MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC vs GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against graphics cards at a similar price

The GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G scores 6.7/10 overall, ahead of the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC at 6.3/10.

The MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC leads on efficiency and noise and size and fit.

The GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G leads on performance and build and warranty.

They score the same on video memory and software support.

The biggest difference is performance, where the GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G scores 8/10 to the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC's 5/10.

MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC

6.3/10verdict: good, not the best

This card is for builders who want an RTX 3060 with 12GB of memory in a compact dual-slot package. It suits small desktops and homelab machines that have one spare 8-pin power cable and a quiet-running priority. It also suits anyone who wants enough video memory for smaller local AI models without moving up to a larger card.

Typically about £295 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G

6.7/10verdict: buy

The Gigabyte RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G suits gamers who want an AMD card with 16GB of video memory. It also suits homelabbers who want AV1 and HEVC encode for media transcoding in a large case. It is a poor match for small chassis or builds that need a lower-power card.

Typically about £750 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC	GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G
Performance	30%	5/10	8/10
Video memory	25%	7/10	7/10
Software support	15%	6/10	6/10
Efficiency and noise	15%	7/10	5/10
Size and fit	10%	8/10	5/10
Build and warranty	5%	6/10	7/10
Overall		6.3/10	6.7/10

Specifications

Spec	MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC	GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, 3584 CUDA cores, PCI Express Gen 4	Radeon RX 9070 XT, 4096 stream processors, PCI-E 5.0
Video memory	12GB GDDR6, 192-bit bus, 15 Gbps	16GB GDDR6, 256-bit memory bus, 20 Gbps
Board power	170W board power (manufacturer rating); recommended PSU 550W	not listed
Length and slots	235 x 124 x 42 mm, dual slot	288 mm (L) x 132 mm (W) x 56 mm (H)
Display outputs	DisplayPort 1.4 x3, HDMI x1 (HDMI 2.1, 4K@120Hz), maximum 4 displays	DisplayPort 2.1a x2, HDMI 2.1b x2; max digital resolution 7680x4320; multi-view 4
Power connector	8-pin x1	8-pin x3
Video encode / decode	not listed	HEVC and AV1 encode/decode

Strengths and weaknesses

MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC

+ 12GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus
+ Compact 235 mm dual-slot body, single 8-pin connector
+ Owners praise quiet cooling
− Owners are split on value, with some calling it overpriced
− Only one HDMI output alongside three DisplayPort outputs

Skip it if:

Buyers running local AI models that need more than 12GB of video memory
Anyone who wants several HDMI outputs rather than three DisplayPort and one HDMI
Buyers who want published warranty or sustained performance figures before they commit

Read the full MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC review ›

GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G

+ 16GB GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus
+ AV1 and HEVC encode/decode
+ Dual BIOS with Performance and Silent modes
− Three 8-pin connectors and 850W PSU recommendation
− 288 mm long and 56 mm thick

Skip it if:

Small-form-factor or compact server builders who can't fit a 288 mm, 56 mm-thick card
Buyers with a PSU below the recommended 850W or without three 8-pin cables
Anyone needing 24GB or more of video memory for larger local AI models

Read the full GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G review ›

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