GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Market comparison is currently pending while we verify the latest benchmarks for GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and GeForce RTX 4060.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 4060 comes out noticeably faster — about 11% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. But the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the better value, undercutting it by $25,000 JPY for the performance you get.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 4060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4060 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 4060 is noticeably faster, around 11% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB currently lists from $48,800 JPY, $25,000 JPY less than the GeForce RTX 4060 at $73,800 JPY. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers the better performance-per-dollar (~36% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB still sits about $48,471 JPY above its $329 JPY MSRP. The GeForce RTX 4060 still sits about $73,501 JPY above its $299 JPY MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 115W against 170W, the GeForce RTX 4060 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Ada Lovelace architecture on a TSMC N4 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB carries 12GB versus 8GB on the GeForce RTX 4060. The extra 4GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's memory is also faster — 360 GB/s versus 272 GB/s (192-bit vs 128-bit bus) — 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 12GB (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 12GB or GeForce RTX 4060?
Choose the GeForce RTX 4060 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 4060 better than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the GeForce RTX 4060?
Is the GeForce RTX 4060 worth the extra $25,000 JPY over the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 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 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz | 1,830 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz | 2,460 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB✓ | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps | 17 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 360 GB/s✓ | 272 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 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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