GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce9400M

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 GeForce9400M 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 GeForce9400M: 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

✅7373.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅2300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 512 MB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌415.2% higher power demand at 170W vs 33W.

GeForce9400M

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 33W instead of 170W, a 137W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌2015 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 7373.5% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 15933% in PassMark G3D (16,995 vs 106), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 512 MB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 28nm, 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?

GeForce RTX 3060 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce9400M 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.

GeForce9400M

The GeForce9400M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 13 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1072 MHz to 1176 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 33W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 106 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce9400M's 106 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 15933%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce9400M uses Maxwell, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 384 (GeForce9400M). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 0.9032 TFLOPS (GeForce9400M). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1176 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce9400M
G3D Mark Score	16,995+15933%	106
Architecture	Ampere	Maxwell
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	3584+833%	384
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+1311%	0.9032 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+51%	1176 MHz
ROPs	48+500%	8
TMUs	112+367%	24
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+1742%	0.19 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB+200%	1 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce9400M supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce9400M
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce9400M carries 512 MB. GeForce RTX 3060 gives you 2300% 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 and 64-bit on the GeForce9400M. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1 MB (GeForce9400M) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce9400M
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+2300%	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB+200%	1 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce9400M). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce9400M
DirectX	12 Ultimate+8%	11.1 (10_0)
OpenGL	4.6+39%	3.3
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs No NVENC (Tesla) (GeForce9400M). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs PureVideo HD VP3. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce9400M).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce9400M
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	No NVENC (Tesla)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	PureVideo HD VP3
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce9400M's 33W — a 135% difference. The GeForce9400M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 350W (GeForce9400M). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce9400M
TDP	170W	33W-81%
Recommended PSU	550W	350W-36%
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75-12%	85°C
Perf/Watt	100.0+3025%	3.2

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3060 (2021 vs 2015).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce9400M
MSRP	$329	—
Codename	GA106	GM108
Release	January 12 2021	March 13 2015
Ranking	#114	#847

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