RTX 3060 12GB vs RTX 5060 8GB Gaming Review Why VRAM Makes the Older GPU a Better Choice for Players

RTX 3060 12GB vs. RTX 5060 8GB Why the Old Pick Wins Over the New One

The GPU market is weird now. An older graphics card, over four years old, is still selling more than a brand-new one that costs the same. This is what's happening with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, which is still a top choice in many places, compared to the new but flawed RTX 5060 8GB.

The RTX 5060 isn't doing well at all. So much so, that there's talk about an "RTX 5060 Super" already—a version with the specs it should have had from the start. The main issue The big 12GB of VRAM on the 3060 beats the small 8GB on the 5060. This leads to lots of problems, like games crashing, DirectX errors, very uneven performance, stuttering, and really bad low frame rates.

This full review will look at gaming scores at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K to show just where the RTX 5060 falls short and why players still prefer the older, more dependable RTX 3060.

Gaming Scores A Tale of Ups and Downs

For a mid-priced card under $300, the 60-class GPU should be great for 1080p gaming. But the RTX 5060 doesn't perform well at this level, which is disappointing.

Dune: Awakening

Right away, the issue shows. While the RTX 5060 8GB does better on average FPS at 1080p, its low frame rates are terrible, making the game feel jerky. At 1440p and 4K, it does better, but the poor 1080p score is a big warning.

Final Fantasy 16

Here, things got serious. The RTX 5060 was the first card to ever crash the game completely. This likely comes from its unbalanced design its GPU core is too strong for its limited VRAM and memory bus. When it did run, the performance was good, but a card that can't run a popular game well is a big letdown.

Competitive Games Marvel Rivals & Fortnite

In shooter games, the RTX 5060 8GB generally does better, especially at 1440p and 4K. But in Fortnite at 1080p, it oddly has the same bad low frame rates as the 3060, though it has a higher average frame rate. Consistency is key in competitive games, and the 5060 doesn't have it where it's most needed.

Splitgate 2

Playing this free game was a mess on the RTX 5060. While 1080p was ok, 1440p and 4K were just not playable. Even with an average of 113 FPS at 4K, the low frame rates were at a very slow 7 FPS. The 3060, though slower on average, gave a smooth and steady play, which is way more important.

Single-Player Hits Elden Ring & Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

In Elden Ring, both cards do about the same because the game caps at 60 FPS. But in the well-made Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, the RTX 5060 8GB shows its power, beating the 3060 by about 50% at all levels. This shows what the card might be if it were better balanced.

The Ray Tracing Mess

Ray tracing is tough to handle, and it really shows the flaws of the RTX 5060.

Dragon Age Origins

The game just wouldn't work on the RTX 5060. It was not possible to even get a score, with or without ray tracing, because of constant DirectX errors and crashes. The card has been out for a while, so blaming early drivers doesn't work.

Black Myth Wukong

In big contrast, the 5060 handles ray tracing quite well here, getting a good performance boost over the 3060. This just shows how up and down this card is.

Power, Overclocking, and A Ray of Hope

The RTX 5060 does have one clear plus it uses less power. It stays cool and uses little power, and reducing the voltage can make it even better.

Overclocking could help fix its stuttering issues. By maxing out the memory clock, the low frame rates in games like June Awakening can be better. If you're stuck with a 5060, this is a good tweak to try.

Both cards use DLSS upscaling, but the RTX 5060 alone supports multiframe generation (Frame Generation), a big plus—if you can get the game to run smoothly in the first place.

Good and Bad at a Quick Look

Final Say and Rating

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB feels off. Its rough run, freezes, and crashes are a no-go. It's a clear case of a good GPU core held back by not enough VRAM and a small memory bus. People know better—thus, they pick the older 3060. That says a lot.

RTX 5060 8GB Rating

★★☆☆☆

A tough and bad card. Could be good, but bad design kills it. Stay away.

RTX 3060 12GB Rating

★★★★☆

Not the fastest, but tried and true, firm, and smooth. A top pick for those who mind their money but buy new.

Other Cards in the ~$300 Range

If you're here, think on these too:

• Intel B580 12GB Worth a look.
• AMD 9060 XT 8GB Sadly, AMD fell short too with a weak 8GB card.
• 16GB Cards If you can pay more, options like the 9060 XT 16GB or 5060 Ti 16GB don't have these VRAM issues.

The Used Market

For the best value, used is best. You can find great deals on cards like the RTX 3060 12GB if you're okay with the risk and check well.