GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
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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 GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 3.7% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-3.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+3.7%) |
| Longevity | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere (2020−2025) / 8nm) | 🏆Elite Architecture (Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) / 5nm) |
| Ecosystem | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 3/4 + Frame Gen Support |
| VRAM | 🎮 High Capacity (12 GB) | 🎮 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 RTX 3060 12GB and GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,777 points. Launch price was $799.
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
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB scores 16,777 and the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU reaches 17,400 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2535 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 34 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) with 280 Tensor cores vs 136.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 16,777 | 17,400+4% |
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | 8 nm | 5 nm |
| Shading Units | 8960+106% | 4352 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 30.64 TFLOPS+39% | 22.06 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 1710 MHz | 2535 MHz+48% |
| ROPs | 96+100% | 48 |
| TMUs | 280+106% | 136 |
| L1 Cache | 8.8 MB+105% | 4.3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB | 32 MB+433% |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 70+106% | 34 |
| Tensor Cores | 280+106% | 136 |
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 RTX 3060 12GB lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | DLSS 2.0 | DLSS 3.5 |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) | DLSS 3.0 (Native) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | Yes (DLSS 3.5) |
| Low Latency | NVIDIA Reflex | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 256 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) — a 40.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) 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 RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB+50% | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 360 GB/s+41% | 256 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 192-bit+50% | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB | 32 MB+433% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) 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 RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 Ultimate | 12 Ultimate |
| Vulkan | 1.3 | 1.4+8% |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 7th gen | NVENC (8th Gen) |
| Decoder | NVDEC 5th gen | NVDEC (5th Gen) |
| Codecs | H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 | H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB draws 350W versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU's 160W — a 74.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 350W | 160W-54% |
| Recommended PSU | 550W-15% | 650W |
| Power Connector | 8-pin | Mobile |
| Length | 242mm | — |
| Height | 112mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 75°C-6% | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 47.9 | 108.8+127% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2022).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $329 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $340 | — |
| Codename | GA102 | AD106 |
| Release | January 11 2022 | May 18 2023 |
| Ranking | #38 | #59 |
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