Hi there! Choosing the best graphics card for your needs and budget can be confusing with so many models competing for your hard-earned dollars. You likely want something affordable yet fast enough to deliver smooth, high-fidelity graphics for years.
In this guide, we‘ll compare Nvidia‘s GeForce RTX 3060 Ti versus AMD‘s Radeon RX 5700 XT—two exceptional mid-range offerings. You‘ll see how they stack up on paper and in real-world gaming tests.
We‘ll also evaluate unique features and caveats so you can determine the better value based on your priorities. Does blazing fast frame rates matter most? Or are you after advanced lighting like ray tracing? Perhaps longevity and resale value are big for you?
Either way, you‘ll have the knowledge to pick the ideal card for your system after this face-off!
Why Compare the RTX 3060 Ti and RX 5700 XT?
Released in the latter half of 2020, Nvidia‘s RTX 3060 Ti brings next-gen Ampere performance to the masses with an attractive $399 starting price. AMD‘s Radeon RX 5700 XT from mid-2019 held a similar position for Team Red before this Nvidia challenger arrived.
Both vie for the "sweet spot" crown in the popular $350 to $450 price segment. Cards in this range excel at smooth 1080p and 1440p gaming while costing far less than $1000+ flagship GPUs.
As PC gamers ourselves, we know you want hardware that won‘t break the bank yet provides buttery visuals with some future-proofing too. Well, let‘s examine how Nvidia and AMD approach this…
RTX 3060 Ti vs RX 5700 XT: Specs and Hardware
We‘ll first compare the RTX 3060 Ti and RX 5700 XT‘s underlying components to see their similarities and differences:
| Specification | Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti | AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT |
| GPU | GA104 | Navi 10 XT |
| Launch Date | December 2020 | July 2019 |
| Process Node | 8nm Samsung | 7nm TSMC |
| Transistors | 17.4 billion | 10.3 billion |
| Stream Cores | 4864 | 2560 |
| RT & Tensor Cores | Yes | No |
Comparing transistors and die size illustrates the RTX 3060 Ti‘s more advanced manufacturing. By packing 50% more logic gates into a smaller footprint, Nvidia extracts higher density and efficiency from cutting-edge fabrication techniques.
Samsung‘s 8nm node in particular promises big gains via extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV). Contrast this with AMD‘s 1st gen RDNA architecture built on TSMC‘s early 7nm process. Nvidia simply has more refined node maturity on its side.
Speaking of architectural design, Ampere also houses considerably more streaming/shader cores critical for processing graphics workloads in parallel. Combined with clocks reaching 1700+ MHz when boosted, raw computational throughput handily exceeds the RX 5700 XT.
And we can‘t forget dedicated RT plus AI-accelerating Tensor cores exclusive to GeForce RTX products. These specialty logic blocks headlock ray tracing and deep learning super sampling into Nvidia‘s corner…for now!
Now, let‘s quantify gaming frame rates.
Gaming Benchmarks: Average FPS Performance
While geeking out over specs is fun, real-world results matter more. The following charts showcase recorded fps performance across popular titles at 1080p and 1440p resolutions:
Credit: TechSpot Hardware Benchmarks
Scanning the 1080p results, Nvidia‘s Ampere-powered RTX 3060 Ti renders between 10% to 26% faster frame rates versus AMD‘s RX 5700 XT. Prominent titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Control gain over 20 fps simply by opting for the RTX card!
The advantage shrinks slightly moving to 1440p as more pressure is put on memory bandwidth rather than pure compute. Yet the GeForce still reigns supreme around 15% quicker on average.
Translating benchmarks into real-world experience…both can easily surpass 60 fps required for smooth gaming. But the 3060 Ti offers headroom for higher refresh rates (144 Hz or 240 Hz displays), faster response, and more future-proofing as titles become more demanding.
Let‘s discuss how specialized graphics like ray tracing also benefit Nvidia‘s hardware design…
Why GeForce RTX for Ray Tracing & DLSS?
While traditional rasterization keeps improving, real-time ray traced lighting, shadows, and reflections are the next frontier of in-game graphical enhancements. Early implementations already showcase more life-like materials, depth, and accuracy missing from common techniques.
And this is where GeForce RTX models gain an advantage thanks to dedicated RT core hardware absent on Radeon graphics cards. Let‘s use Control‘s benchmarks as an example:
Credit: Nvidia
The above shows fps measurements in Control with maxed settings at 1440p resolution. Enabling ray tracing slashes performance initially due to immense computational demand. Both GPUs take a hit.
But RTX cards bounce back once DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) activates, leveraging AI algorithms and Tensor cores to boost frame rates while exceeding native image quality!
DLSS efficiencies also combat the slight decline researching ray tracing introduces. Ultimately, the RTX 3060 Ti pulls ahead by 66% with the combined technologies flipped on. AMD can technically trace rays through shader cores but lacks specialized hardware and optimized software support.
