GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

2022Core: 1260 MHzBoost: 1710 MHz
VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

2023Core: 2310 MHzBoost: 2535 MHz

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Performance Spectrum

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.

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 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 RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti: 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 RTX 3060 12GB

2022

Why buy it

  • Costs $70 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
  • 105.9% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 136).
  • 50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Ti across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 51.0 vs 56.8 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
  • 118.8% higher power demand at 350W vs 160W.

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

2023

Why buy it

  • 1.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 11.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 56.8 vs 51.0 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
  • Draws 160W instead of 350W, a 190W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (136 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 1.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 35% in PassMark G3D (22,651 vs 16,777), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and a newer 2023 generation instead of 2022. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti makes the most sense to buy today. It is $70 more expensive on MSRP at $399 vs $329, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 11.3% (56.8 vs 51.0), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 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: 22,651 points. Launch price was $399.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB scores 16,777 versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti's 22,651 — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti leads by 35%. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2535 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 34 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) with 280 Tensor cores vs 136.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 12GBGeForce RTX 4060 Ti
G3D Mark Score
16,777
22,651+35%
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)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 12GBGeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
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
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB gives you 50% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 288 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — a 25% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 12GBGeForce RTX 4060 Ti
VRAM Capacity
12 GB+50%
8 GB
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
360 GB/s+25%
288 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 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 12GBGeForce RTX 4060 Ti
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12.2+2%
Vulkan
1.3
1.3
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 12GBGeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Encoder
NVENC 7th gen
8th Gen NVENC
Decoder
NVDEC 5th gen
5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB draws 350W versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti's 160W — a 74.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 70°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 12GBGeForce RTX 4060 Ti
TDP
350W
160W-54%
Recommended PSU
550W
550W
Power Connector
8-pin
8-pin
Length
242mm
240mm
Height
112mm
111mm
Slots
2
2
Temp (Load)
75°C
70°C-7%
Perf/Watt
47.9
141.6+196%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti launched at $399. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 12GB was 17.5% cheaper ($70 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.0 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 56.8 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti offers 11.4% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4060 Ti (2023 vs 2022).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 12GBGeForce RTX 4060 Ti
MSRP
$329-18%
$399
Performance per Dollar
51.0
56.8+11%
Codename
GA102
AD106
Release
January 11 2022
May 18 2023
Ranking
#38
#59

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.