GeForce GTX 960 vs GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
GeForce GTX 960
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GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
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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 4060 Laptop GPU
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is significantly newer (2023 vs 2015). The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce GTX 960 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 183.7% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (8 GB vs 4 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 960.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-183.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+183.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)) | 🏆Elite Architecture (Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) / 5nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 3/4 + Frame Gen Support |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (8 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 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 GTX 960 and GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
GeForce GTX 960
The GeForce GTX 960 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 22 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1127 MHz to 1178 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,133 points. Launch price was $199.
GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2535 MHz. It has 4352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17,400 points. Launch price was $399.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 960 scores 6,133 versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU's 17,400 — the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU leads by 183.7%. The GeForce GTX 960 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce GTX 960) vs 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 2.413 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 960) vs 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1178 MHz vs 2535 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 6,133 | 17,400+184% |
| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 5 nm |
| Shading Units | 1024 | 4352+325% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.413 TFLOPS | 22.06 TFLOPS+814% |
| Boost Clock | 1178 MHz | 2535 MHz+115% |
| ROPs | 32 | 48+50% |
| TMUs | 64 | 136+113% |
| L1 Cache | 0.38 MB | 4.3 MB+1032% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 32 MB+3100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is support for DLSS 3 Frame Gen. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce GTX 960 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | DLSS 3.5 |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | DLSS 3.0 (Native) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | Yes (DLSS 3.5) |
| Low Latency | Standard | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 960 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 112 GB/s (GeForce GTX 960) vs 256 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) — a 128.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (GeForce GTX 960) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 112 GB/s | 256 GB/s+129% |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 32 MB+3100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 960) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (12_1) | 12 Ultimate |
| Vulkan | 1.3 | 1.4+8% |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce GTX 960) vs NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC (2nd Gen) vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8 (GeForce GTX 960) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC (5th Gen) | NVENC (8th Gen) |
| Decoder | NVDEC (2nd Gen) | NVDEC (5th Gen) |
| Codecs | HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8 | H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 960 draws 100W versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU's 160W — a 46.2% difference. The GeForce GTX 960 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 960) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 6-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 75 C vs 80°C.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W-38% | 160W |
| Recommended PSU | 400W-38% | 650W |
| Power Connector | 6-pin | Mobile |
| Length | 241mm | — |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 75 C-6% | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 61.3 | 108.8+77% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2015).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $45 | — |
| Codename | GM206 | AD106 |
| Release | January 22 2015 | May 18 2023 |
| Ranking | #393 | #59 |
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