NVIDIA RTX 5060 vs NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB) (2026)
The NVIDIA RTX 5060 is a mainstream 1080p card and the NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB) is a mainstream 1080p card. Across popular games at 1080p with FrameCoach's optimized settings, the NVIDIA RTX 5060 averages about NaN FPS versus NaN FPS for the NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB) — roughly 28% more performance.
Spec & performance head-to-head
| NVIDIA RTX 5060 | NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Relative performance | 128% | 100% (baseline) |
| VRAM | 8GB | 12GB |
| Ray tracing | Yes | Yes |
| Upscaling | DLSS | DLSS |
| Tier | mainstream 1080p | mainstream 1080p |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | NaN FPS | NaN FPS |
FPS in popular games @ 1080p
Estimated frame rates with optimized balanced settings, both cards on a Intel Core i5-13500H (laptop)-class CPU.
| Game | NVIDIA RTX 5060 | NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB) |
|---|
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For most gamers, the NVIDIA RTX 5060 is the better performer of the two — about 28% faster, which translates to a noticeable but smaller bump in demanding games. Interestingly, the slower NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB) actually has more VRAM (12GB vs 8GB) — a small edge for very high-res textures, though it can't close the raw performance gap. If you're upgrading from the NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB), the NVIDIA RTX 5060 is a sensible step up.
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Is the NVIDIA RTX 5060 better than the NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB)?
Yes. The NVIDIA RTX 5060 is about 28% faster overall, averaging roughly NaN FPS versus NaN FPS for the NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB) at 1080p with optimized settings across popular games.
How much faster is the NVIDIA RTX 5060 than the NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB)?
About 28% faster on average. The exact gap varies by game and resolution — heavier, GPU-bound games show the biggest difference.
Should I upgrade from the NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB) to the NVIDIA RTX 5060?
A 28% jump is a moderate upgrade — worth it if you're chasing higher settings or frame rates. Interestingly, the slower NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB) actually has more VRAM (12GB vs 8GB) — a small edge for very high-res textures, though it can't close the raw performance gap.
FPS figures are estimates from a generalized model (hardware tier × game load × per-setting weights), not live benchmarks — real performance varies by scene, drivers and game version.