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 4060 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 4060: 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 4060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌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 65.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅265.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm 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 4060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 265.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 255.4% in PassMark G3D (19,548 vs 5,500), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 4 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce GTX 970M SLI is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 28nm, and 24 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 4060 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce GTX 970M SLI vs GeForce RTX 4060 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 4060

The GeForce RTX 4060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1830 MHz to 2460 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 24 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,548 points. Launch price was $299.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 970M SLI scores 5,500 versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 19,548 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 255.4%. The GeForce GTX 970M SLI is built on Maxwell while the GeForce RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060). Boost clocks: 1038 MHz vs 2460 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 4060
G3D Mark Score	5,500	19,548+255%
Architecture	Maxwell	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2560	3072+20%
Boost Clock	1038 MHz	2460 MHz+137%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4060 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce GTX 970M SLI does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 970M SLI is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 4060
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
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 4060 carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 4060 gives you 100% 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 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) — a 341.9% advantage for the GeForce GTX 970M SLI. Memory bus width is 192-bit x2 on the GeForce GTX 970M SLI and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 4060.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 4060
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	8 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	120 GB/s x2	272 GB/s+127%
Bus Width	192-bit x2+50%	128-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060). 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 4060
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 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060). Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP6) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 4060
Encoder	NVENC	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	PureVideo HD (VP6)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 970M SLI draws 162W versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 115W — a 33.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 240mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 73°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 4060
TDP	162W	115W-29%
Recommended PSU	350W-36%	550W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	0mm	240mm
Height	0mm	111mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	80°C	73°C-9%
Perf/Watt	34.0	170.0+400%

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4060 (2023 vs 2014).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M SLI	GeForce RTX 4060
MSRP	—	$299
Codename	—	AD107
Release	October 7 2014	May 18 2023
Ranking	#284	#84

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