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 960

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Draws 100W instead of 115W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (6,133 vs 19,548).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 30.8 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅+218.7% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 112.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 30.8 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (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

❌15% higher power demand at 115W vs 100W.

GeForce GTX 960

2015

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Draws 100W instead of 115W, a 15W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+218.7% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 112.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 30.8 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (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

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (6,133 vs 19,548).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 30.8 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌15% higher power demand at 115W vs 100W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than GeForce GTX 960?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 19,548 vs 6,133 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 960 is a 2015 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 2015, 218.7% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 4 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 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 4060 is about 50.3% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and you are getting 218.7% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 960 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is GeForce GTX 960 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 960 is 2015 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM, 6,133 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

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 960 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	103 FPS	167 FPS
medium	87 FPS	152 FPS
high	72 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	42 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	90 FPS	137 FPS
medium	77 FPS	114 FPS
high	56 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	90 FPS
4K
low	28 FPS	86 FPS
medium	26 FPS	74 FPS
high	18 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	15 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 960 Open GeForce RTX 4060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	139 FPS	392 FPS
medium	109 FPS	334 FPS
high	88 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	53 FPS	211 FPS
1440p
low	77 FPS	240 FPS
medium	57 FPS	209 FPS
high	42 FPS	169 FPS
ultra	28 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	27 FPS	119 FPS
medium	19 FPS	98 FPS
high	16 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	11 FPS	63 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 960 Open GeForce RTX 4060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	276 FPS	812 FPS
medium	221 FPS	642 FPS
high	184 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	207 FPS	535 FPS
medium	166 FPS	443 FPS
high	138 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	138 FPS	365 FPS
medium	110 FPS	297 FPS
high	92 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	186 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 960 Open GeForce RTX 4060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	168 FPS	746 FPS
medium	139 FPS	613 FPS
high	125 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	117 FPS	594 FPS
medium	99 FPS	486 FPS
high	89 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	330 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	358 FPS
medium	55 FPS	308 FPS
high	45 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	220 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 960 Open GeForce RTX 4060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 960 and GeForce RTX 4060

GeForce GTX 960

The GeForce GTX 960 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 22 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1127 MHz to 1178 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,133 points. Launch price was $199.

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 960 scores 6,133 versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 19,548 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 218.7%. The GeForce GTX 960 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce GTX 960) vs 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060). Raw compute: 2.413 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 960) vs 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060). Boost clocks: 1178 MHz vs 2460 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4060
G3D Mark Score	6,133	19,548+219%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1024	3072+200%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.413 TFLOPS	15.11 TFLOPS+526%
Boost Clock	1178 MHz	2460 MHz+109%
ROPs	32	48+50%
TMUs	64	96+50%
L1 Cache	0.38 MB	3 MB+689%
L2 Cache	1 MB	24 MB+2300%

✨

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 960 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 960 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce 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)

The GeForce GTX 960 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 112 GB/s (GeForce GTX 960) vs 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) — a 142.9% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (GeForce GTX 960) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4060
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	8 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	112 GB/s	272 GB/s+143%
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	1 MB	24 MB+2300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 960) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4060
DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce GTX 960) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060). Decoder: NVDEC (2nd Gen) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8 (GeForce GTX 960) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4060
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (2nd Gen)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 960 draws 100W versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 115W — a 14% difference. The GeForce GTX 960 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 960) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 241mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 C vs 73°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4060
TDP	100W-13%	115W
Recommended PSU	400W-27%	550W
Power Connector	6-pin	8-pin
Length	241mm	240mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75 C	73°C-3%
Perf/Watt	61.3	170.0+177%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 960 launched at $199 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4060 launched at $299. The GeForce GTX 960 costs 33.4% less ($100 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 30.8 (GeForce GTX 960) vs 65.4 (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 offers 112.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 4060 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2015).