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 Laptop GPU 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 Laptop GPU: 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 $71 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Draws 170W instead of 285W, a 115W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅38.4% 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 4nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌
21.6% HIGHER MSRP
$400 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌67.6% higher power demand at 285W vs 170W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 38.4% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 15.1% in PassMark G3D (19,555 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 Laptop GPU 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 4nm process instead of 8nm, 60 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 $71 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $400, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 5.7% (51.7 vs 48.9), 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 lighter 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 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 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 3 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2610 MHz. It has 7680 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 285W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 60 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,555 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU's 19,555 — the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU leads by 15.1%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 7,680 (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 40.09 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2610 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 60 (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU) with 112 Tensor cores vs 240.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	16,995	19,555+15%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	3584	7680+114%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	40.09 TFLOPS+215%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2610 MHz+47%
ROPs	48	80+67%
TMUs	112	240+114%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	7.5 MB+114%
L2 Cache	3 MB	48 MB+1500%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	60+114%
Tensor Cores	112	240+114%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 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 Laptop GPU 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 Laptop GPU
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 has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 gives you 50% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 256 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU) — a 40.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 48 MB (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+41%	256 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	48 MB+1500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 1.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.3+8%	1.2
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4+300%	1

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 7th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU). 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 (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU).

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

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU's 285W — a 50.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Card length: 242mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
TDP	170W-40%	285W
Recommended PSU	550W-15%	650W
Power Connector	8-pin	Mobile
Length	242mm	0mm
Height	112mm	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0+46%	68.6

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU launched at $400. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 was 17.8% cheaper ($71 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 48.9 (GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 5.7% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (2023 vs 2021).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
MSRP	$329-18%	$400
Performance per Dollar	51.7+6%	48.9
Codename	GA106	AD104
Release	January 12 2021	January 3 2023
Ranking	#114	#11

Search GeForce RTX 3060 on Amazon

Search GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU on Amazon

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.