One thing I really love about my job is to compare different graphics cards and their performance in various games, and today, we’re in for a treat. In this guide, I will help you decide which one is better for your gaming needs: the Radeon RX 6600 or the RTX 3060.
These are two mid-range graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia, respectively, that target the 1080p gaming market. They offer decent performance at a reasonable price, but they also have some differences in terms of specifications, features, availability, and power consumption. Let’s take a look at them in more detail.
Specifications
The RX 6600 and the RTX 3060 have different architectures and specifications. Here is a table that summarizes their main differences:
| Specification | RX 6600 | RTX 3060 |
| Architecture | RDNA 2 | Ampere |
| GPU | Navi 23 | GA106 |
| Transistors | 11.06 billion | 13.25 billion |
| Die size | 237 mm^2 | 300 mm^2 |
| CUDA cores / Stream processors | 1792 | 3584 |
| Base clock | 1626 MHz | 1320 MHz |
| Boost clock | 2491 MHz | 1780 MHz |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 128-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory speed | 16 Gbps | 15 Gbps |
| Memory bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 360 GB/s |
| TDP | 132 W | 170 W |
| Power connector | 8-pin | 8-pin |
| MSRP | $330 | $330 |
As you can see, the RX 6600 has a smaller die size, lower power consumption, higher clock speeds, and faster memory speed than the RTX 3060. However, the RTX 3060 has more cores, more memory, wider memory bus, and higher memory bandwidth than the RX 6600. There is also a matter of temperature, which you can check easily.
Important Gaming Features
The RX 6600 and the RTX 3060 also have different features that can enhance your gaming experience. Here are some of the key features of each card:
- The RX 6600 supports AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), which is a spatial upscaling technique that can improve the performance and image quality of games. FSR is compatible with any GPU and any game that supports DirectX 11, 12, or Vulkan. FSR has four quality modes: Ultra Quality, Quality, Balanced, and Performance, which can increase the frame rate by up to 2.4x at 4K resolution.
- The RTX 3060 supports Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), which is a temporal upscaling technique that uses artificial intelligence to boost the frame rate and image quality of games. DLSS requires a Tensor core-enabled GPU and a game that supports DLSS. DLSS has three quality modes: Quality, Balanced, and Performance, which can increase the frame rate by up to 2x at 4K resolution.
- The RX 6600 supports AMD’s Smart Access Memory (SAM), which is a feature that allows the CPU to access the full memory of the GPU, instead of being limited to 256 MB. SAM can improve the performance of games by up to 11%. SAM requires a Ryzen 5000 series CPU and a 500 series motherboard with BIOS support.
- The RTX 3060 supports Nvidia’s Reflex, which is a feature that reduces the system latency in competitive games, such as Valorant, Fortnite, and Call of Duty. Reflex can lower the latency by up to 42%. Reflex requires a compatible monitor and a game that supports Reflex.
- The RX 6600 supports AMD’s Radeon Boost, which is a feature that dynamically adjusts the resolution of the game based on the movement of the mouse or the controller. Radeon Boost can increase the frame rate by up to 48% without a noticeable loss of image quality. Radeon Boost is compatible with any GPU and any game that supports DirectX 11 or 12.
- The RTX 3060 supports Nvidia’s Broadcast, which is a feature that enhances the audio and video quality of your streams and video calls. Broadcast can remove the background noise, add a virtual background, and track your head movements using AI. Broadcast requires an RTX GPU and a compatible app, such as OBS, Discord, or Zoom.
Performance
The RX 6600 and the RTX 3060 have different performance levels depending on the game, the resolution, and the settings. Here are some of the average frame rates of some popular games at 1080p resolution and high/ultra settings based on various benchmarks:
| Game | RX 6600 | RTX 3060 |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 60 fps | 71 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 38 fps | 46 fps |
| Doom Eternal | 165 fps | 175 fps |
| Far Cry 5 | 91 fps | 97 fps |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 120 fps | 123 fps |
| Gears 5 | 79 fps | 86 fps |
| Hitman 3 | 86 fps | 92 fps |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 64 fps | 69 fps |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 87 fps | 95 fps |
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 51 fps | 58 fps |
As you can see, the RTX 3060 is generally faster than the RX 6600 by about 10-15% in most games. However, the gap can be reduced or even reversed if you enable FSR on the RX 6600 or DLSS on the RTX 3060.
For example, with FSR Quality mode, the RX 6600 can achieve 50 fps in Cyberpunk 2077, while with DLSS Quality mode, the RTX 3060 can achieve 60 fps. Therefore, the performance advantage of the RTX 3060 depends on the availability and quality of DLSS in the games you play.
