GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU

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 4060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 5090 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 4060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 5090 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 4060 Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 160W instead of 575W, a 415W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 24 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (136 vs 680), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU

2025

Why buy it

✅53.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅400% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (680 vs 136).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌259.4% higher power demand at 575W vs 160W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 53.5% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 67.6% in PassMark G3D (29,163 vs 17,400), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 24 GB vs 8 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025) instead of DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), 170 vs 34 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2025 generation instead of 2023. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU vs GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2535 MHz. It has 4352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17,400 points. Launch price was $399.

GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 30 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2017 MHz to 2407 MHz. It has 21760 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 575W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 170 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 29,163 points. Launch price was $2,299.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU scores 17,400 versus the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU's 29,163 — the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU leads by 67.6%. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is built on Ada Lovelace while the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU uses Blackwell 2.0, both on a 5 nm process. Shader units: 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 21,760 (GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 104.8 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 2535 MHz vs 2407 MHz. Ray tracing: 34 RT cores (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 170 (GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU) with 136 Tensor cores vs 680.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	17,400	29,163+68%
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Blackwell 2.0
Process Node	5 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	4352	21760+400%
Compute (TFLOPS)	22.06 TFLOPS	104.8 TFLOPS+375%
Boost Clock	2535 MHz+5%	2407 MHz
ROPs	48	176+267%
TMUs	136	680+400%
L1 Cache	4.3 MB	21.3 MB+395%
L2 Cache	32 MB	96 MB+200%
Ray Tracing Cores	34	170+400%
Tensor Cores	136	680+400%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Both cards support Frame Generation, but the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU is on the newer stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU stays on DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation.The GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is capped at DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation+14%
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	Yes (DLSS 4)+14%
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU has 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU carries 24 GB. GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU gives you 200% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 256 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 896 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU) — a 250% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU and 256-bit on the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. L2 Cache: 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 96 MB (GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	24 GB+200%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR7
Memory Bandwidth	256 GB/s	896 GB/s+250%
Bus Width	128-bit	256-bit+100%
L2 Cache	32 MB	96 MB+200%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4	1.4
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

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Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs NVENC (9th Gen) (GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs NVDEC (6th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs AV1,H.264,H.265,VP9 (GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC (8th Gen)	NVENC (9th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC (5th Gen)	NVDEC (6th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9	AV1,H.264,H.265,VP9

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU draws 160W versus the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU's 575W — a 112.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: Mobile vs PCIe-powered.