The RTX 4060 compared to the RTX 3060 12GB is a common question, and at COMPARE.EDU.VN, we provide a comprehensive comparison to help you make an informed decision. The RTX 4060 generally offers better performance, efficiency, and features than the RTX 3060 12GB, making it the superior choice for most users, especially in gaming. Consider factors like VRAM capacity, price, and intended use to select the best GPU for your needs, and explore further comparisons and user reviews on COMPARE.EDU.VN for deep insights into graphics cards, gaming performance, and hardware comparisons.
1. RTX 4060 vs RTX 3060 12GB: Performance
Many have voiced concerns about the performance of the RTX 4060, suggesting that it often does not surpass its predecessor. This assertion is generally inaccurate. Our extensive testing indicates that the RTX 4060 is approximately 20% faster at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. Even at 4K ultra settings, where neither card excels, the RTX 4060 maintains a performance lead of over 10%.
While the RTX 3060 12GB occasionally delivers superior performance, these instances are limited, with neither card achieving truly acceptable performance levels. Across 19 games tested at various settings and resolutions, the RTX 3060 12GB only outperformed the RTX 4060 at 4K ultra settings, where both GPUs struggled to maintain an average of 30 fps.
One notable exception is in Spider-Man: Miles Morales, where the RTX 4060 averaged 39.1 fps, and the RTX 3060 achieved 38.5 fps at 1440p ultra with maxed-out RT settings. While the average frame rates are similar, the 1% lows were 30.5 fps on the RTX 3060 compared to 26.2 fps on the RTX 4060. In this specific scenario, the RTX 3060 delivers a slightly better experience. There may be other games where the RTX 3060 performs better, but such instances are infrequent.
Our test suite emphasizes demanding games, including eight titles with ray tracing enabled and several others that can tax 8GB of VRAM. Games like Diablo IV, Forza Horizon 5, The Last of Us, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Watch Dogs Legion benefit from having more than 8GB of VRAM, even at 1080p and 1440p. Comparing the RTX 4060 8GB and RTX 3060 12GB, the RTX 4060 generally performs better in these five games at resolutions of 1440p and below.
While the RTX 4060 does not offer a significant performance increase over the RTX 3060 12GB, it is important to consider its lower official MSRP. The RTX 4060 effectively bridges the gap between the RTX 3050 and RTX 3060 models. It performs admirably for its intended purpose, which is mainstream 1080p gaming, and surpasses AMD’s alternative. Check our RTX 4060 vs RX 7600 GPU faceoff on COMPARE.EDU.VN to see how that matchup went down.
How do the two cards perform in professional and AI workloads? The RTX 4060 consistently outperforms the RTX 3060, with leads ranging from approximately 10% to as high as 40%. However, AI workloads often require more memory to even attempt running them. While we tested Stable Diffusion at 512×512 and 768×768 resolutions, the RTX 4060 was about 8~10 percent faster than the RTX 3060. Larger language models may require more than 8GB of VRAM, but could still function with 12GB.
For users interested in running AI workloads on consumer GPUs, we recommend upgrading to a faster GPU than the RTX 3060 12GB. In these cases, the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB may be a worthwhile investment. However, between the RTX 4060 and RTX 3060, the newer model is generally the better choice.
Overall Performance Winner: RTX 4060
Newer hardware typically offers better performance. Older GPUs from higher tiers may outperform new lower-tier cards. However, when comparing cards at similar levels, such as the RTX 4060 and RTX 3060, or the RTX 4070 and RTX 3070, the newer card usually prevails. The RTX 4060 typically delivers around 20% more performance than the RTX 3060.
Considering that the RTX 4060 has 8GB of VRAM on a 128-bit interface, it feels more like a replacement for the RTX 3050. When compared to the RTX 3050, the upgrade is substantial, with the RTX 4060 beating the RTX 3050 by approximately 65% on average.
2. RTX 4060 vs RTX 3060 12GB: Price and Value
Comparing the prices of the RTX 4060 and RTX 3060 12GB is complex. The RTX 4060 launched in June 2023, while the RTX 3060 12GB launched in February 2021. This means we are comparing a one-year-old GPU against a card that is over three years old and has been discontinued for several months.
