GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs GeForce RTX 4060
Performance-wise the GeForce RTX 4060 is out front, significantly faster, roughly 25% up on the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
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GeForce RTX 4060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 8GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
The GeForce RTX 4060 is significantly faster, around 25% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 4060 starts at $300 CAD against $580 CAD for the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 4060 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 142%. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB still sits about $251 CAD above its $329 CAD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 4060 sips power at 115W next to the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB's 170W, and still leads on performance-per-watt — quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU. Its more modern Ada Lovelace architecture on a TSMC N4 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
Memory & Bandwidth
The GeForce RTX 4060's memory is faster — 272 GB/s versus 240 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 4060 is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB (Ada Lovelace vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or GeForce RTX 4060?
The GeForce RTX 4060 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 4060 better than the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or the GeForce RTX 4060?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB worth the extra $280 CAD over the GeForce RTX 4060?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or GeForce RTX 4060?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | GeForce RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC N4 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 3,584✓ | 3,072 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28✓ | 24 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 112✓ | 96 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | GeForce RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz | 1,830 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz | 2,460 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | GeForce RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps | 17 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 240 GB/s | 272 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | GeForce RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 170 W | 115 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Feb 2021 | Jun 2023 |
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