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 GTX 970XM FORCE

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 81W instead of 115W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (6,707 vs 19,548).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 65.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅+191.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌42% higher power demand at 115W vs 81W.

GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE

2014

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 81W instead of 115W, a 34W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+191.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (6,707 vs 19,548).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 65.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌42% higher power demand at 115W vs 81W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 19,548 vs 6,707 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is a 2014 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2014, 191.5% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 4 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) 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 4060 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4060 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $299 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 191.5% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around an unclear MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 4060 is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

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 GTX 970XM FORCE Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	100 FPS	167 FPS
medium	85 FPS	152 FPS
high	68 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	87 FPS	137 FPS
medium	75 FPS	114 FPS
high	54 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	31 FPS	90 FPS
4K
low	28 FPS	86 FPS
medium	26 FPS	74 FPS
high	17 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	15 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE Open GeForce RTX 4060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	166 FPS	392 FPS
medium	135 FPS	334 FPS
high	108 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	74 FPS	211 FPS
1440p
low	113 FPS	240 FPS
medium	86 FPS	209 FPS
high	68 FPS	169 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	48 FPS	119 FPS
medium	39 FPS	98 FPS
high	35 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	63 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE Open GeForce RTX 4060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	302 FPS	812 FPS
medium	241 FPS	642 FPS
high	201 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	151 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	535 FPS
medium	181 FPS	443 FPS
high	151 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	151 FPS	365 FPS
medium	121 FPS	297 FPS
high	101 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	186 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE Open GeForce RTX 4060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	167 FPS	746 FPS
medium	137 FPS	613 FPS
high	123 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	117 FPS	594 FPS
medium	98 FPS	486 FPS
high	88 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	330 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	358 FPS
medium	54 FPS	308 FPS
high	44 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	31 FPS	220 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE Open GeForce RTX 4060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE and GeForce RTX 4060

GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE

The GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 7 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 924 MHz to 1038 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 81W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,707 points. Launch price was $2,560.89.

GeForce RTX 4060

The GeForce RTX 4060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1830 MHz to 2460 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 24 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,548 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE scores 6,707 versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 19,548 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 191.5%. The GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060). Raw compute: 2.657 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060). Boost clocks: 1038 MHz vs 2460 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
G3D Mark Score	6,707	19,548+191%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1280	3072+140%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.657 TFLOPS	15.11 TFLOPS+469%
Boost Clock	1038 MHz	2460 MHz+137%
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	80	96+20%
L1 Cache	0.47 MB	3 MB+538%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	24 MB+1500%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	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 GTX 970XM FORCE comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 120 GB/s (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) — a 126.7% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	8 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	120 GB/s	272 GB/s+127%
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	24 MB+1500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 5th Gen NVENC (Maxwell) (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060). Decoder: 1st Gen NVDEC vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
Encoder	5th Gen NVENC (Maxwell)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	1st Gen NVDEC	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,VC-1,MPEG-2	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE draws 81W versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 115W — a 34.7% difference. The GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 73°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce RTX 4060
TDP	81W-30%	115W
Recommended PSU	350W-36%	550W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	240mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	73°C-3%
Perf/Watt	82.8	170.0+105%