The cheapest brand-new RTX 3060 12GB we found is an MSI RTX 3060 12GB Ventus 2X available for around $288 on Amazon. Several other cards are priced around $300. The lowest-cost RTX 4060 card is an MSI RTX 4060 8GB Ventus 2X for about $293 on Amazon. Many other RTX 4060 cards are also available for around $300. A difference of $5~$10 on a $300 graphics card is negligible. Given its superior performance, the RTX 4060 represents a better overall value.
Considering used cards, the RTX 3060 GPUs are more readily available. Looking at sold listings from the past month, the average price on eBay for the RTX 3060 12GB was $221, with over 300 different sellers. The RTX 4060 had an average sold price of $268 with only 71 sellers. Buying a used RTX 3060 is riskier due to its age and potential use for Ethereum mining.
With patience, a used RTX 3060 card can be found for under $150 on auction. The lowest price for a used RTX 4060 was $160, with most cards costing $200 or more.
Price and Value Winner: RTX 4060
Buying a used card is risky. For new cards, the prices are similar. The RTX 4060 offers higher performance and lower power consumption. It typically uses 30–40 watts less than the RTX 3060, which can add up depending on PC usage for gaming.
At four hours per day, every day of the year, the difference in power consumption is around 44–58 kWh. At 10 cents per kWh, the electricity cost difference is about $4.40~$5.80 per year. This can increase to $17 at 30 cents per kWh or $29 if you pay 50 cents per kWh. Saving even $40 on the initial price only to pay more over the long haul due to power consumption favors the RTX 4060.
COMPARE.EDU.VN helps you analyze the total cost of ownership, considering both initial price and long-term power consumption.
3. RTX 4060 vs RTX 3060 12GB: Power and Efficiency
The RTX 4060 clearly excels in power consumption. It has a TGP (Total Graphics Power) rating of 115W, while the older RTX 3060 12GB is rated at 170W. Using a factory overclocked Asus RTX 4060 Dual OC and a reference clocked EVGA RTX 3060 12GB Black, we measured a typical power difference of 30W at 1080p and 1440p, with a 40W advantage for the RTX 4060 at 4K.
A difference of 30W or even 40W may not seem significant, but it becomes a critical factor for regular gamers, especially those playing for 20 or more hours per week. The additional power consumption adds up.
The RTX 4060 generally offers 20% higher performance while drawing less power, resulting in significantly improved overall efficiency. The RTX 4060 offers around 50% higher performance per watt than the RTX 3060 12GB.
This improvement is largely due to TSMC’s 4N (5nm-class) process node, while Samsung’s 8N (10nm-class) node was already behind the state-of-the-art 7nm-class nodes when the RTX 30-series launched in 2020. However, the cause is less important than the pure efficiency improvements. The RTX 40-series easily outperforms anything else available.
Power and Efficiency Winner: RTX 4060
The RTX 4060’s efficiency is unmatched. It offers approximately 50% higher performance per watt than the RTX 3060 across all tested resolutions and settings. Raw performance is higher, raw power consumption is lower, resulting in double the pleasure and double the fun for power efficiency.
4. RTX 4060 vs RTX 3060 12GB: Features and Technology
The RTX 4060 and RTX 3060 have notable differences in specifications. The RTX 3060 has more CUDA cores (GPU shaders), with 3584 compared to the RTX 4060’s 3072. However, the RTX 4060 has significantly higher clock speeds, leading to a performance advantage with 15.1 teraflops of FP32 compared to 12.7 teraflops. This is a 19% advantage, aligning closely with the performance differences.
The RTX 3060 has higher memory bandwidth on paper, but the RTX 4060’s larger 24MB L2 cache compensates for this. However, the cache cannot overcome the VRAM capacity deficit, which primarily affects 4K ultra gaming. In some games, 12GB of VRAM results in a better experience, even at 1080p, but this is not a critical factor for a sub-$300 GPU.
The RTX 4060 equals or outperforms the RTX 3060 in most other areas. Both cards use the same drivers and software. Features like DLSS support are similar, although the RTX 4060 supports DLSS 3 frame generation, which is mostly marketing fluff for most use cases, especially on this level of hardware.
The RTX 4060 supports AV1 video encoding, which is beneficial for streaming gaming sessions. The RTX 4060 uses TSMC’s superior N4 process node, with a 159mm^2 die size, compared to the RTX 3060’s Samsung 8N node and 276mm^2 die size. TSMC 4N offers clear efficiency advantages.
