RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti – newer but is it better?

The RTX 4070 Ti is a beast of a card that may well put the 3070 Ti in the dirt with DLSS 3.0

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Fresh out of the bakery is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, a mid-range graphics card poised to offer top-notch performance at a reasonable price. It will be going head to head with Nvidia’s own RTX 3070 Ti, a higher-tiered GPU from the previous generation. Both GPUs pack in DLSS 3.0 and ray tracing 3.0, but the real question amidst the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti debate is whether the new kid on the block can match or even surpass its older sibling. Let’s compare and contrast these two contenders.

We highly recommend you check out our dedicated RTX 4060 Ti review which goes into more detail about the newer Ada entry-level GPU from its performance, features, specs, and more.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti: Specs Comparison

When pitting the soon-to-be-released RTX 4060 Ti, an Ada Lovelace architecture card, against the already well-known RTX 3070 Ti, an intriguing picture is painted, specifically in terms of clock speed, TDP, and VRAM.

Starting with clock speed, the 4060 Ti flexes its muscles with a base clock of 2310 MHz, significantly outpacing the 3070 Ti’s base of 1575 MHz. It even exceeds the 3070 Ti’s boost clock of 1770 MHz with its impressive 2535 MHz. This suggests a tangible performance advantage for the 4060 Ti, particularly in scenarios where high clock speeds make a difference, like better frame rates (average fps) even in higher resolutions over 1080p.

SpecsRTX 4060 TiRTX 3070 Ti
Architecture AD106GA104
CUDA Cores4352    6144
Texture Units160      192
Raytracing Cores32        48
Base Clock2310 MHz       1575 MHz
Boost Clock2535 MHz       1770 MHz
Memory8GB or 16GB GDDR68 GB GDDR6X
Memory Interface128-bit256-bit
TDP160W or 165W            290W
Price$399 or $499  $599

Looking at TDP, the 4060 Ti continues to impress. Its two variants, rated at 160W and 165W, make it a considerably more power-efficient choice compared to the 3070 Ti, which has a TDP of 290W. For users focused on power management and thermal performance, this lower power draw may be a significant draw.

As for memory, the 4060 Ti offers users a choice between 8GB and 16GB of GDDR6 memory. This stands in contrast to the 3070 Ti’s 8 GB GDDR6X configuration. While the 3070 Ti uses slightly faster GDDR6X memory bandwidth, the 4060 Ti offers a potentially greater quantity of memory. This could be a decisive factor for users dealing with memory-intensive tasks or applications.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti: Price

Compared to the RTX 3070 Ti, priced at $599, the RTX 4060 Ti offers ultimate value for the specs it offers at a lower launch price. Launching at $399 for the 8GB model and $499 for the 16GB version, the 4060 Ti represents a solid choice for gamers aiming for 1080p performance with DLSS and ray tracing support as well as great frame generation and memory bus width.

It’s crucial to remember that while the 3070 Ti may offer more raw power, the latest technology incorporated into the new RTX 40-series GPU could tip the scales in its favor for gamers on a tighter price margin.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti: Performance

When comparing the performance of the RTX 4060 Ti to that of the RTX 3070 Ti (older release date), there are several aspects to consider. The RTX 3070 Ti was a robust offering in its time, but the newer RTX 4060 Ti brings several advancements to the table.

One of the standout features of the RTX 4060 Ti is its significant shader compute throughput of 22 TFLOP/s, a 37.5% upgrade over the previous-gen RTX 3060 Ti. Although it might not match the raw power of the RTX 3070 Ti, the 4060 Ti carries the advantages of NVIDIA’s latest technology, including DLSS 3.0.

DLSS 3.0 is a key differentiator here. NVIDIA claims that this feature alone can provide a 15% performance boost over the RTX 3060 Ti, and with the use of AI for frame interpolation, this figure could potentially increase to a 70% faster performance. Considering this, the RTX 4060 Ti presents itself as a very capable GPU, potentially offering better performance per dollar in DLSS-enabled games compared to the older RTX 3070 Ti.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti: Final thoughts

Comparing the RTX 4060 Ti and the RTX 3070 Ti, it’s clear that both GPUs offer distinct advantages to their respective target audiences. The RTX 3070 Ti is a powerful GPU, offering impressive performance and roughly 2,000 more CUDA cores (responsible for processing RT cores) for demanding gamers and creative professionals. Nevertheless, its older architecture may mean that it doesn’t deliver the same performance per dollar as the new RTX 4060 Ti, which also boasts the new DLSS and Raytracing 3.0 technologies. If you’re a mainstream gamer seeking to strike a balance between price and performance, particularly for 1080p gaming, the RTX 4060 Ti may be a more enticing proposition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 4060 Ti better than 3070 Ti?

In terms of raw performance, the 3070 Ti, being a higher-tier card, offers more at gaming benchmarks. However, the 4060 Ti is built on Nvidia’s newer architecture and includes DLSS 3.0 and Raytracing 3.0, which can significantly enhance gaming performance. Additionally, the 4060 Ti is more energy-efficient, which may be a consideration for some users.

Camilo is a contributor for PC Guide. He's been into tech since he was a teen, surfing through the web and local stores trying to find the cheapest way to play the latest Half-Life on his old Windows