GeForce RTX 4060 vs Radeon RX 6500

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060

2023Core: 1830 MHzBoost: 2460 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Radeon RX 6500

Popular choices:

RTX 4060

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 4060

2023

Why buy it

  • +156.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Delivers 71% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 38.2 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
  • Access to DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (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

  • 53.3% higher power demand at 115W vs 75W.
  • 39.5% longer card at 240mm vs 172mm.

Radeon RX 6500

Why buy it

  • Costs $100 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
  • Draws 75W instead of 115W, a 40W reduction.
  • Measures 172mm instead of 240mm, a 68mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (7,610 vs 19,548).
  • Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
  • Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 38.2 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than Radeon RX 6500?
Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 19,548 vs 7,610 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while Radeon RX 6500 is a 0 model from an older generation with FSR 3 + AFMF. 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 0, 156.9% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 4 GB, and the stronger feature stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation instead of FSR 3 + AFMF. 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 about 50.3% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and you are getting 156.9% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 71%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.
Is Radeon RX 6500 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
Yes. Radeon RX 6500 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 $199 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
1080p
low167 FPS78 FPS
medium152 FPS68 FPS
high134 FPS54 FPS
ultra115 FPS35 FPS
1440p
low137 FPS71 FPS
medium114 FPS60 FPS
high99 FPS43 FPS
ultra90 FPS28 FPS
4K
low86 FPS25 FPS
medium74 FPS24 FPS
high62 FPS16 FPS
ultra55 FPS14 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
1080p
low392 FPS106 FPS
medium334 FPS73 FPS
high268 FPS49 FPS
ultra211 FPS33 FPS
1440p
low240 FPS72 FPS
medium209 FPS44 FPS
high169 FPS32 FPS
ultra137 FPS23 FPS
4K
low119 FPS34 FPS
medium98 FPS23 FPS
high82 FPS18 FPS
ultra63 FPS13 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
1080p
low812 FPS299 FPS
medium642 FPS258 FPS
high551 FPS196 FPS
ultra440 FPS160 FPS
1440p
low535 FPS221 FPS
medium443 FPS198 FPS
high379 FPS157 FPS
ultra329 FPS121 FPS
4K
low365 FPS135 FPS
medium297 FPS117 FPS
high234 FPS81 FPS
ultra186 FPS53 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
1080p
low746 FPS131 FPS
medium613 FPS107 FPS
high536 FPS91 FPS
ultra440 FPS77 FPS
1440p
low594 FPS99 FPS
medium486 FPS82 FPS
high421 FPS71 FPS
ultra330 FPS58 FPS
4K
low358 FPS58 FPS
medium308 FPS47 FPS
high285 FPS37 FPS
ultra220 FPS29 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 6500

NVIDIA

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.

AMD

Radeon RX 6500

The Radeon RX 6500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in sem dados. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,610 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4060 scores 19,548 versus the Radeon RX 6500's 7,610 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 156.9%.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
G3D Mark Score
19,548+157%
7,610

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Both GPUs support Frame Generation technologies, but they achieve it differently. The GeForce RTX 4060 uses DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while the Radeon RX 6500 relies on FSR Frame Generation + AFMF. Both can significantly boost FPS in supported titles, but they are not on the same feature stack.The GeForce RTX 4060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 6500 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
FSR 3
Frame Generation
DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
FSR Frame Generation + AFMF
Ray Reconstruction
Yes (DLSS 3.5)
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4060 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 6500 has 4 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 144 GB/s (Radeon RX 6500) — a 88.9% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
VRAM Capacity
8 GB+100%
4 GB
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
272 GB/s+89%
144 GB/s
Bus Width
128-bit+100%
64-bit
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 12.2 (Radeon RX 6500). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12.2+2%
Vulkan
1.3
1.3
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4+100%
2
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060) vs None (Radeon RX 6500). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs VCN 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Radeon RX 6500).

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
Encoder
NVENC 8th gen
None
Decoder
NVDEC 5th gen
VCN 3.0
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4060 draws 115W versus the Radeon RX 6500's 75W — a 42.1% difference. The Radeon RX 6500 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 400W (Radeon RX 6500). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 240mm vs 172mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 73°C vs 85°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
TDP
115W
75W-35%
Recommended PSU
550W
400W-27%
Power Connector
8-pin
1x 6-pin
Length
240mm
172mm
Height
111mm
112mm
Slots
2
2
Temp (Load)
73°C-14%
85°C
Perf/Watt
170.0+67%
101.5
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4060 launched at $299 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 6500 launched at $199. The Radeon RX 6500 costs 33.4% less ($100 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 65.4 (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 38.2 (Radeon RX 6500) — the GeForce RTX 4060 offers 71.2% better value.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon RX 6500
MSRP
$299
$199-33%
Performance per Dollar
65.4+71%
38.2
Codename
AD107
Release
May 18 2023
sem dados
Ranking
#84
#335