Features and Technology Winner: RTX 4060
The RTX 4060 offers AV1 encoding and DLSS 3 frame generation. It uses a newer process that boosts efficiency and performance. This is not a landslide win, as the two cards offer similar features, but the RTX 4060 has a slight edge. This is expected, given its newer architecture.
RTX 4060 vs. RTX 3060 12GB Verdict
| Feature | RTX 4060 | RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | X | |
| Price and Value | X | |
| Power and Efficiency | X | |
| Features and Technology | X | |
| Total | 4 | 0 |
The RTX 4060 wins this comparison. If anyone claims the RTX 3060 12GB is superior to the RTX 4060, they are mistaken.
The RTX 3060 12GB was a better-balanced card for its time, but even though the RTX 4060 isn’t a massive improvement in overall performance and has less VRAM capacity, it is still faster and better. The architectural upgrades make it superior, winning in all four categories.
Consider upgrading to an RTX 4070 or RTX 4070 Super for a noticeable performance improvement. Alternatively, wait for the future RTX 5060. The RTX 4070 offers a significant performance boost but costs more.
If your PC is five years old or more, upgrading the CPU, motherboard, and memory is necessary. Selling the old PC entirely may be easier than upgrading the GPU alone.
The RTX 4060 isn’t an amazing graphics card. It would benefit from 12GB or even 10GB of memory. However, with a starting price of $300, it is less expensive and faster than its predecessor. Hopefully, the upcoming Blackwell RTX 50-series GPUs will address the 8GB VRAM issue.
If you need a graphics card now and want to spend less than $300, the RTX 4060 is the best option. It is slightly slower than an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6750 XT, with the latter being a viable alternative if ray tracing and DLSS are not important.
5. FAQ: RTX 4060 vs RTX 3060 12GB
Q1: Is the RTX 4060 better than the RTX 3060 12GB for gaming?
Yes, the RTX 4060 generally offers better gaming performance than the RTX 3060 12GB, providing higher frame rates at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.
Q2: Does the RTX 3060 12GB have any advantages over the RTX 4060?
The RTX 3060 12GB has a higher VRAM capacity, which can be beneficial in certain games at 4K resolution or for specific professional workloads requiring more memory.
Q3: What is the price difference between the RTX 4060 and RTX 3060 12GB?
The RTX 4060 and RTX 3060 12GB are similarly priced, with the RTX 4060 often being slightly more expensive. However, prices can vary depending on the retailer and availability.
Q4: Is the RTX 4060 more power-efficient than the RTX 3060 12GB?
Yes, the RTX 4060 is more power-efficient, consuming less power while delivering better performance, making it a more efficient choice overall.
Q5: Does the RTX 4060 support DLSS 3?
Yes, the RTX 4060 supports DLSS 3 frame generation, which can improve performance in supported games.
Q6: What are the key differences in architecture between the RTX 4060 and RTX 3060 12GB?
The RTX 4060 is based on the newer Ada Lovelace architecture, while the RTX 3060 12GB is based on the Ampere architecture. The RTX 4060 also features a larger L2 cache and support for AV1 encoding.
Q7: Is the RTX 4060 a good upgrade from the RTX 3060 12GB?
Upgrading from the RTX 3060 12GB to the RTX 4060 may not be worth it for all users, as the performance increase is not massive. However, the RTX 4060 offers better efficiency and newer features.
Q8: Can the RTX 4060 handle 1440p gaming?
Yes, the RTX 4060 is well-suited for 1440p gaming, providing a smooth gaming experience in most titles.
Q9: What is the power consumption of the RTX 4060?
The RTX 4060 has a TGP (Total Graphics Power) rating of 115W.
Q10: Where can I find more comparisons and reviews of the RTX 4060 and RTX 3060 12GB?
Visit COMPARE.EDU.VN for detailed comparisons, user reviews, and in-depth analyses of the RTX 4060 and RTX 3060 12GB.
Navigating the world of graphics card comparisons can be overwhelming. At COMPARE.EDU.VN, we simplify the process by providing comprehensive, unbiased comparisons to help you make informed decisions. Whether you’re weighing the RTX 4060 against the RTX 3060 or exploring other alternatives, our detailed analyses cover performance, price, features, and more.
Ready to make a decision? Visit COMPARE.EDU.VN today to explore detailed comparisons, user reviews, and expert analyses of the RTX 4060, RTX 3060, and other leading graphics cards. Make the smart choice with COMPARE.EDU.VN.
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