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 16GB 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 16GB: 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 $170 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 12% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.0 vs 45.5 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $499 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).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌112.1% higher power demand at 350W vs 165W.

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB

2023

Why buy it

✅10.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 12 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 165W instead of 350W, a 185W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (136 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌
51.7% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 45.5 vs 51.0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 10.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 35.4% in PassMark G3D (22,713 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 16GB is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 16 GB vs 12 GB of VRAM, 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 gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $170 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $499, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 12% (51.0 vs 45.5), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and lighter 1440p, GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and strong 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB Technical Specifications

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

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 Ti 16GB

The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB 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 165W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,713 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB scores 16,777 versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB's 22,713 — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB leads by 35.4%. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB 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 16GB). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2535 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 34 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB) with 280 Tensor cores vs 136.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
G3D Mark Score	16,777	22,713+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 16GB 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 16GB supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
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 16GB carries 16 GB. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB gives you 33.3% 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 16GB) — 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 16GB. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	16 GB+33%
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 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
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 NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB draws 350W versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB's 165W — a 71.8% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 16-pin (12VHPWR). Card length: 242mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2.2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 65°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
TDP	350W	165W-53%
Recommended PSU	550W	550W
Power Connector	8-pin	16-pin (12VHPWR)
Length	242mm	240mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2-9%	2.2
Temp (Load)	75°C	65°C-13%
Perf/Watt	47.9	137.7+187%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB launched at $499. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 12GB was 34.1% cheaper ($170 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.0 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 45.5 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers 12.1% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB (2023 vs 2022).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
MSRP	$329-34%	$499
Performance per Dollar	51.0+12%	45.5
Codename	GA102	AD106
Release	January 11 2022	May 18 2023
Ranking	#38	#56

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