The gap changes with resolution.
Graphics card differences grow with resolution, because higher resolutions load the GPU harder.
| Resolution | RTX 5060 | RTX 3070 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 64 | 61 | +5% |
| 1440p | 60 | 59 | +2% |
| 4K | 60 | 59 | +2% |
In a real build with a Ryzen 5 9600X.
Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.
RTX 5060 + Ryzen 5 9600X
17% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →RTX 3070 + Ryzen 5 9600X
18% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →| Game (1440p, paired with the Ryzen 5 9600X) | RTX 5060 | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 280 fps | 277 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 245 fps | 243 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 115 fps | 114 fps |
| Elden Ring | 88 fps | 87 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 69 fps | 68 fps |
| Starfield | 70 fps | 69 fps |
Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.
So which should you buy?
Whichever is cheaper on the day. There is roughly 2% between them at 1440p, which you will not notice in a game.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the RTX 5060 versus the RTX 3070.
Is the RTX 5060 better than the RTX 3070?
They are close enough to call a tie. At 1440p the RTX 5060 scores 60 on our index against 59 for the RTX 3070 — a gap of about 2%, which is inside the margin where you would not feel a difference while gaming. Buy whichever is cheaper or easier to find.
Does the RTX 5060 or RTX 3070 bottleneck a Ryzen 5 9600X?
Paired with a Ryzen 5 9600X at 1440p, the RTX 5060 build comes out 17% GPU-bound, and the RTX 3070 build comes out 18% GPU-bound. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.
Is it worth upgrading from the RTX 3070 to the RTX 5060?
No. A 2% index gap will not be visible in games, and the money is better spent on the other side of the build — usually the GPU.
Which is better value, the RTX 5060 or the RTX 3070?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the RTX 5060 wins. The RTX 5060 lists at $299 for an index of 60, and the RTX 3070 at $499 for 59.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a GPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.