GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce4 MX 420

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

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

GeForce4 MX 420

2020Core: 1395 MHzBoost: 1575 MHz
Similar parts
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GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce4 MX 420 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 GeForce4 MX 420 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 GeForce4 MX 420: 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

  • 13004.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
  • 9423.8% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 65 MB).
  • Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 0.1 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $99 MSRP).
  • 580% higher power demand at 170W vs 25W.

GeForce4 MX 420

2020

Why buy it

  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.1 vs 0 G3D/$ ($99 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Draws 25W instead of 170W, a 145W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 65 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
  • 2020 hardware with 65 MB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 13004.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 263300% in PassMark G3D (13,170 vs 5), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 6 GB vs 65 MB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 12nm, and 28 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce4 MX 420 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce4 MX 420 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and lighter 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce4 MX 420 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

GeForce4 MX 420

The GeForce4 MX 420 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 1 2020. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1395 MHz to 1575 MHz. It has 896 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU scores 13,170 versus the GeForce4 MX 420's 5 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU leads by 263300%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is built on Ampere while the GeForce4 MX 420 uses Turing, both on 8 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 896 (GeForce4 MX 420). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 3.226 TFLOPS (GeForce4 MX 420). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1575 MHz.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce4 MX 420
G3D Mark Score
13,170+263300%
5
Architecture
Ampere
Turing
Process Node
8 nm
12 nm
Shading Units
3584+300%
896
Compute (TFLOPS)
12.74 TFLOPS+295%
3.226 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1777 MHz+13%
1575 MHz
ROPs
48+50%
32
TMUs
112+75%
64

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce4 MX 420 supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce4 MX 420
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce4 MX 420 carries 65 MB. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU gives you 9423.8% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU and 64-bit on the GeForce4 MX 420.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce4 MX 420
VRAM Capacity
6 GB+9424%
0.063 GB
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR5
Bus Width
192-bit+200%
64-bit
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 7.0 (GeForce4 MX 420). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 1.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce4 MX 420
DirectX
12 Ultimate+71%
7.0
OpenGL
4.6+207%
1.5
Max Displays
4+100%
2
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs None (GeForce4 MX 420). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs MPEG-2 Decoder. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs MPEG-2 (GeForce4 MX 420).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce4 MX 420
Encoder
NVENC (7th Gen)
None
Decoder
NVDEC (5th Gen)
MPEG-2 Decoder
Codecs
H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9
MPEG-2
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU draws 170W versus the GeForce4 MX 420's 25W — a 148.7% difference. The GeForce4 MX 420 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) vs 350W (GeForce4 MX 420). Power connectors: Mobile vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 60°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce4 MX 420
TDP
170W
25W-85%
Recommended PSU
500W
350W-30%
Power Connector
Mobile
PCIe-powered
Height
100mm
Slots
1
Temp (Load)
75°C
60°C-20%
Perf/Watt
77.5+38650%
0.2
💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU (2022 vs 2020).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPUGeForce4 MX 420
MSRP
$99
Codename
GA106
N17S-G5 / GP107-670-A1
Release
October 12 2022
August 1 2020
Ranking
#147
#523

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