GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 4080

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 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 4080 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 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 4080: 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 Laptop GPU

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 170W instead of 320W, a 150W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4080 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 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 4080 is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 28.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4080

2022

Why buy it

✅88.2% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 28.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($1,199 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌88.2% higher power demand at 320W vs 170W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4080 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 88.2% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 161.5% in PassMark G3D (34,445 vs 13,170), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4080 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 16 GB vs 6 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 Laptop GPU is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and 76 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 4080 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 4080 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 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: 13,170 points.

GeForce RTX 4080

The GeForce RTX 4080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 20 2022. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2205 MHz to 2505 MHz. It has 9728 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 320W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 76 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 34,445 points. Launch price was $1,199.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the GeForce RTX 4080's 34,445 — the GeForce RTX 4080 leads by 161.5%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4080 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 9,728 (GeForce RTX 4080). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 48.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4080). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2505 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 76 (GeForce RTX 4080) with 112 Tensor cores vs 304.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 4080
G3D Mark Score	13,170	34,445+162%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	9728+171%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	48.74 TFLOPS+283%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2505 MHz+41%
ROPs	48	112+133%
TMUs	112	304+171%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	9.5 MB+171%
L2 Cache	3 MB	64 MB+2033%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	76+171%
Tensor Cores	112	304+171%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4080 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 Laptop GPU does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4080 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 4080
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

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4080 carries 16 GB. GeForce RTX 4080 gives you 166.7% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 736 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4080) — a 119% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4080. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and 256-bit on the GeForce RTX 4080. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 64 MB (GeForce RTX 4080) — the GeForce RTX 4080 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 4080
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	16 GB+167%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	736 GB/s+119%
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	3 MB	64 MB+2033%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4080). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 4080
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

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Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4080). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4080).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 4080
Encoder	NVENC (7th Gen)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (5th Gen)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 4080's 320W — a 61.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 4080). Power connectors: Mobile vs 16-pin. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 70°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 4080
TDP	170W-47%	320W
Recommended PSU	500W-33%	750W
Power Connector	Mobile	16-pin
Length	—	310mm
Height	—	140mm
Slots	—	3
Temp (Load)	75°C	70°C-7%
Perf/Watt	77.5	107.6+39%