GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB
The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB pulls ahead here — in a different league, about 44% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB is dramatically faster, around 44% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is better matched to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB packs 4,352 CUDA cores versus 3,584 on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB.
Price & Value
Pricing has the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB at $330 GBP, $12 GBP under the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's $342 GBP. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB wins on performance-per-dollar by about 50%. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB is trading below its $399 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
Power draw favors the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB (160W vs 170W), and it's the more efficient card too, so it's the easy pick if thermals or a smaller PSU matter. 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 Ti 8GB. 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 288 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 Ti 8GB 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 Ti 8GB?
The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB 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 4060 Ti 8GB better than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB worth the extra $12 GBP over the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC N4 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 3,584 | 4,352✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28 | 34✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 112 | 136✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz | 2,310 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz | 2,535 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB✓ | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps | 18 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 360 GB/s✓ | 288 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 170 W | 160 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Feb 2021 | May 2023 |
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