GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4090
The GeForce RTX 4090 is dramatically faster than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, leading by roughly 300% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
Market Value Leader
GeForce RTX 4090 is the clear winner, offering 5380.5% better value than GeForce RTX 3060 12GB.
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Comparable or lower specs
GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 4090 is dramatically faster, around 300% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 4090 is comfortable at 4K and high-refresh 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is better matched to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 4090 packs 16,384 CUDA cores versus 3,584 on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 4090 starts at $504 SEK against $6,908 SEK for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 4090 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 5380%. The GeForce RTX 4090 is trading below its $1,599 SEK MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB still sits about $6,579 SEK above its $329 SEK MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB pulls less power (170W vs 450W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 4090 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it. Its more modern Ada Lovelace architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 24GB against 12GB, the GeForce RTX 4090 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's 12GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 4090's memory is also faster — 1,008 GB/s versus 360 GB/s (384-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or GeForce RTX 4090?
The GeForce RTX 4090 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 12GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 4090 better than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the GeForce RTX 4090?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB worth the extra $6,404 SEK over the GeForce RTX 4090?
Does the GeForce RTX 4090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or GeForce RTX 4090?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 3,584 | 16,384✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28 | 128✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 112 | 512✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz | 2,235 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz | 2,520 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB | 24 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps | 21 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 360 GB/s | 1,008 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 170 W✓ | 450 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Feb 2021 | Sep 2022 |
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