NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile vs NVIDIA Quadro K6000 Comparison

The NVIDIA Quadro K6000 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile represent two distinct eras of GPU design, separated by nearly a decade of architectural evolution. The data shows a clear generational shift: the RTX 3060 Mobile dominates in raw compute benchmarks, while the K6000 offers a legacy of massive memory capacity and professional-grade display outputs. This analysis breaks down where each card excels based strictly on benchmark results and specification data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is limited to two compute-focused tests, and the results are decisively one-sided. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RTX 3060 Mobile scores 79,483, which is 70.1% higher than the Quadro K6000’s 23,749. This is not a marginal victory; it is a near-tripling of performance. The margin is even more pronounced in Geekbench Vulkan, where the RTX 3060 Mobile scores 80,344 against the K6000’s 25,409, a delta of 68.4%. For compute workloads that leverage OpenCL or Vulkan, the RTX 3060 Mobile is in a different performance class entirely.

However, the K6000’s average benchmark score of 19,030 across all tests is actually slightly higher than the RTX 3060 Mobile’s 18,159. This is because the RTX 3060 Mobile’s average is dragged down by its Passmark scores, which include low DirectX 9 (146), DirectX 10 (90), and DirectX 12 (58) results. The K6000 does not have these specific DirectX benchmark entries in its data, so its average is composed solely of its three Geekbench scores (7,932 Metal, 23,749 OpenCL, 25,409 Vulkan). The RTX 3060 Mobile’s Passmark G3D score of 13,230 and GPU Compute score of 5,718 are solid, but they are not enough to lift its average above the K6000’s. This illustrates that while the RTX 3060 Mobile wins the two direct comparisons, the K6000 holds a 4.8% advantage in overall average benchmark score, a nuance worth noting for those comparing aggregate metrics.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the RTX 3060 Mobile is the superior performer for modern compute tasks. Its Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan scores are over 200% higher than the K6000’s, and its FP32 throughput of 10.94 TFLOPS is more than double the K6000’s 5.196 TFLOPS. The RTX 3060 Mobile also brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing with 30 RT cores and 120 Tensor cores, which the K6000 lacks entirely. For any workload that uses DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, or general-purpose GPU compute, the RTX 3060 Mobile is the clear choice.

The K6000’s case rests on two pillars: memory capacity and professional display support. With 12 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus, it offers double the capacity of the RTX 3060 Mobile’s 6 GB GDDR6. For tasks that require loading large datasets into VRAM, such as certain scientific simulations or large 3D scenes, the K6000’s extra memory is a tangible benefit. Additionally, its dual DVI and dual DisplayPort 1.2 outputs are fixed and known, whereas the RTX 3060 Mobile’s outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning they vary by laptop implementation. If you are building a fixed workstation with multiple monitor support and need 12 GB of VRAM, the K6000 remains relevant. Otherwise, the RTX 3060 Mobile’s raw compute power makes it the better investment for most users.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is vast. The K6000 is built on the Kepler architecture using a 28 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 561 mm² and 7,080 million transistors. Its transistor density is 12.6M per mm². In contrast, the RTX 3060 Mobile uses the Ampere architecture on Samsung’s 8 nm process, packing 12,000 million transistors into a smaller 276 mm² die, achieving a density of 43.5M per mm². This is a 3.5x improvement in transistor density, explaining how the RTX 3060 Mobile achieves higher performance with fewer physical resources.

The K6000 has 2,880 shading units, 240 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The RTX 3060 Mobile has 3,840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. While the RTX 3060 Mobile has more shaders, it has half the TMUs. The RTX 3060 Mobile compensates with a much higher boost clock of 1,425 MHz versus the K6000’s 902 MHz, resulting in a texture rate of 171.0 GTexel/s compared to the K6000’s 216.5 GTexel/s. The RTX 3060 Mobile’s pixel rate is higher at 68.40 GPixel/s versus 54.12 GPixel/s. The RTX 3060 Mobile also adds 30 RT cores and 120 Tensor cores, which are absent from the K6000. This is not just an incremental upgrade; it is a fundamental change in feature set, enabling ray tracing and AI-accelerated workloads.

Specification Differences

The specifications diverge sharply in several key areas. The process node differs: 28 nm for the K6000 versus 8 nm for the RTX 3060 Mobile. Memory is a major split: the K6000 has 12 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus delivering 288.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the RTX 3060 Mobile has 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus delivering 336.0 GB/s. Despite having half the capacity and a narrower bus, the RTX 3060 Mobile achieves higher memory bandwidth due to faster GDDR6 memory running at 14 Gbps effective versus 6 Gbps for the K6000’s GDDR5.

Power consumption is another stark difference. The K6000 is rated at 225 W TDP and requires dual 6-pin power connectors, with a suggested 550 W PSU. The RTX 3060 Mobile is rated at just 80 W TDP and uses no power connectors, as it is designed for laptops. The bus interface also differs: PCIe 3.0 x16 for the K6000 versus PCIe 4.0 x16 for the RTX 3060 Mobile. API support is notably different: the RTX 3060 Mobile supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the K6000 only supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.175. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The K6000 has a launch MSRP of 5,265 USD, while the RTX 3060 Mobile has no listed launch MSRP. The K6000 is a dual-slot, 267 mm card, while the RTX 3060 Mobile has no listed dimensions.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance in OpenCL?

A: The RTX 3060 Mobile scores 79,483 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 70.1% higher than the K6000’s 23,749.

Q: Does the K6000 have more memory than the RTX 3060 Mobile?

A: Yes, the K6000 has 12 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the RTX 3060 Mobile has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Q: Which GPU supports hardware ray tracing?

A: Only the RTX 3060 Mobile supports hardware ray tracing, featuring 30 RT cores. The K6000 has no RT cores listed.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The K6000 has a TDP of 225 W and requires dual 6-pin power connectors, while the RTX 3060 Mobile has a TDP of 80 W and uses no power connectors.

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The K6000 has a higher average benchmark score of 19,030, compared to the RTX 3060 Mobile’s 18,159, despite losing the direct head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the display outputs for each GPU?

A: The K6000 has 2x DVI and 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The RTX 3060 Mobile’s display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent."

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 3060 Mobile wins decisively in compute-heavy benchmarks. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 79,483 and Vulkan score of 80,344 are over three times higher than the K6000’s corresponding scores. Its FP32 performance of 10.94 TFLOPS is more than double the K6000’s 5.196 TFLOPS. It also offers higher memory bandwidth (336.0 GB/s versus 288.4 GB/s) despite having less memory capacity. For gaming, machine learning inference, or any workload that leverages DirectX 12 Ultimate or modern Vulkan features, the RTX 3060 Mobile is the clear winner.

The K6000 wins in scenarios where memory capacity and fixed professional outputs matter. Its 12 GB of VRAM is double the RTX 3060 Mobile’s, which is critical for large dataset manipulation. Its 384-bit memory bus, while slower in bandwidth, provides a wider path for data. The K6000 also has a higher average benchmark score (19,030 versus 18,159) and a higher percentile ranking (63rd versus 62nd). The K6000’s dual DVI and dual DisplayPort outputs make it a plug-and-play solution for multi-monitor professional setups, whereas the RTX 3060 Mobile’s outputs are dependent on the laptop design. For a stationary workstation with fixed display requirements and a need for large VRAM, the K6000 remains a viable option.