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 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 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

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 14.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($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.
❌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

✅31.2% 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).
✅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$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 44.9 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $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 31.2% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 58.4% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 16,995), 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: the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce RTX 3060 is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, 46 vs 28 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2023 generation instead of 2021. That gives it the more rounded hardware package for newer games.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $270 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $599, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 14.9% (51.7 vs 44.9), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and lighter 1440p, GeForce RTX 3060 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 vs GeForce RTX 4070 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3060

The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. 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: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.

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 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 58.4%. The GeForce RTX 3060 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) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2475 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 46 (GeForce RTX 4070) with 112 Tensor cores vs 184.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	16,995	26,919+58%
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 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 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	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)

Both cards ship with 12 GB of video memory. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) — a 40% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	12 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	504 GB/s+40%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	36 MB+1100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) 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	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) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

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

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 16.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) 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 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	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)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	134.6+35%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 was 45.1% cheaper ($270 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 15.1% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2021).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
MSRP	$329-45%	$599
Performance per Dollar	51.7+15%	44.9
Codename	GA106	AD104
Release	January 12 2021	April 12 2023
Ranking	#114	#32

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