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 Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅8.8% more average FPS across 44 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (17,400 vs 19,656).
❌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 (136 vs 160), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌60% higher power demand at 160W vs 100W.

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅+13% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅17.6% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (160 vs 136).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Draws 100W instead of 160W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU across 44 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

2023

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅8.8% more average FPS across 44 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).

Why buy it

✅+13% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅17.6% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (160 vs 136).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅Draws 100W instead of 160W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (17,400 vs 19,656).
❌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 (136 vs 160), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌60% higher power demand at 160W vs 100W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU across 44 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU better than RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 8.8% more average FPS across 44 tracked games in our benchmark data, 13% higher PassMark G3D performance, and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 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 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 Laptop GPU is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 8.8% more estimated average FPS across 44 tracked games in our benchmark data and a lower G3D Mark (17,400 vs 19,656). G3D-per-dollar is basically tied between them. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

Is RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU 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 an unclear MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 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 4060 Laptop GPU Benchmark Check

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
1080p
low	177 FPS	143 FPS
medium	162 FPS	124 FPS
high	142 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	77 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	114 FPS
medium	118 FPS	95 FPS
high	101 FPS	76 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	53 FPS
4K
low	93 FPS	51 FPS
medium	79 FPS	44 FPS
high	66 FPS	33 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	28 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU Open RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
1080p
low	409 FPS	379 FPS
medium	344 FPS	327 FPS
high	280 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	230 FPS
1440p
low	261 FPS	282 FPS
medium	217 FPS	236 FPS
high	180 FPS	190 FPS
ultra	147 FPS	156 FPS
4K
low	112 FPS	132 FPS
medium	91 FPS	113 FPS
high	76 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	72 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU Open RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
1080p
low	783 FPS	826 FPS
medium	626 FPS	680 FPS
high	522 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	587 FPS	628 FPS
medium	470 FPS	510 FPS
high	392 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	294 FPS	332 FPS
4K
low	392 FPS	406 FPS
medium	313 FPS	324 FPS
high	261 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	212 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU Open RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
1080p
low	775 FPS	301 FPS
medium	626 FPS	260 FPS
high	522 FPS	217 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	587 FPS	239 FPS
medium	470 FPS	211 FPS
high	392 FPS	177 FPS
ultra	294 FPS	151 FPS
4K
low	374 FPS	142 FPS
medium	313 FPS	121 FPS
high	261 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	79 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU Open RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU and RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2535 MHz. It has 4352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17,400 points. Launch price was $399.

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 21 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1110 MHz to 1545 MHz. It has 5120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,656 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU scores 17,400 versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU's 19,656 — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU leads by 13%. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is built on Ada Lovelace while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on a 5 nm process. Shader units: 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 5,120 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 15.82 TFLOPS (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 2535 MHz vs 1545 MHz. Ray tracing: 34 RT cores (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 40 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) with 136 Tensor cores vs 160.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	17,400	19,656+13%
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	5 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	4352	5120+18%
Compute (TFLOPS)	22.06 TFLOPS+39%	15.82 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2535 MHz+64%	1545 MHz
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	136	160+18%
L1 Cache	4.3 MB	5 MB+16%
L2 Cache	32 MB	48 MB+50%
Ray Tracing Cores	34	40+18%
Tensor Cores	136	160+18%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 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 RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is capped at DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU has 12 GB. The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 256 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 432 GB/s (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — a 68.8% advantage for the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU. Bus width: 128-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 48 MB (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	12 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	256 GB/s	432 GB/s+69%
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	32 MB	48 MB+50%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 12 Ultimate (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs NVENC 8th gen (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC (8th Gen)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (5th Gen)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU draws 160W versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU's 100W — a 46.2% difference. The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 150W (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Power connectors: Mobile vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.