GeForce RTX 3060 Ti vs GeForce RTX 4090 D

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

2020Core: 1410 MHzBoost: 1665 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4090 D

2023Core: 2280 MHzBoost: 2520 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 3060 Ti

Performance Spectrum - GPU

About G3D Mark

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 Ti

2020

Why buy it

  • Costs $1,200 less on MSRP ($399 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).
  • Delivers 164.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.9 vs 19.2 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).
  • Draws 200W instead of 425W, a 225W reduction.
  • Measures 242mm instead of 304mm, a 62mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4090 D across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 24 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4090 D is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 4090 D

2023

Why buy it

  • 60.5% 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).
  • 200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 GB vs 8 GB).
  • More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • 300.8% HIGHER MSRP
    $1,599 MSRPvs$399 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 19.2 vs 50.9 G3D/$ ($1,599 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
  • 112.5% higher power demand at 425W vs 200W.
  • 25.6% longer card at 304mm vs 242mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4090 D better than GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?
Yes. GeForce RTX 4090 D is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4090 D averages 60.5% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 30,725 vs 20,312 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4090 D is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is a 2020 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 4090 D is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2020, 51.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 24 GB instead of 8 GB, and 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. 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 4090 D is about 300.8% more expensive on MSRP at $1,599 MSRP versus $399 MSRP, and you are getting 60.5% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 51.3% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 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 4090 D is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3060 Ti still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.
Is GeForce RTX 3060 Ti still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $399 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 4090 D 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
1080p
low152 FPS284 FPS
medium137 FPS263 FPS
high118 FPS225 FPS
ultra100 FPS197 FPS
1440p
low131 FPS262 FPS
medium107 FPS217 FPS
high91 FPS173 FPS
ultra82 FPS156 FPS
4K
low77 FPS180 FPS
medium65 FPS150 FPS
high50 FPS114 FPS
ultra43 FPS102 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
1080p
low425 FPS841 FPS
medium366 FPS657 FPS
high296 FPS516 FPS
ultra248 FPS449 FPS
1440p
low272 FPS673 FPS
medium229 FPS548 FPS
high190 FPS443 FPS
ultra156 FPS364 FPS
4K
low133 FPS375 FPS
medium114 FPS314 FPS
high96 FPS286 FPS
ultra73 FPS240 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
1080p
low859 FPS944 FPS
medium693 FPS772 FPS
high602 FPS699 FPS
ultra457 FPS604 FPS
1440p
low658 FPS731 FPS
medium529 FPS598 FPS
high452 FPS529 FPS
ultra343 FPS452 FPS
4K
low434 FPS506 FPS
medium346 FPS419 FPS
high275 FPS377 FPS
ultra221 FPS317 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
1080p
low580 FPS999 FPS
medium514 FPS971 FPS
high424 FPS855 FPS
ultra373 FPS691 FPS
1440p
low478 FPS830 FPS
medium427 FPS728 FPS
high335 FPS641 FPS
ultra290 FPS518 FPS
4K
low285 FPS606 FPS
medium266 FPS538 FPS
high234 FPS461 FPS
ultra195 FPS346 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and GeForce RTX 4090 D

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1410 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 4864 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 38 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $399.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4090 D

The GeForce RTX 4090 D is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 28 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2280 MHz to 2520 MHz. It has 14592 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 425W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 114 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 30,725 points. Launch price was $1,599.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 20,312 versus the GeForce RTX 4090 D's 30,725 — the GeForce RTX 4090 D leads by 51.3%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4090 D uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 4,864 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 14,592 (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Raw compute: 16.2 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 73.54 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Boost clocks: 1665 MHz vs 2520 MHz. Ray tracing: 38 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 114 (GeForce RTX 4090 D) with 152 Tensor cores vs 456.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
G3D Mark Score
20,312
30,725+51%
Architecture
Ampere
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
8 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
4864
14592+200%
Compute (TFLOPS)
16.2 TFLOPS
73.54 TFLOPS+354%
Boost Clock
1665 MHz
2520 MHz+51%
ROPs
80
176+120%
TMUs
152
456+200%
L1 Cache
4.8 MB
14.3 MB+198%
L2 Cache
4 MB
72 MB+1700%
Ray Tracing Cores
38
114+200%
Tensor Cores
152
456+200%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090 D 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 Ti lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4090 D supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
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 3060 Ti comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4090 D has 24 GB. The GeForce RTX 4090 D offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 1008 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4090 D) — a 125% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090 D. Bus width: 256-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 72 MB (GeForce RTX 4090 D) — the GeForce RTX 4090 D has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
VRAM Capacity
8 GB
24 GB+200%
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth
448 GB/s
1008 GB/s+125%
Bus Width
256-bit
384-bit+50%
L2 Cache
4 MB
72 MB+1700%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
DirectX
12 Ultimate (12_2)
12 Ultimate
Vulkan
1.3
1.4+8%
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Ampere) (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 2x NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Decoder: NVDEC (Ampere) vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4090 D).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
Encoder
NVENC (Ampere)
2x NVENC (8th Gen)
Decoder
NVDEC (Ampere)
NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs
H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1
H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti draws 200W versus the GeForce RTX 4090 D's 425W — a 72% difference. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 850W (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 16-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 78°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
TDP
200W-53%
425W
Recommended PSU
600W-29%
850W
Power Connector
8-pin
16-pin
Length
242mm
304mm
Height
112mm
137mm
Slots
2-33%
3
Temp (Load)
75-4%
78°C
Perf/Watt
101.6+41%
72.3
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti launched at $399 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4090 D launched at $1599. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti costs 75% less ($1200 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 50.9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 19.2 (GeForce RTX 4090 D) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 165.1% better value. The GeForce RTX 4090 D is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2020).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060 TiGeForce RTX 4090 D
MSRP
$399-75%
$1599
Performance per Dollar
50.9+165%
19.2
Codename
GA104
AD102
Release
December 1 2020
December 28 2023
Ranking
#73
#14