GeForce RTX 3090 vs Radeon RX 6950 XT

Speed and memory

The GeForce RTX 3090 and the Radeon RX 6950 XT are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

The GeForce RTX 3090 has 24 GB of video memory and the Radeon RX 6950 XT has 16 GB. That difference matters at 1440p and in new games at High textures, and it can outweigh a small speed advantage as the card ages.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Fortnite (300+ against 300+ fps), and the smallest is in ELDEN RING (60 against 60 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce RTX 3090 is rated at 350 W and the Radeon RX 6950 XT at 335 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 750 W for the first and 750 W for the second. The power draw is close enough that cooling and noise will be similar.

At launch the GeForce RTX 3090 cost $1,499 and the Radeon RX 6950 XT $1,099. Per dollar, the Radeon RX 6950 XT gave more performance (5.1 points per $100 against 3.7). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce RTX 3090 if you want the faster card, and it also has at least as much memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the Radeon RX 6950 XT if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference, or if you want lower power draw and a quieter PC. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.