GeForce RTX 3060 Ti vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

CPU

GPU

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

2020Core: 1410 MHzBoost: 1665 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

2015Core: 954 MHzBoost: 993 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••RTX 3060 Ti••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

8 GB 200

20,312

+480.3%

GeForce RTX 2060 (Mobile)

GeForce RTX 2080 Super with Max-Q Design

GeForce GTX 1080 (móvel)

GeForce GTX 1070 SLI

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti

GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile

GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile

RTX 5000 Ada Generation

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

2 GB 30

3,500

0.0%

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

Radeon RX 6850M

Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary

GeForce RTX 5060

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

2020

Why buy it

✅+480.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 118.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.9 vs 23.3 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌566.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 30W.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $249 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 200W, a 170W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,500 vs 20,312).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 23.3 vs 50.9 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

2020

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

2015

Why buy it

✅+480.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 118.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.9 vs 23.3 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $249 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 200W, a 170W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌566.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 30W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,500 vs 20,312).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 23.3 vs 50.9 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 Ti better than Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 20,312 vs 3,500 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is a 2020 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is a 2015 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 generation instead of 2015, 480.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 2 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is about 166.0% more expensive on MSRP at $399 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and you are getting 480.3% higher G3D Mark. Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is 2015 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM, 3,500 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Benchmark Check

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
1080p
low	152 FPS	77 FPS
medium	137 FPS	65 FPS
high	118 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	28 FPS
1440p
low	131 FPS	61 FPS
medium	107 FPS	51 FPS
high	91 FPS	31 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	19 FPS
4K
low	77 FPS	22 FPS
medium	65 FPS	21 FPS
high	50 FPS	13 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	11 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
1080p
low	425 FPS	97 FPS
medium	366 FPS	68 FPS
high	296 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	248 FPS	31 FPS
1440p
low	272 FPS	53 FPS
medium	229 FPS	31 FPS
high	190 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	156 FPS	15 FPS
4K
low	133 FPS	18 FPS
medium	114 FPS	11 FPS
high	96 FPS	9 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	7 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
1080p
low	859 FPS	158 FPS
medium	693 FPS	126 FPS
high	602 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	457 FPS	79 FPS
1440p
low	658 FPS	118 FPS
medium	529 FPS	94 FPS
high	452 FPS	79 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	59 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	79 FPS
medium	346 FPS	63 FPS
high	275 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	39 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
1080p
low	580 FPS	157 FPS
medium	514 FPS	126 FPS
high	424 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	79 FPS
1440p
low	478 FPS	110 FPS
medium	427 FPS	88 FPS
high	335 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	59 FPS
4K
low	285 FPS	64 FPS
medium	266 FPS	50 FPS
high	234 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	30 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1410 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 4864 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 38 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $399.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is manufactured by an unknown manufacturer. It was released in October 1 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 954 MHz to 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,500 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 20,312 versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)'s 3,500 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti leads by 480.3%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is built on Ampere while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) uses Maxwell, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 4,864 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 384 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)). Boost clocks: 1665 MHz vs 993 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
G3D Mark Score	20,312+480%	3,500
Architecture	Ampere	Maxwell
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	4864+1167%	384
Boost Clock	1665 MHz+68%	993 MHz

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 256-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
VRAM Capacity	8 GB+300%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	448 GB/s	Unknown
Bus Width	256-bit+100%	128-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 12 (11_0) (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
DirectX	12 Ultimate (12_2)	12 (11_0)
Vulkan	1.3+18%	1.1
OpenGL	4.6+2%	4.5
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Decoder: NVDEC (Ampere) vs NVDEC 1st Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
Encoder	NVENC (Ampere)	—
Decoder	NVDEC (Ampere)	NVDEC 1st Gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1	H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti draws 200W versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)'s 30W — a 147.8% difference. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 350W (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
TDP	200W	30W-85%
Recommended PSU	600W	350W-42%
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75	75
Perf/Watt	101.6	116.7+15%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti launched at $399 MSRP, while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) launched at $150. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) costs 62.4% less ($249 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 50.9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 23.3 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 118.5% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2015).