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 3060

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 14.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 170W instead of 200W, a 30W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 304mm, a 62mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅41.7% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅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

❌
82.1% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 44.9 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌17.6% higher power demand at 200W vs 170W.
❌25.6% longer card at 304mm vs 242mm.

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 14.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 170W instead of 200W, a 30W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 304mm, a 62mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅41.7% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅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 average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌
82.1% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$329 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 44.9 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌17.6% higher power demand at 200W vs 170W.
❌25.6% longer card at 304mm vs 242mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4070 better than GeForce RTX 3060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 41.7% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data, 58.4% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 184 vs 112 Tensor cores. It also comes from 2023 instead of 2021, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

GeForce RTX 4070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2021, 58.4% 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 8nm. 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 4070 is about 82.1% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 41.7% more estimated average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data and 58.4% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 4070 is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3060 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

Is GeForce RTX 3060 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $329 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 4070 earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

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 3060 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4070 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	149 FPS	183 FPS
medium	131 FPS	167 FPS
high	118 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	126 FPS	150 FPS
medium	104 FPS	124 FPS
high	92 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	101 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	92 FPS
medium	58 FPS	78 FPS
high	39 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	58 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	354 FPS	544 FPS
medium	310 FPS	454 FPS
high	249 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	195 FPS	299 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	351 FPS
medium	196 FPS	288 FPS
high	160 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	110 FPS	172 FPS
medium	94 FPS	144 FPS
high	77 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	101 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	765 FPS	884 FPS
medium	612 FPS	713 FPS
high	510 FPS	643 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	569 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	684 FPS
medium	432 FPS	549 FPS
high	366 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	367 FPS	467 FPS
medium	298 FPS	373 FPS
high	221 FPS	326 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	277 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 4070

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	523 FPS	751 FPS
medium	452 FPS	612 FPS
high	383 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	497 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	615 FPS
medium	371 FPS	500 FPS
high	298 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	245 FPS	395 FPS
4K
low	279 FPS	384 FPS
medium	259 FPS	324 FPS
high	225 FPS	301 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	272 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3060 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and GeForce RTX 4070

GeForce RTX 3060

The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.

GeForce RTX 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 58.4%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2475 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 46 (GeForce RTX 4070) with 112 Tensor cores vs 184.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	16,995	26,919+58%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584	5888+64%
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+129%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2475 MHz+39%
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	112	184+64%
L1 Cache	3.5 MB	5.8 MB+66%
L2 Cache	3 MB	36 MB+1100%
Ray Tracing Cores	28	46+64%
Tensor Cores	112	184+64%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070 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 3060 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
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)

Both cards feature 12 GB of video memory. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) — a 40% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	12 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s	504 GB/s+40%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	36 MB+1100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 16.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	170W-15%	200W
Recommended PSU	550W-15%	650W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	304mm
Height	112mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	134.6+35%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. The GeForce RTX 3060 costs 45.1% less ($270 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 15.1% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2021).