The RTX 3060 also has an edge over the RX 6600 in ray tracing performance, which is a feature that simulates realistic lighting effects in games. The RTX 3060 has dedicated ray tracing cores that can accelerate the ray tracing calculations, while the RX 6600 relies on its general-purpose cores.
For example, in Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing enabled, the RTX 3060 can achieve 28 fps, while the RX 6600 can only achieve 18 fps. However, ray tracing is still a demanding feature that can significantly lower the frame rate, so you may need to use DLSS or FSR to boost the performance.
It is also important to note that both GPUs can be overclocked for improved performance and experience.
Price and availability
The RX 6600 and the RTX 3060 have the same MSRP of $330, which is a reasonable price for a mid-range GPU. However, due to the global chip shortage and the high demand for GPUs, the actual prices of these cards are much higher than the MSRP.
According to the latest data, the average price of the RTX 3060 in Europe is €680, which is 106% above the MSRP. The average price of the RX 6600 in Europe is €530, which is 61% above the MSRP.
Therefore, the RX 6600 is cheaper than the RTX 3060 by about €150, which is a significant difference. The availability of these cards is also limited, as they are often out of stock or sold out quickly.
Judging by the statistics, the RTX 3060 has a stock rate of 0.6%, which means that it is in stock for only 0.6% of the time. The RX 6600 has a stock rate of 1.2%, which means that it is in stock for 1.2% of the time. Therefore, the RX 6600 is slightly more available than the RTX 3060, but both cards are hard to find.
FAQs
What are the minimum and recommended system requirements for the RX 6600 and the RTX 3060?
The minimum system requirements for both cards are a 500 W power supply, a PCIe 4.0 x 16 slot, and an 8-pin power connector. The recommended system requirements for the RX 6600 are a Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and a 550 W power supply. If your power supply is not sufficient, you can either upgrade or undervolt your GPU.
The recommended system requirements for the RTX 3060 are a Core i5-10400 CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and a 600 W power supply.
Which card has better support for VR (virtual reality) gaming?
Both cards support VR gaming, but the RTX 3060 has a slight advantage over the RX 6600 in terms of VR performance and features. The RTX 3060 has more VRAM (12 GB vs 8 GB), which can help with higher resolutions and textures in VR games.
The RTX 3060 also supports Nvidia’s VRSS (Variable Rate Super Sampling), which is a feature that improves the image quality and performance of VR games by applying higher levels of supersampling to the center of the image, where the eye is focused.
Which card has better support for 1440p or 4K gaming?
Both cards are designed for 1080p gaming, but they can also handle 1440p or 4K gaming with some compromises. The RTX 3060 has better performance and more VRAM than the RX 6600 at higher resolutions, but it also consumes more power and generates more heat.
The RX 6600 has lower power consumption and higher clock speeds than the RTX 3060 at higher resolutions, but it also has less VRAM and lower memory bandwidth. Both cards can benefit from using FSR or DLSS to boost the performance and image quality at higher resolutions, but the availability and quality of these features depend on the game.
Which card has better driver support and stability?
Both cards have good driver support and stability, but the RTX 3060 has a slight edge over the RX 6600 in terms of driver features and compatibility.
The RTX 3060 has more driver features, such as Nvidia’s GeForce Experience, which is software that allows you to optimize your game settings, record and stream your gameplay, update your drivers, and access other Nvidia services.
The RTX 3060 also has better compatibility with older and newer games, as Nvidia has a larger market share and more influence in the gaming industry.
Which card has better cooling and noise levels?
The cooling and noise levels of the cards depend on the model and the manufacturer, as different models have different cooling solutions and fan designs. However, in general, the RX 6600 has lower power consumption and lower heat output than the RTX 3060, which means that it can run cooler and quieter than the RTX 3060.
The RX 6600 also has a smaller die size and a simpler PCB design than the RTX 3060, which means that it can fit in smaller and more compact cases.
Which card has better resale value and future-proofing?
The resale value and future-proofing of the cards depend on the supply and demand of the GPU market, as well as the development and innovation of the gaming industry. However, in general, the RTX 3060 has better resale value and future-proofing than the RX 6600, as it has more cores, more VRAM, and more features than the RX 6600.
The RTX 3060 also has better support for ray tracing and DLSS, which are expected to become more prevalent and important in future games. The RTX 3060 also has better compatibility and performance with older and newer games, which means that it can last longer and perform better than the RX 6600.
Bottom Line
The best choice between the RX 6600 and the RTX 3060 depends on your budget, your preference, and the games you play. If you want the best performance and features, and you don’t mind paying more, then the RTX 3060 is the better choice.
If you want a more efficient and affordable card, and you are satisfied with the performance and features, then the RX 6600 is the better choice.