GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design vs GeForce RTX 4060

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design

2017Core: 1215 MHzBoost: 1379 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 4060
VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060

2023Core: 1830 MHzBoost: 2460 MHz

Popular choices:

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 1070 with Max-Q Design

2017

Why buy it

  • Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • Poor future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 65.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

  • 54.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • 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

  • Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design?
Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4060 averages 54.6% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 19,548 vs 9,842 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design is a 2017 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 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2017, 98.6% more raw performance headroom, 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, and a 5nm process instead of 16nm. 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 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4060 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $299 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 54.6% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 98.6% 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 1070 with Max-Q Design still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
Yes. GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design 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 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 GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low108 FPS167 FPS
medium91 FPS152 FPS
high78 FPS134 FPS
ultra52 FPS115 FPS
1440p
low92 FPS137 FPS
medium77 FPS114 FPS
high59 FPS99 FPS
ultra39 FPS90 FPS
4K
low36 FPS86 FPS
medium33 FPS74 FPS
high21 FPS62 FPS
ultra18 FPS55 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low184 FPS392 FPS
medium157 FPS334 FPS
high131 FPS268 FPS
ultra100 FPS211 FPS
1440p
low125 FPS240 FPS
medium101 FPS209 FPS
high82 FPS169 FPS
ultra64 FPS137 FPS
4K
low59 FPS119 FPS
medium50 FPS98 FPS
high47 FPS82 FPS
ultra39 FPS63 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low443 FPS812 FPS
medium354 FPS642 FPS
high295 FPS551 FPS
ultra221 FPS440 FPS
1440p
low332 FPS535 FPS
medium266 FPS443 FPS
high221 FPS379 FPS
ultra166 FPS329 FPS
4K
low221 FPS365 FPS
medium177 FPS297 FPS
high148 FPS234 FPS
ultra111 FPS186 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low251 FPS746 FPS
medium221 FPS613 FPS
high181 FPS536 FPS
ultra151 FPS440 FPS
1440p
low188 FPS594 FPS
medium165 FPS486 FPS
high131 FPS421 FPS
ultra107 FPS330 FPS
4K
low105 FPS358 FPS
medium86 FPS308 FPS
high68 FPS285 FPS
ultra54 FPS220 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design and GeForce RTX 4060

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design

The GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 27 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1215 MHz to 1379 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,842 points.

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.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design scores 9,842 versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 19,548 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 98.6%. The GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design) vs 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060). Raw compute: 5.648 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design) vs 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060). Boost clocks: 1379 MHz vs 2460 MHz.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
G3D Mark Score
9,842
19,548+99%
Architecture
Pascal
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
16 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
2048
3072+50%
Compute (TFLOPS)
5.648 TFLOPS
15.11 TFLOPS+168%
Boost Clock
1379 MHz
2460 MHz+78%
ROPs
64+33%
48
TMUs
128+33%
96
L1 Cache
0.75 MB
3 MB+300%
L2 Cache
2 MB
24 MB+1100%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 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 1070 with Max-Q Design lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design is capped at Upscaling support.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
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)

Both cards feature 8 GB of video memory. Memory bandwidth: 256 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design) vs 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) — a 6.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Bus width: 256-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
VRAM Capacity
8 GB
8 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
256 GB/s
272 GB/s+6%
Bus Width
256-bit+100%
128-bit
L2 Cache
2 MB
24 MB+1100%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
DirectX
12.1
12 Ultimate
Vulkan
1.1
1.3+18%
OpenGL
4.5
4.6+2%
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 4.0 (GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
Encoder
NVENC 4.0
NVENC 8th gen
Decoder
PureVideo HD VP6
NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design draws 115W versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 115W — a 0% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 240mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 73°C.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
TDP
115W
115W
Recommended PSU
500W-9%
550W
Power Connector
PCIe-powered
8-pin
Length
0mm
240mm
Height
0mm
111mm
Slots
0-100%
2
Temp (Load)
85°C
73°C-14%
Perf/Watt
85.6
170.0+99%
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4060 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2017).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q DesignGeForce RTX 4060
MSRP
$299
Codename
GP104
AD107
Release
June 27 2017
May 18 2023
Ranking
#358
#84