If stunning, cutting-edge graphics are desired, GeForce RTX models like the 3060 Ti hold a distinct advantage that also benefits future titles adopting ray tracing or DLSS.
But graphics alone don‘t satisfy everyone…
Beyond Gaming: Encoding, Streaming, Creating
Gaming prowess catches our attention as PC enthusiasts first and foremost. But graphics cards serve many purposes today like game streaming, video editing, 3D modeling, deep learning development, and general compute acceleration.
Nvidia invests substantially in both gaming and professional/creator software stacks comprising broadcasting apps, creative suites, enterprise platforms, and more. For example:
- NVIDIA NVENC hardware in RTX GPUs enables high-quality h.264/HEVC encoding for silky game streaming without compromising play performance. AMD lacks dedicate encode/decode silicon.
- RTX Voice utilizes tensor cores to filter out background noise from chat apps, streams, calls etc. Very handy!
- Nvidia Broadcast offers intuitive, one-click webcam tools like virtual backgrounds without green screens required.
- Special Creator Ready Drivers fine-tuned for stability across content production programs such as Blender, OBS, Premiere, and many 3D tools.
The tight integration between GeForce RTX hardware and continually updated Nvidia Studio software provides a tremendous edge for gamers desiring streamer/creator side hustles.
Sure, focusing only on AAA gameplay, the Radeon RX 5700 XT mostly keeps up. But for multifaceted users, Nvidia rules the roost on both fronts.
Now let‘s examine temperatures, noise, and power draw.
Thermals, Acoustics & Power Efficiency
Delving deeper into specs reveals Nvidia‘s Ampere microarchitecture is a efficiency marvel whereas AMD‘s early RDNA iteration relies on brute compute force. This dichotomy translates directly into thermal and acoustic characteristics between the RTX 3060 Ti and RX 5700 XT:
- The RTX 3060 Ti peaks around 72°C under heavy gaming loads according to TechPowerUp data
- Radeon RX 5700 XT temperatures often reach 80° to 85°C as reported by reviewers at Tom‘s Hardware, PC Gamer, and others
- Fan speeds follow similar curves to cool respective GPUs under load
- Consequently, AMD‘s reference blower RX 5700 XT models in particular earn notoriety for irritating noise levels due to small, high RPM fans compensating for heat
The RTX 3060 Ti shines brighter in power metrics as well:
- Full load power consumption
- RTX 3060 Ti: around 200 watts
- RX 5700 XT: up to 225 watts
- Idle power draw
- RTX 3060 Ti: 15-20 watts
- RX 5700 XT: around 40 watts
Clearly, Nvidia invested heavily to trim fat wherever possible achieving sky-high efficiency. Based on silicon characteristics alone, the GeForce operates cooler, quieter, and greener. Nice perks allowing builders to scale back cooling investments.
Speaking of pricing, let‘s examine where both GPUs stand today.
Availability and Current Pricing
The global chip crunch made securing any shiny new graphics card nearly impossible in 2021. Thankfully, supply recovered substantially entering 2023 allowing us to readily snag RTX 3060 Ti and RX 5700 XT models from e-tailers.
MSRP is still $399 officially for both contenders. However, most third-party manufacturers adding custom coolers with slight overclocking headroom charge around $50 extra.
Pricing also depends whether purchasing brand new versus used:
- New RTX 3060 Ti‘s average $430 to $470 at present
- Used RX 5700 XT‘s float around $360 to $400
Many variables influence current "street" pricing including crytpo trends, regional tariffs, and supply chain costs. Generally Radeon offers minor value advantages to budget buyers. Then again, GeForce tempts spec chasers and future proofers.
Ultimately, both deliver excellent 1080p and 1440p gaming at reasonable expense. Let‘s conclude with final verdicts.
The Right Mid-Range GPU for You
We covered a ton of comparisons! Before deciding, take stock of your gaming requirements and long-term goals.
Pick the RX 5700 XT if:
- You play competitive, non-RT esports titles where blistering frame rate matters most
- Getting every last drop of visual fidelity doesn‘t concern you
- $350-$400 is truly the maximum budget
- You prefer upgrading GPUs frequently anyway
Go with the RTX 3060 Ti for:
- Buttery smooth 1440p gaming with some 4K potential
- Enabling stunning ray traced lighting, reflections and DLSS
- Content creating via game streaming, video editing, 3D workflows
- Focus on future-proofing and higher resale value
The RTX 3060 Ti does cost moderately more but delivers substantially improved performance and cutting-edge features that age much better long-term in my opinion as an avid gamer myself.
I sincerely hope this guide helps narrow down just the right graphics card for you, given your needs and desires! Please drop any other questions in the comments section below. Let me know which GPU you end up snagging!
