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 RTX 2060 12GB

2021

Why buy it

✅183.3% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 96).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Measures 229mm instead of 240mm, a 11mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (15,935 vs 19,548).
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
57.2% HIGHER MSRP
$470 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.9 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($470 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅+22.7% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $171 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $470 MSRP).
✅Delivers 92.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 33.9 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $470 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌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 (96 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 2060 12GB

2021

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅183.3% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (272 vs 96).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Measures 229mm instead of 240mm, a 11mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅+22.7% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $171 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $470 MSRP).
✅Delivers 92.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 33.9 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $470 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (15,935 vs 19,548).
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
57.2% HIGHER MSRP
$470 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.9 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($470 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌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 (96 vs 272), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than GeForce RTX 2060 12GB?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 19,548 vs 15,935 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is a 2021 model from an older generation with DLSS Super Resolution. 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 2021, 22.7% more raw performance headroom, better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 5nm process instead of 12nm. That broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.

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 about $171 cheaper on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $470 MSRP, and you are getting 22.7% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 92.8%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce RTX 2060 12GB still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $470 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 RTX 2060 12GB Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	155 FPS	167 FPS
medium	137 FPS	152 FPS
high	124 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	132 FPS	137 FPS
medium	107 FPS	114 FPS
high	95 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	90 FPS
4K
low	75 FPS	86 FPS
medium	64 FPS	74 FPS
high	49 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	317 FPS	392 FPS
medium	269 FPS	334 FPS
high	218 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	211 FPS
1440p
low	210 FPS	240 FPS
medium	180 FPS	209 FPS
high	146 FPS	169 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	111 FPS	119 FPS
medium	93 FPS	98 FPS
high	77 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	63 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	717 FPS	812 FPS
medium	574 FPS	642 FPS
high	478 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	359 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	538 FPS	535 FPS
medium	430 FPS	443 FPS
high	359 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	269 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	359 FPS	365 FPS
medium	287 FPS	297 FPS
high	239 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	186 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	432 FPS	746 FPS
medium	366 FPS	613 FPS
high	296 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	594 FPS
medium	308 FPS	486 FPS
high	239 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	198 FPS	330 FPS
4K
low	205 FPS	358 FPS
medium	169 FPS	308 FPS
high	157 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	220 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 2060 12GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 2060 12GB and GeForce RTX 4060

GeForce RTX 2060 12GB

The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 7 2021. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1470 MHz to 1650 MHz. It has 2176 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 184W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 15,935 points.

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 RTX 2060 12GB scores 15,935 versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 19,548 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 22.7%. The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 12 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,176 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060). Raw compute: 7.181 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060). Boost clocks: 1650 MHz vs 2460 MHz. Ray tracing: 34 RT cores (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 24 (GeForce RTX 4060) with 272 Tensor cores vs 96.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
G3D Mark Score	15,935	19,548+23%
Architecture	Turing	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	12 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2176	3072+41%
Compute (TFLOPS)	7.181 TFLOPS	15.11 TFLOPS+110%
Boost Clock	1650 MHz	2460 MHz+49%
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	136+42%	96
L1 Cache	2.1 MB	3 MB+43%
L2 Cache	3 MB	24 MB+700%
Ray Tracing Cores	34+42%	24
Tensor Cores	272+183%	96

✨

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 RTX 2060 12GB 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 RTX 2060 12GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
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 2060 12GB comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) — a 23.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s+24%	272 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	24 MB+700%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
DirectX	12.1	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 6.0 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP9 vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060).

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
Encoder	NVENC 6.0	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP9	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB draws 184W versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 115W — a 46.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 229mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 88°C vs 73°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 2060 12GB	GeForce RTX 4060
TDP	184W	115W-38%
Recommended PSU	550W	550W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	229mm	240mm
Height	113mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	88°C	73°C-17%
Perf/Watt	86.6	170.0+96%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB launched at $470 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4060 launched at $299. The GeForce RTX 4060 costs 36.4% less ($171 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 33.9 (GeForce RTX 2060 12GB) vs 65.4 (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 offers 92.9% better value. The GeForce RTX 4060 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2021).