GeForce GTX 970M SLI vs GeForce RTX 3060

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.

GeForce GTX 970M SLI vs GeForce RTX 3060 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce GTX 970M SLI vs GeForce RTX 3060: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce GTX 970M SLI

2014

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌2014 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅259.2% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 259.2% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 209% in PassMark G3D (16,995 vs 5,500), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 4 GB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 28nm, and 28 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce GTX 970M SLI vs GeForce RTX 3060 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce GTX 970M SLI

The GeForce GTX 970M SLI is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 7 2014. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 924 MHz to 1038 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 162W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,500 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.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 970M SLI scores 5,500 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 209%. The GeForce GTX 970M SLI is built on Maxwell while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Boost clocks: 1038 MHz vs 1777 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 3060
G3D Mark Score	5,500	16,995+209%
Architecture	Maxwell	Ampere
Process Node	28 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2560	3584+40%
Boost Clock	1038 MHz	1777 MHz+71%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 970M SLI is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 3060
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 970M SLI has 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 gives you 200% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 120 GB/s x2 (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) — a 233.9% advantage for the GeForce GTX 970M SLI. Memory bus width is 192-bit x2 on the GeForce GTX 970M SLI and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 3060
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	12 GB+200%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	120 GB/s x2	360 GB/s+200%
Bus Width	192-bit x2	192-bit

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.4 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 3060
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.2	1.3+8%
OpenGL	4.4	4.6+5%
Max Displays	4	4

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Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060). Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP6) vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 3060
Encoder	NVENC	NVENC 7th Gen
Decoder	PureVideo HD (VP6)	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 970M SLI draws 162W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 4.8% difference. The GeForce GTX 970M SLI is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 242mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 75.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 3060
TDP	162W-5%	170W
Recommended PSU	350W-36%	550W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	0mm	242mm
Height	0mm	112mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	80°C	75-6%
Perf/Watt	34.0	100.0+194%

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 (2021 vs 2014).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 3060
MSRP	—	$329
Codename	—	GA106
Release	October 7 2014	January 12 2021
Ranking	#284	#114

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