT used 199 watts.
• The Radeon RX 5700 XT ran nine degrees hotter during gameplay, with an average temperature of 64°C vs 55°C for the GeForce RTX 3060.

Death Stranding

• The Radeon RX 5700 XT performed 4.3% better in Death Stranding than the GeForce RTX 3060.
• On average, the Radeon RX 5700 XT delivered 97 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 3060 managed 93 FPS.
• During Death Stranding, the Radeon RX 5700 XT consumed 197 watts, while the GeForce RTX 3060 used 157 watts.
• The GeForce RTX 3060 ran at an operational temperature of 53 degrees, whereas the Radeon RX 5700 XT functioned at an average temperature of 63 degrees.

Forza Horizon 4

• In Forza Horizon 4, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 defeated the Radeon RX 5700 XT by ~9.2% higher performance.
• The GeForce RTX 3060 delivered an average frame rate of 131 FPS, higher than the Radeon RX 5700 XT’s 120 FPS.
• The Radeon RX 5700 XT utilized 160 watts, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 used 141 watts.
• During Forza Horizon 4, the Radeon RX 5700 XT drove 6°C hotter than the GeForce RTX 3060.

Horizon Zero Dawn

• In Radeon RX 5700 XT vs GeForce RTX 3060, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 performed 1.6% higher during Horizon Zero Dawn.
• The average frame rate of the GeForce RTX 3060 was 65 FPS as opposed to 64 FPS for the Radeon RX 5700 XT.
• During Horizon Zero Dawn, the Radeon RX 5700 XT consumed 197 watts of power compared to 148 watts for the GeForce RTX 3060.
• The Radeon RX 5700 XT ran ten degrees hotter, with an average temperature of 63°C compared to 53°C for the GeForce RTX 3060.

Also Read: RTX 3060 Vs GTX 1660 Ti [Gaming Benchmarks 2023]

Microsoft Flight Simulator

• In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GeForce RTX 3060 outscored the Radeon RX 5700 XT by 22.9%.
• The GeForce RTX 3060 had an average frame rate of 43 FPS compared to the Radeon RX 5700 XT’s 35 FPS.
• The Radeon RX 5700 XT used 198 watts of electricity, while the GeForce RTX 3060 burned 166 watts.
• During Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Radeon RX 5700 XT had an average temperature of 63°C, while the GeForce RTX 3060 was running at 55°C.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• In Red Dead Redemption 2, the Radeon RX 5700 XT beat the GeForce RTX 3060 by a margin of 3.4%.
• The GeForce RTX 3060 managed 59 FPS on average, compared to 61 FPS from the Radeon RX 5700 XT.
• The Radeon RX 5700 XT utilized 199 watts, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 used 197 watts during gameplay.
• In Red Dead Redemption 2, the Radeon RX 5700 XT operated at an average temperature of 62 degrees, while the GeForce RTX 3060 maintained 57 degrees.

Overall Gaming Analysis

Performance

Also Check: RTX 3060 Vs 3060 Ti: Should You Upgrade? [2023]

In Radeon RX 5700 XT vs GeForce RTX 3060, the Radeon RX 5700 XT outperformed in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Battlefield V, Death Stranding, and Red Dead Redemption 2. The GeForce RTX 3060 showed superior performance in Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Microsoft Flight Simulator.

However, if you’re seeking higher performance gaming GPU, the GeForce RTX 3060 is haughtier than the Radeon RX 5700 XT.

Power Consumption

We can see that the Radeon RX 5700 XT consumes relatively much more power than the GeForce RTX 3060. The cost of electricity increases due to this increased power usage. Thus, users with limited budgets might best choose the GeForce RTX 3060. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 provides an overall gaming power efficiency of ~20% relative to the Radeon RX 5700 XT.

Also Read: What Is TDP, Factors, and Overclocking

Thermal Efficiency

According to AMD, the Radeon RX 5700 XT can perform at temperatures as high as 110 degrees. Nvidia claims that the GeForce RTX 3060 can operate at a maximum of 93 degrees. Even though the Radeon RX 5700 XT has a more extensive temperature range, but still in the games mentioned above, the GeForce RTX 3060 showed ~15.7% greater thermal efficiency than Radeon RX 5700 XT.

Also Read: GPU Idle Temperature 

Price And Availability

When choosing a graphics card, the price and availability are crucial considerations. The AMD suggested retail price for the Radeon RX 5700 XT at launch was $399. Nvidia, in contrast, charged $499 for the GeForce RTX 3060.

The GeForce RTX 3060 was launched one and a half years later than the Radeon RX 5700 XT, but it is more budget-friendly.

Because the Radeon RX 5700 XT is an outdated GPU, it is not easily accessible in the marketplaces. On the other hand, the GeForce RTX 3060 is still readily available in markets due to its high demand, and suppliers usually demand $340-400. You may contact vendors with obsolete graphics cards for the Radeon RX 5700 XT. And for the GeForce RTX 3060, you should visit stores like eBay, Amazon, and others.

Which One Should You Go For?

It might be helpful to include a synopsis of Radeon RX 5700 XT vs GeForce RTX 3060 prior to recommending any GPU. The GeForce RTX 3060 has 3584 CUDA cores and 112 3rd generation Tensor cores with Ampere architecture and GA106 chip. And the Radeon RX 5700 XT has 2560 Stream processors with RDNA 1.0 architecture and Navi 10 chip of AMD.

The GeForce RTX 3060 has two variants with 12GB and 8GB GDDR6 memory, while the Radeon RX 5700 XT has only 8GB GDDR6 memory. The 15 Gbps memory speed of the GeForce RTX 3060 is faster than the 14Gbps of the Radeon RX 5700 XT. However, the memory bandwidth of the Radeon RX 5700 XT (448 GB/s) is more significant than the GeForce RTX 3060’s 360 GB/s.

Similar Comparisons: RTX 3060 Vs RTX 3070: Is The Difference Worth It?

The Radeon RX 5700 XT has no RT cores, while the GeForce RTX 3060 possesses second-generation 28 ray tracing cores. The base and boost clock speeds of the Radeon RX 5700 XT are faster than the GeForce RTX 3060.

Concerning power and temperature, the GeForce RTX 3060 is ~20% more power efficient and ~15.7% thermally efficient than the Radeon RX 5700 XT in gaming.

After considering all the features and performance, the GeForce RTX 3060 is a better pick based on our perspective. It is also readily available and has more fantastic performance and superior specifications than the Radeon RX 5700 XT. Before leaving, make sure to read our RX 6600 XT vs RTX 3060 comparison as well.