GeForce RTX 3090 vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
Performance-wise the GeForce RTX 3090 is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 50% up on the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
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GeForce RTX 3090 vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3090 vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
The GeForce RTX 3090 is dramatically faster, around 50% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 3090 packs 10,496 CUDA cores versus 4,352 on the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB starts at $1,540 EUR against $1,990 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3090. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3090 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 16%. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB still sits about $1,041 EUR above its $499 EUR MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3090 still sits about $491 EUR above its $1,499 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB sips power at 160W next to the GeForce RTX 3090's 350W, 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.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3090's 24GB (vs 16GB on the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce RTX 3090's memory is also faster — 936 GB/s versus 288 GB/s (384-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3090 (Ada Lovelace vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB?
The GeForce RTX 3090 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 4060 Ti 16GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3090 better than the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3090 or the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3090 worth the extra $450 EUR over the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC N4 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 10,496✓ | 4,352 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 82✓ | 34 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 328✓ | 136 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,395 MHz | 2,310 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,695 MHz | 2,535 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 24 GB✓ | 16 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19.5 Gbps✓ | 18 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 936 GB/s✓ | 288 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 350 W | 160 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2020 | May 2023 |
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