GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 4090 D

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022Core: 1320 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz
RTX family
·······
VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4090 D

2023Core: 2280 MHzBoost: 2520 MHz
RTX family
·······

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 4090 D 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 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 4090 D 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 4090 D: 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 425W, a 255W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4090 D across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 6 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 D 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 19.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4090 D

2023

Why buy it

  • 108.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 19.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($1,599 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • 300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 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

  • 150% higher power demand at 425W vs 170W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 4090 D is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 108.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 133.3% in PassMark G3D (30,725 vs 13,170), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 4090 D is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 24 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 114 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 4090 D 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 4090 D Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4090 D

The GeForce RTX 4090 D is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 28 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2280 MHz to 2520 MHz. It has 14592 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 425W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 114 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 30,725 points. Launch price was $1,599.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the GeForce RTX 4090 D's 30,725 — the GeForce RTX 4090 D leads by 133.3%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4090 D uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 14,592 (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 73.54 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2520 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 114 (GeForce RTX 4090 D) with 112 Tensor cores vs 456.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce RTX 4090 D
G3D Mark Score
13,170
30,725+133%
Architecture
Ampere
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
8 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
3584
14592+307%
Compute (TFLOPS)
12.74 TFLOPS
73.54 TFLOPS+477%
Boost Clock
1777 MHz
2520 MHz+42%
ROPs
48
176+267%
TMUs
112
456+307%
L1 Cache
3.5 MB
14.3 MB+309%
L2 Cache
3 MB
72 MB+2300%
Ray Tracing Cores
28
114+307%
Tensor Cores
112
456+307%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4090 D 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 4090 D supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce RTX 4090 D
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 Laptop GPU has 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4090 D carries 24 GB. GeForce RTX 4090 D gives you 300% 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 1008 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4090 D) — a 200% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090 D. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and 384-bit on the GeForce RTX 4090 D. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 72 MB (GeForce RTX 4090 D) — the GeForce RTX 4090 D has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce RTX 4090 D
VRAM Capacity
6 GB
24 GB+300%
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth
336 GB/s
1008 GB/s+200%
Bus Width
192-bit
384-bit+100%
L2 Cache
3 MB
72 MB+2300%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce RTX 4090 D
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12 Ultimate
Vulkan
1.4
1.4
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 2x NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4090 D).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce RTX 4090 D
Encoder
NVENC (7th Gen)
2x NVENC (8th Gen)
Decoder
NVDEC (5th Gen)
NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs
H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9
H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 4090 D's 425W — a 85.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 850W (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Power connectors: Mobile vs 16-pin. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 78°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce RTX 4090 D
TDP
170W-60%
425W
Recommended PSU
500W-41%
850W
Power Connector
Mobile
16-pin
Length
304mm
Height
137mm
Slots
3
Temp (Load)
75°C-4%
78°C
Perf/Watt
77.5+7%
72.3
💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4090 D (2023 vs 2022).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce RTX 4090 D
MSRP
$1599
Codename
GA106
AD102
Release
October 12 2022
December 28 2023
Ranking
#147
#14

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.