GeForce 940M vs GeForce RTX 3060
GeForce 940M
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GeForce RTX 3060
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3060
Why is GeForce RTX 3060 better than GeForce 940M?
Comparing the powerful GeForce RTX 3060 Ti to the legacy entry-level mobile GeForce 940M highlights more than a decade of astronomical GPU progress. The RTX 3060 Ti is roughly 1500% faster, representing the jump from a core that could barely handle basic 1080p in 2015 to an iconic desktop powerhouse that masters 1440p Ultra and introduces world-class Ray Tracing depth.
Technically, these two share no ground. The RTX 3060 Ti features 8GB of fast dedicated memory and specialized hardware for Ray Tracing and DLSS support. The mobile GeForce 940M remains a robust piece of hardware history on legacy budget notebooks, but it lacks the core count and feature set—like modern Path Tracing—needed for uncompromised graphics in 2026. Moving from any laptop with legacy graphics to an RTX 3060 Ti powered desktop is a life-changing improvement for most enthusiasts seeking uncompromised speed.
There is no contest here; the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the absolute winner. it provides a level of detail and speed that turns the most demanding games into fluid, immersive experiences. The mobile 940M is strictly for mobile office use on legacy laptops. If you are looking to revitalize your PC experience with a performance boost that is truly night and day, the 30-series discrete card is the superior and definitive choice.
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3060 is significantly newer (2021 vs 2015). The GeForce RTX 3060 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce 940M lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1400% higher G3D Mark score and 500% more VRAM (12 GB vs 2 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce 940M.
| Insight | GeForce 940M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1400%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1400%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (12 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce RTX 3060 remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce 940M and GeForce RTX 3060
GeForce 940M
The GeForce 940M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 13 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1072 MHz to 1176 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 33W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,133 points.
GeForce RTX 3060
The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce 940M scores 1,133 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 1400%. The GeForce 940M is built on Maxwell while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce 940M) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 0.9032 TFLOPS (GeForce 940M) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060). Boost clocks: 1176 MHz vs 1777 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce 940M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,133 | 16,995+1400% |
| Architecture | Maxwell | Ampere |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 3584+833% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.9032 TFLOPS | 12.74 TFLOPS+1311% |
| Boost Clock | 1176 MHz | 1777 MHz+51% |
| ROPs | 8 | 48+500% |
| TMUs | 24 | 112+367% |
| L1 Cache | 0.19 MB | 3.5 MB+1742% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 3 MB+200% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce 940M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | DLSS 2.0 |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce 940M comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 500% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (GeForce 940M) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce 940M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 12 GB+500% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | 360 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 192-bit+50% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 3 MB+200% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce 940M) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce 940M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 Ultimate |
| Vulkan | 1.1 | 1.3+18% |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC (Maxwell) (GeForce 940M) vs NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060). Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP6) vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9 (GeForce 940M) vs AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060).
| Feature | GeForce 940M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC (Maxwell) | NVENC 7th Gen |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD (VP6) | NVDEC 5th Gen |
| Codecs | H.264,H.265,VP9 | AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 940M draws 33W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 135% difference. The GeForce 940M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 940M) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: Legacy vs 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 242mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75.
| Feature | GeForce 940M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 33W-81% | 170W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-36% | 550W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | 8-pin |
| Length | 0mm | 242mm |
| Height | 0mm | 112mm |
| Slots | 0-100% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 75 | 75 |
| Perf/Watt | 34.3 | 100.0+192% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2015).
| Feature | GeForce 940M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $329 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $289 |
| Codename | GM108 | GA106 |
| Release | March 13 2015 | January 12 2021 |
| Ranking | #847 | #114 |
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