GeForce RTX 3060 vs L4

CPU

GPU

GeForce RTX 3060

2021Core: 1320 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

L4

2023Core: 795 MHzBoost: 2040 MHz

Popular choices:

•RTX 3060••••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce RTX 3060

12 GB 170

16,995

+67.4%

GeForce RTX 3050 4GB Mobile

GeForce RTX 2060 (Mobile)

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

RTX 2000 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

TITAN V

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB

GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile

GeForce RTX 5070

8 GB 72

10,153

0.0%

GeForce GTX 680

GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE

GeForce GTX 1650

GeForce GTX TITAN Z

GeForce RTX 2060

GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

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

2021

Why buy it

✅+67.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $2,016 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,345 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1093.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 4.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,345 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).

Trade-offs

❌136.1% higher power demand at 170W vs 72W.
❌43.2% longer card at 242mm vs 169mm.

L4

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 72W instead of 170W, a 98W reduction.
✅Measures 169mm instead of 242mm, a 73mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (10,153 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
612.8% HIGHER MSRP
$2,345 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.3 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($2,345 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

L4

2023

Why buy it

✅+67.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $2,016 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $2,345 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1093.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 4.3 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $2,345 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).

Why buy it

✅Draws 72W instead of 170W, a 98W reduction.
✅Measures 169mm instead of 242mm, a 73mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌136.1% higher power demand at 170W vs 72W.
❌43.2% longer card at 242mm vs 169mm.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (10,153 vs 16,995).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
612.8% HIGHER MSRP
$2,345 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.3 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($2,345 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than L4?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 67.4% higher PassMark G3D performance, DLSS 2 Super Resolution, and 12 GB vs 8 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2021 instead of 2023, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 67.4% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 8 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 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3060 is about $2,016 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $2,345 MSRP, and you are getting 67.4% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 1093.1%. L4 is the newer 2023 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture and lower power draw (72W vs 170W) than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does L4 make more sense than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. L4 is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (72W vs 170W), and staying closer to $2,345 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3060. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3060 currently gives you 67.4% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 1093.1%.

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 Benchmark Check

L4 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
1080p
low	149 FPS	184 FPS
medium	131 FPS	162 FPS
high	118 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	86 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	144 FPS
medium	104 FPS	121 FPS
high	92 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	58 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	59 FPS
medium	58 FPS	51 FPS
high	39 FPS	38 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	33 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open L4

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
1080p
low	354 FPS	287 FPS
medium	310 FPS	231 FPS
high	249 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	157 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	219 FPS
medium	196 FPS	169 FPS
high	160 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	114 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	119 FPS
medium	94 FPS	95 FPS
high	77 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	66 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open L4

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
1080p
low	765 FPS	457 FPS
medium	612 FPS	366 FPS
high	510 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	228 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	343 FPS
medium	432 FPS	274 FPS
high	366 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	171 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	228 FPS
medium	298 FPS	183 FPS
high	221 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	114 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open L4

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
1080p
low	523 FPS	375 FPS
medium	452 FPS	321 FPS
high	383 FPS	275 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	223 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	285 FPS
medium	371 FPS	249 FPS
high	298 FPS	216 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	170 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	171 FPS
medium	259 FPS	144 FPS
high	225 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	93 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open L4

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and L4

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.

L4

The L4 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 21 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 795 MHz to 2040 MHz. It has 7424 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 72W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 60 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 10,153 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the L4's 10,153 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 67.4%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the L4 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 7,424 (L4). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 30.29 TFLOPS (L4). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2040 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 60 (L4) with 112 Tensor cores vs 240.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
G3D Mark Score	16,995+67%	10,153
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	7424+107%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	30.29 TFLOPS+138%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2040 MHz+15%
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 GeForce RTX 3060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The L4 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
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 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the L4 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 48 MB (L4) — the L4 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
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 (L4). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 0.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	0

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (L4). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC (4x). Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (L4).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	5th Gen NVDEC (4x)
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the L4's 72W — a 81% difference. The L4 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 500W (L4). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 242mm vs 169mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	L4
TDP	170W	72W-58%
Recommended PSU	550W	500W-9%
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	169mm
Height	112mm	69mm
Slots	2	1-50%
Temp (Load)	75	75°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	141.0+41%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the L4 launched at $2345. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 86% less ($2016 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 4.3 (L4) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 1102.3% better value. The L4 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2021).