GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU vs RTX 3500 Ada Generation La...

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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation 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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation 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

✅6.7% 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).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (17,400 vs 19,656).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (136 vs 160), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌60% higher power demand at 160W vs 100W.

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅+13% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅17.6% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (160 vs 136).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Draws 100W instead of 160W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 6.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU instead at 19,656 vs 17,400, 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?

GeForce RTX 4060 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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support. That still leaves it as the safer long-term option on hardware alone.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 4060 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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation 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.

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 21 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1110 MHz to 1545 MHz. It has 5120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,656 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU scores 17,400 versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU's 19,656 — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU leads by 13%. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is built on Ada Lovelace while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on a 5 nm process. Shader units: 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 5,120 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 15.82 TFLOPS (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 2535 MHz vs 1545 MHz. Ray tracing: 34 RT cores (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 40 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) with 136 Tensor cores vs 160.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	17,400	19,656+13%
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	5 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	4352	5120+18%
Compute (TFLOPS)	22.06 TFLOPS+39%	15.82 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2535 MHz+64%	1545 MHz
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	136	160+18%
L1 Cache	4.3 MB	5 MB+16%
L2 Cache	32 MB	48 MB+50%
Ray Tracing Cores	34	40+18%
Tensor Cores	136	160+18%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4060 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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is capped at DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU carries 12 GB. RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU gives you 50% 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 432 GB/s (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — a 68.8% advantage for the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU and 192-bit on the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU. L2 Cache: 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 48 MB (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	12 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	256 GB/s	432 GB/s+69%
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	32 MB	48 MB+50%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 12 Ultimate (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
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 8th gen (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC (8th Gen)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (5th Gen)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU draws 160W versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU's 100W — a 46.2% difference. The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 150W (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Power connectors: Mobile vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.