NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Benchmark
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is the NVIDIA graphics card we cover on this page. Here you'll find its real gaming performance — average FPS (frames per second) across the 20 most popular games at 1080p, 1440p (2K) and 4K (UHD) — its uplift with AI upscaling (DLSS/FSR/XeSS), key specs such as its 12 GB of VRAM, and comparisons with similar GPUs. All figures are estimates from our engine on a reference CPU.
Specifications
- Brand
- NVIDIA
- VRAM
- 12 GB
- Power Draw (TDP)
- 170W
- Tier
- Mid-range
- Release Year
- 2021
Performance Scores
Average gaming performance (2026)
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 averages 48 FPS at 1080p Ultra, 37 at 1440p and 17 at 4K across the 20 most popular games (estimated). Built for 1080p; in demanding games, lowering quality or enabling upscaling helps.
FPS in Popular Games
| Game | 1080p | 1440p | 4K | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV | 58 | 44 | 21 | Acceptable |
| Star Wars Zero Company | 58 | 44 | 21 | Acceptable |
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 52 | 40 | 19 | Acceptable |
| Kena: Scars of Kosmora | 52 | 40 | 19 | Acceptable |
| Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve | 52 | 40 | 19 | Acceptable |
| Silent Hill: Townfall | 52 | 40 | 19 | Acceptable |
| Halo: Campaign Evolved | 52 | 40 | 19 | Acceptable |
| Halloween: The Game | 50 | 38 | 18 | Acceptable |
| Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival | 50 | 38 | 18 | Acceptable |
| The Sinking City 2 | 50 | 38 | 18 | Acceptable |
| Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced | 48 | 36 | 17 | Acceptable |
| Mortal Shell II | 47 | 36 | 17 | Acceptable |
| Valor Mortis | 47 | 36 | 17 | Acceptable |
| Final Fantasy Resonance | 45 | 34 | 16 | Acceptable |
| Aion 2 | 45 | 34 | 16 | Acceptable |
| Beast of Reincarnation | 44 | 33 | 16 | Acceptable |
| Lords of the Fallen II | 42 | 32 | 15 | Acceptable |
| Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy | 41 | 31 | 15 | Acceptable |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 40 | 31 | 15 | Acceptable |
| Control Resonant | 39 | 29 | 14 | Acceptable |
Performance with AI upscaling
Estimated average FPS with DLSS enabled, which renders at a lower resolution and reconstructs the image for more frames. Quality and Performance modes trade sharpness for FPS differently.
| Resolution | Native | DLSS Quality | DLSS Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 48 | 60 | 70 |
| 1440p | 37 | 50 | 61 |
| 4K | 17 | 25 | 31 |
Estimated values. The real gain varies by game and by how the technology is implemented.
Best CPU for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 & bottleneck
The CPU you pair with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 matters mostly at 1080p; at 1440p and 4K the graphics card itself sets the pace (you are GPU-bound) and the processor is almost irrelevant.
A AMD Ryzen 5 5600 already gets the most out of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with no bottleneck. Moving to a pricier processor barely adds frames.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 FPS with different CPUs
| Processor (CPU) | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 5 5600Sweet spot | 48 | 37 | 17 |
| Intel Core i5-12400 | 48 | 37 | 17 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | 48 | 37 | 17 |
| Intel Core i9-14900K | 48 | 37 | 17 |
Will your CPU bottleneck the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060?
At 1440p and 4K there is no bottleneck: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is the limiting component, so any decent modern CPU performs the same. At 1080p a weak processor can hold back a few frames in CPU-heavy games (strategy, simulation or AI-heavy open worlds). As a rule of thumb, a fairly recent 6-core CPU avoids bottlenecking this card.
Calculate with your exact hardware
These results use a reference CPU. Enter your CPU, RAM, and quality settings for a personalized estimate.
- Try the interactive calculator
- Customize resolution, quality, and RAM
Compare with Similar GPUs
Frequently asked questions
Is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 good for 1080p, 1440p and 4K?
At 1080p Ultra it averages around 48 FPS; at 1440p (2K) it drops to 37 FPS and at 4K (UHD) to 17 FPS across the most popular games. At higher resolutions, enabling upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps restore smoothness.
How many FPS (frames per second) are enough?
30 FPS is the playable minimum, 60 FPS the comfortable standard, and 120-144+ FPS ideal for high-refresh monitors or competitive play. In the tables the colour shows the level: green 120+, blue 60+, amber 30+ and red below.
Ultra vs High quality: is it worth it?
Dropping from Ultra to High is barely noticeable yet usually raises FPS by 15-25%. If you want more performance from the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, High quality is almost always the best balance of sharpness and smoothness.
Will the CPU bottleneck the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060?
It depends on the processor and resolution. At 1080p the CPU matters more and an older CPU can bottleneck; at 1440p and 4K the graphics card leads. These figures use a balanced reference CPU.
How much VRAM does the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 have, and is it enough?
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB of VRAM (video memory). As a guide, 8 GB is the practical minimum for 1080p, 12 GB is recommended for 1440p, and 16 GB or more for 4K and the games of the coming years.