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 GTX 970M

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 81W instead of 160W, a 79W reduction.
✅Measures 1mm instead of 240mm, a 239mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Ti across 40 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 56.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

2023

Why buy it

✅214.2% more average FPS across 40 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 56.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌97.5% higher power demand at 160W vs 81W.
❌23900% longer card at 240mm vs 1mm.

GeForce GTX 970M

2014

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 81W instead of 160W, a 79W reduction.
✅Measures 1mm instead of 240mm, a 239mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅214.2% more average FPS across 40 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 56.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Ti across 40 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 56.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌97.5% higher power demand at 160W vs 81W.
❌23900% longer card at 240mm vs 1mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 Ti better than GeForce GTX 970M?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti averages 214.2% more FPS across 40 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 22,651 vs 5,705 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 970M is a 2014 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2014, 297.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 3 GB, and 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 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 Ti is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $399 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 214.2% more estimated average FPS across 40 tracked games in our benchmark data and 297.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce GTX 970M still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 970M 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 an unclear MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 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 GTX 970M Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	77 FPS	177 FPS
medium	63 FPS	162 FPS
high	49 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	124 FPS
1440p
low	65 FPS	143 FPS
medium	53 FPS	118 FPS
high	37 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	24 FPS	93 FPS
4K
low	24 FPS	93 FPS
medium	23 FPS	79 FPS
high	14 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	12 FPS	59 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970M Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	156 FPS	433 FPS
medium	127 FPS	363 FPS
high	102 FPS	294 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	240 FPS
1440p
low	108 FPS	278 FPS
medium	82 FPS	238 FPS
high	65 FPS	194 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	161 FPS
4K
low	47 FPS	123 FPS
medium	38 FPS	102 FPS
high	35 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	25 FPS	65 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970M Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	257 FPS	855 FPS
medium	205 FPS	693 FPS
high	171 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	510 FPS
1440p
low	193 FPS	660 FPS
medium	154 FPS	527 FPS
high	128 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	382 FPS
4K
low	128 FPS	447 FPS
medium	103 FPS	355 FPS
high	86 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	255 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970M Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	134 FPS	775 FPS
medium	109 FPS	639 FPS
high	94 FPS	558 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	492 FPS
1440p
low	98 FPS	613 FPS
medium	81 FPS	503 FPS
high	70 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	56 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	58 FPS	375 FPS
medium	45 FPS	322 FPS
high	35 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	255 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970M Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 970M and GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

GeForce GTX 970M

The GeForce GTX 970M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 7 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 924 MHz to 1038 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 81W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,705 points. Launch price was $2,560.89.

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 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: 22,651 points. Launch price was $399.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 970M scores 5,705 versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti's 22,651 — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti leads by 297%. The GeForce GTX 970M is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Raw compute: 2.657 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Boost clocks: 1038 MHz vs 2535 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
G3D Mark Score	5,705	22,651+297%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1280	4352+240%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.657 TFLOPS	22.06 TFLOPS+730%
Boost Clock	1038 MHz	2535 MHz+144%
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	80	136+70%
L1 Cache	0.47 MB	4.3 MB+815%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	32 MB+2033%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 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 GTX 970M lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 970M is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	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 GTX 970M comes with 3 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti offers 166.7% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 120 GB/s (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 288 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — a 140% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
VRAM Capacity	3 GB	8 GB+167%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	120 GB/s	288 GB/s+140%
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	32 MB+2033%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12_1 (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Maximum simultaneous displays: 0 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
DirectX	12_1	12.2+2%
Max Displays	0	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 5th Gen (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Decoder: NVDEC 2nd Gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Encoder	NVENC 5th Gen	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC 2nd Gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	—	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 970M draws 81W versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti's 160W — a 65.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 1mm vs 240mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
TDP	81W-49%	160W
Recommended PSU	350W-36%	550W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	1mm	240mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	—	70°C
Perf/Watt	70.4	141.6+101%