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 4090 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 4090: 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 $1,270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 113.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.0 vs 23.8 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).
✅Draws 350W instead of 450W, a 100W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 304mm, a 62mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4090 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 24 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌GeForce RTX 4090 is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 4090

2022

Why buy it

✅50.2% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 GB vs 12 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
386% HIGHER MSRP
$1,599 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 23.8 vs 51.0 G3D/$ ($1,599 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌28.6% higher power demand at 450W vs 350W.
❌25.6% longer card at 304mm vs 242mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4090 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 50.2% in average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 127.2% in PassMark G3D (38,112 vs 16,777), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4090 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 24 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 128 vs 70 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 12GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $1,270 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $1,599, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 113.9% (51.0 vs 23.8), 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 1440p and 4K headroom, GeForce RTX 4090 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4090 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 4090

The GeForce RTX 4090 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 20 2022. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2235 MHz to 2520 MHz. It has 16384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 450W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 128 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 38,112 points. Launch price was $1,599.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB scores 16,777 versus the GeForce RTX 4090's 38,112 — the GeForce RTX 4090 leads by 127.2%. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4090 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 16,384 (GeForce RTX 4090). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 82.58 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4090). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2520 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 128 (GeForce RTX 4090) with 280 Tensor cores vs 512.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090
G3D Mark Score	16,777	38,112+127%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	8960	16384+83%
Compute (TFLOPS)	30.64 TFLOPS	82.58 TFLOPS+170%
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	2520 MHz+47%
ROPs	96	176+83%
TMUs	280	512+83%
L1 Cache	8.8 MB	16 MB+82%
L2 Cache	6 MB	72 MB+1100%
Ray Tracing Cores	70	128+83%
Tensor Cores	280	512+83%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4090 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 4090 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 4090
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 4090 carries 24 GB. GeForce RTX 4090 gives you 100% 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 1008 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4090) — a 180% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and 384-bit on the GeForce RTX 4090. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 72 MB (GeForce RTX 4090) — the GeForce RTX 4090 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	24 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	1008 GB/s+180%
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
L2 Cache	6 MB	72 MB+1100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4090). 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 4090
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 (2x) (GeForce RTX 4090). 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 4090).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
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 4090's 450W — a 25% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 1000W (GeForce RTX 4090). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 16-pin (12VHPWR). Card length: 242mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090
TDP	350W-22%	450W
Recommended PSU	550W-45%	1000W
Power Connector	8-pin	16-pin (12VHPWR)
Length	242mm	304mm
Height	112mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	75°C-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	47.9	84.7+77%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 4090 launched at $1599. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 12GB was 79.4% cheaper ($1270 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.0 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 23.8 (GeForce RTX 4090) — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers 114.3% better value.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090
MSRP	$329-79%	$1599
Performance per Dollar	51.0+114%	23.8
Codename	GA102	AD102
Release	January 11 2022	September 20 2022
Ranking	#38	#4

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