Quick answer
The RTX 3060 12GB and RX 6600 are about even for gaming in our index (scores 34 and 33, within 5%). The RTX 3060 12GB has more VRAM (12GB vs 8GB). The RX 6600 draws less power (132W vs 170W).
A side-by-side look at the GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) and the Radeon RX 6600 using the specs from each maker and ComputingSkill’s gaming scores, the same numbers our calculators and tier list use. Prices change too often to compare here, so check current prices against the performance gap below.
Specs Side by Side
| RTX 3060 12GB | RX 6600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | RDNA 2 |
| VRAM | 12GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 192-bit | 128-bit |
| Boost clock | 1777 MHz | 2491 MHz |
| Shaders | 3,584 CUDA Cores | 28 Compute Units |
| Board power | 170W | 132W |
| Maker’s recommended PSU | 550W | 500W |
| Upscaling / frame generation | DLSS upscaling (no DLSS Frame Generation; FSR 3 frame generation works in games that offer it) | FSR 3 upscaling and frame generation, plus AFMF in the driver |
| Released | 2021 | 2021 |
| Gaming score (tier) | 34 (C) | 33 (C) |
Specs: RTX 3060 12GB official page and RX 6600 official page. Scores are ComputingSkill’s gaming index, positioned from publicly reported review averages, not our own benchmarks (methodology).
Clock speeds and shader counts can’t be compared across brands, which is why the gaming score is the fairer measure.
Gaming Performance
Estimated average FPS in a typical AAA game, from the FPS Calculator’s formula, with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D so the cards are the limit. * marks a figure held back by the CPU. Ray tracing, upscaling and frame generation are not included.
| Resolution, settings | RTX 3060 12GB | RX 6600 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p, high | 85 | 83 | RTX 3060 12GB +3% |
| 1440p, high | 58 | 54 | RTX 3060 12GB +7% |
| 4K, high | 36 | 26 | RTX 3060 12GB +40% |
| 1080p, ultra | 68 | 66 | RTX 3060 12GB +3% |
| 1440p, ultra | 46 | 39 | RTX 3060 12GB +19% |
| 4K, ultra | 26 | 19 | RTX 3060 12GB +34% |
VRAM
RTX 3060 12GB: 12GB of VRAM is enough for ultra textures at 1080p and 1440p and enough for high (not ultra) textures at 4K.
RX 6600: 8GB of VRAM is enough for ultra textures at 1080p, enough for high (not ultra) textures at 1440p and below the 12GB our VRAM rule asks for at 4K high settings, so expect to lower texture quality there.
With Your CPU
A faster card only pays off when your CPU can feed it. Here is each card with common processors in our bottleneck engine (typical AAA game, high settings). “GPU-limited” is normal; a CPU % is how much of the card goes unused.
| CPU | RTX 3060 12GB | RX 6600 |
|---|---|---|
| Core i3-12100F | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Ryzen 5 5600 | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Core i5-12400F | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Ryzen 5 7600 | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Core i5-14600K | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
Power and PSU
With a Ryzen 5 7600, the PSU Calculator recommends 550W for a PC with the RTX 3060 12GB and 500W with the RX 6600. The makers’ own recommendations are 550W and 500W.
Which Should You Buy?
- Performance is close enough that price, VRAM and features should decide.
- For 1440p, 4K or keeping the card for years, the RTX 3060 12GB’s extra VRAM is the safer choice.
- Features differ: the RTX 3060 12GB offers DLSS upscaling (no DLSS Frame Generation; FSR 3 frame generation works in games that offer it); the RX 6600 offers FSR 3 upscaling and frame generation, plus AFMF in the driver.
- Not sure your CPU keeps up? Check your exact pair in the PC Bottleneck Calculator.
More comparisons: RTX 3060 12GB vs RTX 4060, RTX 2060 6GB vs RTX 3060 12GB, GTX 1660 Super vs RTX 3060 12GB and RX 6600 vs RX 7600. Every card ranked: GPU tier list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the RTX 3060 12GB better than the RX 6600?
They are about even for gaming in our index (34 vs 33). Pick on price, VRAM and features.
Which is better for 1440p, the RTX 3060 12GB or the RX 6600?
At 1440p high the RTX 3060 12GB averages about 58 FPS and the RX 6600 about 54 FPS in a typical AAA game with a fast CPU. The RTX 3060 12GB has more VRAM headroom there.
Which uses less power?
The RX 6600 (132W board power vs 170W).