RTX 3060 vs Intel Arc A770: graphics cards compared in games
In a 2023 test, the Intel Arc A770 was as fast as or faster than the GeForce RTX 3060 in most games – by roughly 20 FPS in Forza Horizon 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. The RTX 3060, on the other hand, led in games that put more load on the processor (CS:GO, The Witcher 3) and offers more mature drivers and DLSS. Both cards now belong to an older generation: their successors are the GeForce RTX 50 and Intel Arc B series.
Summary
- On paper the Arc A770 has stronger hardware (more cores, more RT units, up to 16 GB of memory).
- In games the Arc A770 won in Forza Horizon 5 and RDR2, drew in Cyberpunk 2077 and Microsoft Flight Simulator, and lost in CS:GO and The Witcher 3.
- The RTX 3060 has the edge in mature drivers, DLSS and lower power consumption.
- In 2026 you are better off buying the current generation – have a look at our list of graphics cards.
Specifications of both cards
| Specification | Intel Arc A770 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | October 2022 | January 2021 |
| Manufacturing process | TSMC 6 nm | Samsung 8 nm |
| Shaders | 4,096 (32 Xe cores) | 3,584 CUDA cores |
| Ray tracing units | 32 | 28 |
| Upscaling | XeSS | DLSS (112 Tensor cores) |
| Memory | 8 or 16 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6 |
| Board power | 225 W | 170 W |
On paper the Arc A770 is significantly more powerful. However, Intel launched it in 2022 as a newcomer to the gaming graphics market, and real-world performance depended heavily on drivers and on how well a given game was optimised for Intel cards.
How the cards performed in games
We draw on a 2023 video from the YouTube channel Testing Games, which compares both cards in the same system.
| Game | Result |
|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 5 | Arc A770 about 20 FPS faster on average |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Arc A770 about 20 FPS faster on average |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | roughly equal |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator | roughly equal |
| The Witcher 3 | RTX 3060 faster |
| CS:GO | RTX 3060 faster |
The games in which the RTX 3060 led are more CPU-intensive and use older APIs. That is where the immaturity of Intel's drivers at the time showed the most. At the time of the test the Arc A770 also did not support DirectX 9 natively, only through a translation layer, which affected older games.
Which card to choose
- RTX 3060 – if you play a lot of older or esports titles, want DLSS and as few driver headaches as possible.
- Arc A770 – if you mainly play new DirectX 12 and Vulkan games and want more video memory.
When buying a used card, also consider power consumption and the power supply: the Arc A770 needs more power. We explain how to size a PSU in the article How to choose a PC power supply. Prices from the time of the test (spring 2023) no longer apply, so we don't list them here.
Does the comparison still hold in 2026?
Only partly. Both cards are now bought mainly second-hand or as part of older builds. Intel has since launched the Arc B generation (for example the Arc B580 with 12 GB of memory) and NVIDIA the GeForce RTX 50 series. Intel's drivers have improved significantly since 2023, so the differences in older games are smaller today than in the test. Which card to choose for today's games depending on your monitor resolution is covered in our guide How to choose a gaming PC.
What next
- List of graphics cards – current and older cards ranked by performance.
- Graphics card repair – we repair NVIDIA, AMD and Intel Arc cards.
- PC upgrades and service – replacing the graphics card in your existing computer.
Sources
- RTX 3060 vs Arc A770 gaming comparison, YouTube channel Testing Games (2023).
- Intel: Arc A-series graphics cards
Frequently asked questions
Is the Intel Arc A770 faster than the RTX 3060?
Does the Arc A770 support old DirectX 9 games?
How much memory does the RTX 3060 have?
What should I buy instead of them today?
This text was prepared with the help of AI. Facts, figures and procedures were checked by Yegor.
