GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB vs GeForce RTX 5060
Comparison of specs, performance, and price. Which GPU is the better buy in 2026?
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Online | Check Availability | |
| Steel Nomad Score | 2,300 | 3,149 |
| VRAM | 12GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR7 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 360 GB/s | 448 GB/s |
| TDP | 170 W | 145 W |
| Release Date | Feb 25th, 2021 | May 19th, 2026 |
Performance Verdict
GeForce RTX 5060 is 27.0% Faster
In the 3DMark Steel Nomad benchmark, the GeForce RTX 5060 scores 3,149, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB scores 2,300.
Summary: The GeForce RTX 5060 offers superior raw performance, making it the better choice for demanding games and workloads.
GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB
Pros
- ✓ More VRAM (12GB GDDR6 vs 8GB GDDR7)
Cons
- ✕ Lower Memory Bandwidth (360 GB/s vs 448 GB/s)
- ✕ Higher Power Consumption (170 W vs 145 W)
GeForce RTX 5060
Pros
- ✓ Higher Memory Bandwidth (448 GB/s vs 360 GB/s)
- ✓ Lower Power Consumption (145 W vs 170 W)
Cons
- ✕ Less VRAM (8GB GDDR7 vs 12GB GDDR6)