1080p monitors are still a go-to standard in the gaming world, and for that reason, the GPU market for this resolution is a highly competitive place. The RTX 3060 has dominated the midrange scene for a while now, but the latest GPU from Team Red is here to shake things up. Let’s see who can come out on top in this 1080p contest – the RX 7600 XT vs RTX 3060.
Of course, we’ve gone all in on the details in our RX 7600 XT review, but for now, we’re comparing these two 1080p champs in terms of their specs, performance, and price, to help you make an educated investment for your gaming rig.
Quick answer
While the RTX 3060 has a higher number of GPU cores, the boosted 16GB VRAM on the RX 7600 XT makes it the more versatile option for stretching to 1440p as well as performing well in 1080. The overall experience probably depends on your hardware configuration, but overall the 7600 XT has more robust specs and potential for higher frame rates at 1080p.
RX 7600 XT vs RTX 3060 – specs comparison
In terms of specs, the RX 7600 XT surpasses the RTX 3060, particularly with its robust 16 GB of GDDR6 memory – a 33% increase over the 3060’s 12 GB. This move by AMD is especially important given Nvidia’s decision to reduce memory in the newer RTX 4060. The 7600 XT further cements its lead with a remarkable boost clock speed of 2755 MHz, significantly outpacing the 3060’s 1777 MHz by a notable 55%.
| Specs | RX 7600 XT | RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 2048 | 3584 |
| TMUs | 128 | 112 |
| Memory Size | 16 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6 |
| Bandwidth | 288.0 GB/s | 360.0 GB/s |
| Boost Clock | 2755 MHz | 1777 MHz |
| RT Cores | 32 | 28 |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB | – |
| TDP | 190 W | 170 W |
| Launch Price | $329 | $329 |
When it comes to boost clock speed, AMD maintains its advantage. The RX 7600 XT’s impressive 2755 MHz boost clock vastly exceeds the 1777 MHz offered by the RTX 3060. This superior clock speed potentially translates into enhanced performance in gaming and other demanding applications, providing the 7600 XT with a decisive edge where rapid processing is key.
AMD raises the bar further with 32 MB of L3 cache in the 7600 XT, a feature absent in the RTX 3060. This significant cache capacity greatly enhances the 7600 XT’s rendering capabilities and processing efficiency. When considering the specifications alone, the RX 7600 XT emerges as the front-runner for 1080p gaming. Outdoing its competitor with more substantial memory, faster clock speeds, and additional cache. The 7600 XT positions itself as the more formidable contender in this comparison.
7600 XT vs 3060 performance comparison
A Gigabyte RX 7600 XT graphics card © BGFG
AMD’s advancements suggest that this GPU can comfortably handle most modern games at this resolution with high frame rates. What’s more, our own benchmarks, courtesy of WePC’s Sebastian Kozlowski prove the card’s quoted potential largely holding up. Demanding titles were a mixed bag, with Assassin’s Creed Mirage reaching an average of 91fps in 1080p and 67fps in 1440p, but Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, however, couldn’t quite produce 1080p60 with averages of just 45fps in 1080p and only 30fps in 1440p. Turn to more optimized titles though, and you won’t be disappointed: Doom Eternal soared with averages of 221fps in 1080p and 158fps in 1440p.
The RTX 3060, known for its decent 1080p performance, may face limitations when stacked against the 7600 XT. Given the 3060’s lower memory capacity (12 GB) and significantly lower boost clock speed (1777 MHz), it is likely to fall behind in raw performance metrics. While the 3060 is capable of 1440p gaming, it might require more compromises in settings to achieve stable frame rates compared to the 7600 XT: especially in newer titles where the 7600 XT might have a further advantage.
When it comes to efficiency, both GPUs have similar power requirements. The 7600 XT at a slightly higher TDP. However, the 7600 XT’s better performance metrics might offer a more efficient gaming experience. In terms of ray tracing, while the RTX 3060 benefits from Nvidia’s DLSS technology, the overall ray tracing performance might still be more limited compared to higher-end GPUs.
RX 7600 XT vs RTX 3060 – price comparison
While the RTX 3060 and the RX 7600 XT both had the same official launch price of $329, AMD’s card arrived in January 2024, whereas Nvidia’s 3060 came out back in 2021. So, what does a realistic current day price comparison look like? We’ve had a look at the price history of the two cards on the reliable price tracking website Camelcamelcamel to take a further look at this.
As you can see from the graph above, the ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 XT OC hasn’t been available on Amazon for too long, and it’s already been seeing some price fluctuations. However, these dips in price haven’t been any more than $20 cheaper than the original $339.99. To be placed in such a competitve market, such as that for budget graphics cards, pricing has to change around a lot for potential buyers to be interested, and even getting $20 makes it even more affordable. Considering its superior memory capacity, higher boost clock speed, and the potential for better performance in both 1080p and 1440p gaming, the 7600 XT stands out as a value proposition that justifies the slight extra investment.
It’s worth noting that by opting instead for an 8GB VRAM model, such as the XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600, the price does often jump down to below the $300 mark: this one is priced at $259.
As expected for older cards, such as the MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3060, the graph above shows a largely decreasing price trend. This makes sense, as last-gen hardware often gets more affordable as time goes to in order to remain a relevant player in the market. Our example demonstrates this, with this erclocked 3060 now priced below the $300 mark at $289.99, down from $459.99.
Final thoughts
Taking into account the performance capabilities, specifications, and pricing of both GPUs, the RX 7600 XT emerges as the new champion of 1080p gaming. It strikes an impressive balance between cost and performance, offering significant improvements over the RTX 3060 for a relatively small increase in price. The combination of its robust specs and potential for higher frame rates at 1080p (and respectable performance at 1440p) positions the RX 7600 XT as a compelling choice for gamers looking to get the most out of their 1080p gaming experience without breaking the bank.
