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 $400 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 100W instead of 200W, a 100W reduction.
✅Measures 241mm instead of 304mm, a 63mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (6,133 vs 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 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 44.9 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅+338.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 45.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 30.8 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌100% higher power demand at 200W vs 100W.
❌26.1% longer card at 304mm vs 241mm.

GeForce GTX 960

2015

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $400 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 100W instead of 200W, a 100W reduction.
✅Measures 241mm instead of 304mm, a 63mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅+338.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 45.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 30.8 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 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 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 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 44.9 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌100% higher power demand at 200W vs 100W.
❌26.1% longer card at 304mm vs 241mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4070 better than GeForce GTX 960?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 26,919 vs 6,133 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4070 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 4070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2015, 338.9% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 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 4070 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 4070 is about 201.0% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and you are getting 338.9% 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 4070 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	103 FPS	183 FPS
medium	87 FPS	167 FPS
high	72 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	42 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	90 FPS	150 FPS
medium	77 FPS	124 FPS
high	56 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	101 FPS
4K
low	28 FPS	92 FPS
medium	26 FPS	78 FPS
high	18 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	15 FPS	58 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 960 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	139 FPS	544 FPS
medium	109 FPS	454 FPS
high	88 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	53 FPS	299 FPS
1440p
low	77 FPS	351 FPS
medium	57 FPS	288 FPS
high	42 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	28 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	27 FPS	172 FPS
medium	19 FPS	144 FPS
high	16 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	11 FPS	101 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 960 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	276 FPS	884 FPS
medium	221 FPS	713 FPS
high	184 FPS	643 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	569 FPS
1440p
low	207 FPS	684 FPS
medium	166 FPS	549 FPS
high	138 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	138 FPS	467 FPS
medium	110 FPS	373 FPS
high	92 FPS	326 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	277 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 960 Open GeForce RTX 4070

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	168 FPS	751 FPS
medium	139 FPS	612 FPS
high	125 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	497 FPS
1440p
low	117 FPS	615 FPS
medium	99 FPS	500 FPS
high	89 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	395 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	384 FPS
medium	55 FPS	324 FPS
high	45 FPS	301 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	272 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 960 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 960 and GeForce RTX 4070

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 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 960 scores 6,133 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 338.9%. The GeForce GTX 960 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce GTX 960) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 2.413 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 960) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1178 MHz vs 2475 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	6,133	26,919+339%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1024	5888+475%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.413 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+1108%
Boost Clock	1178 MHz	2475 MHz+110%
ROPs	32	64+100%
TMUs	64	184+188%
L1 Cache	0.38 MB	5.8 MB+1426%
L2 Cache	1 MB	36 MB+3500%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070 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 4070 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 960 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
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 4070 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 4070 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 112 GB/s (GeForce GTX 960) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) — a 350% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Bus width: 128-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (GeForce GTX 960) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	12 GB+200%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	112 GB/s	504 GB/s+350%
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	1 MB	36 MB+3500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 960) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX	12 (12_1)	12.2+2%
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 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: NVDEC (2nd Gen) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8 (GeForce GTX 960) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	NVDEC (2nd Gen)	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 960 draws 100W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 66.7% difference. The GeForce GTX 960 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 960) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 241mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	100W-50%	200W
Recommended PSU	400W-38%	650W
Power Connector	6-pin	8-pin
Length	241mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	75 C-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	61.3	134.6+120%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 960 launched at $199 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. The GeForce GTX 960 costs 66.8% less ($400 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 30.8 (GeForce GTX 960) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 45.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2015).