GeForce GT 740 vs GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
GeForce GT 740
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GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
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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. The GeForce GT 740 is positioned at rank #89 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Balanced cost-benefit for your build. 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 GeForce GT 740
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Why is GeForce RTX 3060 Ti better than GeForce GT 740?
The matchup between the GeForce GT 740 and the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti demonstrates the staggering leap in graphics technology over six years. The GT 740 was an entry-level budget solution in 2014, while the RTX 3060 Ti is a 2020 desktop powerhouse famous for its elite 1440p gaming performance.\n\nThe performance difference is night and day, with the RTX 3060 Ti being roughly 20-25 times more powerful and introducing features that were science fiction when the GT 740 launched, such as dedicated Ray Tracing hardware and AI-powered upscaling (DLSS). While the GT 740 was designed for basic multimedia and casual arcade gaming, the RTX card handles contemporary AAA titles at ultra settings with ease. The 8GB of GDDR6 on the desktop card is also a massive jump over the 1GB or 2GB typically found on the older budget chip.\n\nUltimately, there is no contest. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the superior choice for any current gaming or creative activity. The GeForce GT 740 remains a piece of budget history for basic productivity, but for any level of performance required for modern gaming, the desktop 30-series card provides a level of speed and visual fidelity that makes the older card look ancient by comparison.
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is significantly newer (2020 vs 2014). The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce GT 740 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1321.4% higher G3D Mark score and 700% more VRAM (8 GB vs 1 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GT 740.
| Insight | GeForce GT 740 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1321.4%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1321.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere (2020−2025) / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (8 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Although it costs $280 (vs $89), its significant performance lead justifies the premium, offering 351.8% better value per dollar than the GeForce GT 740.
| Insight | GeForce GT 740 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+351.8%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($89) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($280) |
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 GT 740 and GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
GeForce GT 740
The GeForce GT 740 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 29 2014. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 64W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,429 points. Launch price was $89.
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1410 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 4864 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 38 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $399.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce GT 740 scores 1,429 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 20,312 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti leads by 1321.4%. The GeForce GT 740 is built on Kepler while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce GT 740) vs 4,864 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Raw compute: 0.7626 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 740) vs 16.2 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti).
| Feature | GeForce GT 740 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,429 | 20,312+1321% |
| Architecture | Kepler | Ampere |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 4864+1167% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.7626 TFLOPS | 16.2 TFLOPS+2024% |
| ROPs | 16 | 80+400% |
| TMUs | 32 | 152+375% |
| L1 Cache | 0.03 MB | 4.8 MB+15900% |
| L2 Cache | 0.25 MB | 4 MB+1500% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GT 740 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| 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 GT 740 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 700% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 0.25 MB (GeForce GT 740) vs 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GT 740 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB | 8 GB+700% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | 448 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 256-bit+300% |
| L2 Cache | 0.25 MB | 4 MB+1500% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GT 740) vs 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce GT 740 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |
| Vulkan | 1.1 | 1.3+18% |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 3 | 4+33% |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 1st Gen (GeForce GT 740) vs NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Decoder: VP5 vs NVDEC (Ampere). Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,MPEG-4 (GeForce GT 740) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti).
| Feature | GeForce GT 740 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 1st Gen | NVENC (Ampere) |
| Decoder | VP5 | NVDEC (Ampere) |
| Codecs | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,MPEG-4 | H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GT 740 draws 64W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's 200W — a 103% difference. The GeForce GT 740 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GT 740) vs 600W (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti). Power connectors: None vs 8-pin. Card length: 145mm vs 242mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75.
| Feature | GeForce GT 740 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 64W-68% | 200W |
| Recommended PSU | 300W-50% | 600W |
| Power Connector | None | 8-pin |
| Length | 145mm | 242mm |
| Height | 111mm | 112mm |
| Slots | 1-50% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 75 | 75 |
| Perf/Watt | 22.3 | 101.6+356% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GT 740 launched at $89 MSRP and currently averages $89, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti launched at $399 and now averages $280. The GeForce GT 740 costs 68.2% less ($191 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 16.1 (GeForce GT 740) vs 72.5 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 350.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2014).
| Feature | GeForce GT 740 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $89-78% | $399 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $89-68% | $280 |
| Performance per Dollar | 16.1 | 72.5+350% |
| Codename | GK107 | GA104 |
| Release | May 29 2014 | December 1 2020 |
| Ranking | #777 | #73 |
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