RTX 3090 vs RTX 5060 for Blender
Compare RTX 3090 and RTX 5060 for Blender Cycles. See benchmark performance, VRAM, power ratings and checked prices side by side. RTX 3090 leads the Blender benchmark score by 40.2%.
Fastest in Cycles
RTX 3090
40% faster than RTX 5060
Most VRAM
RTX 3090
200% more VRAM than RTX 5060
Lowest power draw
RTX 5060
59% lower rating than RTX 3090
Cheapest
RTX 5060
77% cheaper than RTX 3090
Best value for money
RTX 5060
206% better value than RTX 3090
GPU comparison
Key specifications for Blender rendering.
| Spec | RTX 3090 | RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | $1,969.99 Checked Oct 9, 2026 | $459.99 Checked Oct 9, 2026 |
| Value for money | 2.59 | 7.91 +206% |
| Blender benchmark score | 5,096.96 +40% | 3,636.7 |
| VRAM | 24 GB More capacity for heavy scenes+200% | 8 GB Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM |
| System PSU | 750 W Manufacturer requirement | 550 W Manufacturer requirement−27% |
| Performance | ||
| CUDA cores | 10,496 +173% | 3,840 |
| Boost clock | 1.70 GHz | 2497 MHz +47% |
| RT cores | 82 +173% | 30 |
| Tensor cores | 328 +173% | 120 |
| Memory | ||
| Memory bandwidth | 936.2 GB/s +109% | 448 GB/s |
| Memory type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| Memory bus | 384-bit +200% | 128-bit |
| Memory speed | 19.5 Gbps | N/A |
| Platform | ||
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell 2.0 |
| Render support | OptiX, CUDA | OptiX, CUDA |
| TDP | 350 W | 145 W −59% |
| Release year | 2020 | 2025 |
Blender Cycles benchmarks
Estimated seconds / frame Lower is faster
RTX 3090
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 85 runs
RTX 5060
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 79 runs
Junkshop
Monster
Classroom
Which GPU should you choose for Blender?
RTX 3090 is the stronger Blender rendering pick here based on benchmark score.
Cycles rendering performance
RTX 3090 leads by 40.2% in the Renderjuice Blender benchmark model (5,097 vs 3,637). For render-time-first decisions, that is the card to prioritize.
VRAM and scene capacity
RTX 3090 has more scene headroom with 24 GB of VRAM versus 8 GB on RTX 5060. That matters most for large environments, dense geometry, high-resolution textures, and less optimized production files.
Power ratings and cooling
RTX 5060 is the lower-power option at 145 W TDP, compared with 350 W for RTX 3090. If render speed is close, that can make RTX 5060 easier to cool and run quietly.
Is the upgrade worthwhile?
RTX 5060 is newer, but RTX 3090 still leads this Blender benchmark comparison. That makes the older card worth considering when used pricing or VRAM capacity is favorable.
Comparison summary
RTX 3090 leads the Blender benchmark score by 40.2%.
Fastest in Cycles: RTX 3090 40% faster than RTX 5060.
Most VRAM: RTX 3090 200% more VRAM than RTX 5060.
Lowest power draw: RTX 5060 59% lower rating than RTX 3090.
Cheapest: RTX 5060 77% cheaper than RTX 3090.
Best value for money: RTX 5060 206% better value than RTX 3090.
RTX 3090 has 24 GB of VRAM, while RTX 5060 has 8 GB, which matters when scenes, textures, or geometry get heavier.
If you are deciding between these cards for Blender, focus first on Blender benchmark score, VRAM capacity, memory bandwidth, and whether your scenes are likely to benefit more from raw speed or extra memory headroom. The comparison table above keeps those tradeoffs in one place.