GeForce RTX 3060 vs GT 540M

Place in the ranking	1034	81
Place by popularity	not in top-100	4
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	no data	71.66
Power efficiency	2.46	18.09
Architecture	Fermi (2010−2014)	Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code name	GF108	GA106
Market segment	Laptop	Desktop
Release date	5 January 2011 (13 years ago)	12 January 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	no data	$329

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	96	3584
Core clock speed	672 MHz	1320 MHz
Boost clock speed	no data	1777 MHz
Number of transistors	585 million	12,000 million
Manufacturing process technology	40 nm	8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	170 Watt
Texture fill rate	10.75	199.0
Floating-point processing power	0.258 TFLOPS	12.74 TFLOPS
ROPs	4	48
TMUs	16	112
Tensor Cores	no data	112
Ray Tracing Cores	no data	28

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop size	large	no data
Interface	MXM-A (3.0)	PCIe 4.0 x16
Length	no data	242 mm
Width	no data	2-slot
Supplementary power connectors	no data	1x 12-pin

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	DDR3	GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount	2 GB	12 GB
Memory bus width	128 Bit	192 Bit
Memory clock speed	900 MHz	1875 MHz
Memory bandwidth	28.8 GB/s	360.0 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors	No outputs	1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI	-	+

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

3D Blu-Ray	+	-
3D Gaming	+	-
Optimus	+	-

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12 API	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model	5.1	6.7
OpenGL	4.5	4.6
OpenCL	1.1	3.0
Vulkan	N/A	1.3
CUDA	+	8.6

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GT 540M 1.24

RTX 3060 44.28
+3471%

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GT 540M 478

RTX 3060 17085
+3474%

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GT 540M 888

RTX 3060 28375
+3095%

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GT 540M 4355

RTX 3060 79706
+1730%

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GT 540M 760

RTX 3060 21379
+2713%

GeekBench 5 OpenCL

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses OpenCL API by Khronos Group.

GT 540M 2153

RTX 3060 88251
+3999%

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

900p	16 −3338%	550−600 +3338%
Full HD	20 −520%	124 +520%
1440p	2−3 −3950%	81 +3950%
4K	1−2 −5000%	51 +5000%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

3−4

−2533%

79
+2533%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	6−7 −1450%	90−95 +1450%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	4−5 −2125%	85−90 +2125%
Cyberpunk 2077	3−4 −2500%	78 +2500%
Far Cry 5	1−2 −9200%	90−95 +9200%
Far Cry New Dawn	3−4 −3500%	100−110 +3500%
Forza Horizon 4	2−3 −10050%	200−210 +10050%
Hitman 3	6−7 −1900%	120 +1900%
Horizon Zero Dawn	14−16 −1179%	170−180 +1179%
Red Dead Redemption 2	2−3 −4850%	95−100 +4850%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	8−9 −1975%	160−170 +1975%
Watch Dogs: Legion	30−35 −309%	130−140 +309%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	6−7 −1450%	90−95 +1450%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	4−5 −2125%	85−90 +2125%
Cyberpunk 2077	3−4 −2400%	75 +2400%
Far Cry 5	1−2 −9200%	90−95 +9200%
Far Cry New Dawn	3−4 −3500%	100−110 +3500%
Forza Horizon 4	2−3 −10050%	200−210 +10050%
Hitman 3	6−7 −1833%	116 +1833%
Horizon Zero Dawn	14−16 −1179%	170−180 +1179%
Red Dead Redemption 2	2−3 −4850%	95−100 +4850%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	8−9 −2150%	180 +2150%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	10−12 −727%	90−95 +727%
Watch Dogs: Legion	30−35 −309%	130−140 +309%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	6−7 −1450%	90−95 +1450%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	4−5 −2125%	85−90 +2125%
Cyberpunk 2077	3−4 −2033%	64 +2033%
Far Cry 5	1−2 −9200%	90−95 +9200%
Forza Horizon 4	2−3 −10050%	200−210 +10050%
Hitman 3	6−7 −1583%	101 +1583%
Horizon Zero Dawn	14−16 −914%	142 +914%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	8−9 −1825%	154 +1825%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	10−12 −564%	73 +564%
Watch Dogs: Legion	30−35 −78.8%	59 +78.8%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

2−3

−4850%

95−100
+4850%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	1−2 −8600%	85−90 +8600%
Far Cry New Dawn	2−3 −3300%	65−70 +3300%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	1−2 −4800%	45−50 +4800%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	0−1	50−55
Cyberpunk 2077	1−2 −3800%	39 +3800%
Far Cry 5	1−2 −5000%	50−55 +5000%
Hitman 3	7−8 −871%	68 +871%
Horizon Zero Dawn	4−5 −2550%	106 +2550%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	0−1	65−70
Watch Dogs: Legion	6−7 −3317%	200−210 +3317%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

4−5

−1800%

75−80
+1800%

4K
High Preset

Far Cry New Dawn

0−1

35−40

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	1−2 −3000%	30−35 +3000%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	1−2 −3700%	38 +3700%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	0−1	27−30
Far Cry 5	0−1	27−30

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

3−4

−1233%

40−45
+1233%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Valhalla	102 +0%	102 +0%
Battlefield 5	140−150 +0%	140−150 +0%
Metro Exodus	130−140 +0%	130−140 +0%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Valhalla	85 +0%	85 +0%
Battlefield 5	140−150 +0%	140−150 +0%
Metro Exodus	130−140 +0%	130−140 +0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

+0%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Valhalla	60 +0%	60 +0%
Forza Horizon 4	240−250 +0%	240−250 +0%
Metro Exodus	89 +0%	89 +0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	115 +0%	115 +0%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	45−50 +0%	45−50 +0%
Hitman 3	45 +0%	45 +0%
Horizon Zero Dawn	190−200 +0%	190−200 +0%
Metro Exodus	55−60 +0%	55−60 +0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	63 +0%	63 +0%

4K
Ultra Preset

Cyberpunk 2077	18 +0%	18 +0%
Forza Horizon 4	60−65 +0%	60−65 +0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	67 +0%	67 +0%
Watch Dogs: Legion	27 +0%	27 +0%

This is how GT 540M and RTX 3060 compete in popular games:

RTX 3060 is 3338% faster in 900p
RTX 3060 is 520% faster in 1080p
RTX 3060 is 3950% faster in 1440p
RTX 3060 is 5000% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Forza Horizon 4, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the RTX 3060 is 10050% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

RTX 3060 is ahead in 47 tests (70%)
there's a draw in 20 tests (30%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	1.24	44.28
Recency	5 January 2011	12 January 2021
Maximum RAM amount	2 GB	12 GB
Chip lithography	40 nm	8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	170 Watt

GT 540M has 385.7% lower power consumption.

RTX 3060, on the other hand, has a 3471% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 10 years, a 500% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 400% more advanced lithography process.

The GeForce RTX 3060 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GT 540M in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GT 540M is a notebook card while GeForce RTX 3060 is a desktop one.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.