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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation 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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation: 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

✅4.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $1,670 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 329.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 12.0 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Measures 242mm instead of 267mm, a 25mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (16,995 vs 24,046).
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌RTX 4000 Ada Generation is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌142.9% higher power demand at 170W vs 70W.

RTX 4000 Ada Generation

2023

Why buy it

✅+41.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅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.
✅Draws 70W instead of 170W, a 100W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌
507.6% HIGHER MSRP
$1,999 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 12.0 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌10.3% longer card at 267mm vs 242mm.

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 4.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward RTX 4000 Ada Generation instead at 24,046 vs 16,995, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.

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

RTX 4000 Ada Generation 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, 48 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 $1,670 cheaper on MSRP at $329 vs $1,999, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 329.4% (51.7 vs 12.0), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. 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, RTX 4000 Ada Generation has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs RTX 4000 Ada Generation 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.

RTX 4000 Ada Generation

The RTX 4000 Ada Generation is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 9 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1560 MHz. It has 6144 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 70W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 48 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 24,046 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 24,046 — the RTX 4000 Ada Generation leads by 41.5%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the RTX 4000 Ada Generation uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 6,144 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 26.73 TFLOPS (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1560 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 48 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) with 112 Tensor cores vs 192.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
G3D Mark Score	16,995	24,046+41%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	6144+71%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	26.73 TFLOPS+110%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+14%	1560 MHz
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	112	192+71%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	6 MB+71%
L2 Cache	3 MB	48 MB+1500%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	48+71%
Tensor Cores	112	192+71%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the RTX 4000 Ada Generation 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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation carries 2 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 gives you 500% 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 160-bit on the RTX 4000 Ada Generation. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 48 MB (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) — the RTX 4000 Ada Generation has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+500%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6 ECC
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	360 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+20%	160-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	48 MB+1500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.2 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
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 (3x) (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). 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 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	8th Gen NVENC (3x)
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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 70W — a 83.3% difference. The RTX 4000 Ada Generation is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 750W (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 1x 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
TDP	170W	70W-59%
Recommended PSU	550W-27%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	1x 8-pin
Length	242mm	267mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	343.5+244%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 came in at $329, while the RTX 4000 Ada Generation launched at $1999. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3060 was 83.5% cheaper ($1670 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.0 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 330.8% better value. The newer card here is RTX 4000 Ada Generation (2023 vs 2021).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	RTX 4000 Ada Generation
MSRP	$329-84%	$1999
Performance per Dollar	51.7+331%	12.0
Codename	GA106	AD104
Release	January 12 2021	August 9 2023
Ranking	#114	#47

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