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 8GB vs GeForce RTX 4070 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 8GB vs GeForce RTX 4070: 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 8GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 170W instead of 200W, a 30W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 304mm, a 62mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅39.1% 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).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
82.1% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌17.6% higher power demand at 200W vs 170W.
❌25.6% longer card at 304mm vs 242mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 39.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 77% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 15,208), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 8 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 8GB is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and 46 vs 28 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 8GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $270 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $599, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 2.9% (46.2 vs 44.9), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and lighter 1440p, GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and strong 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 4070 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs GeForce RTX 4070 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3060 8GB

The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 12 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 15,208 points.

GeForce RTX 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB scores 15,208 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 77%. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2475 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) vs 46 (GeForce RTX 4070) with 112 Tensor cores vs 184.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	15,208	26,919+77%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	5888+64%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+129%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2475 MHz+39%
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	112	184+64%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	5.8 MB+66%
L2 Cache	3 MB	36 MB+1100%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	46+64%
Tensor Cores	112	184+64%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4070 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 8GB does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB	GeForce RTX 4070
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 8GB has 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 4070 gives you 50% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 240 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) — a 110% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	12 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	240 GB/s	504 GB/s+110%
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	3 MB	36 MB+1100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB	GeForce RTX 4070
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 8GB) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 16.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	170W-15%	200W
Recommended PSU	550W-15%	650W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	304mm
Height	112mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	75°C-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	89.5	134.6+50%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 8GB was 45.1% cheaper ($270 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 46.2 (GeForce RTX 3060 8GB) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB offers 2.9% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2022).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 8GB	GeForce RTX 4070
MSRP	$329-45%	$599
Performance per Dollar	46.2+3%	44.9
Codename	GA106	AD104
Release	October 12 2022	April 12 2023
Ranking	#147	#32

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