If you’re after a mid-range Nvidia GPU upgrade, it can be hard to know if you should go for an established 30-series champ, or a fresher 40-series Ada card. In this article, we will be comparing the RTX 4060 Ti vs the RTX 3070, detailing everything from the official specs to our reviews to see which of the two options is worth its price tag.
The 30-series graphics card has carved a niche in the market, providing excellent performance for its price, but how is the 3070 holding up against the new architecture and next-gen technologies of the refreshed 4060 Ti? Let’s analyze the data at hand to provide you with a clearer picture of which is the better option from these two formidable components, which both provide a great companion to any powerful CPU in your MOBO.
Quick Answer
In a brief overview of this comparison, you might overall find that that the 4070 represents the best value, with its newer Ada architecture giving you better real world performance and a more future-proofed rig. However, due to being older, the 3070 can often be found at a really decent price point, offering a higher price-to-performance ratio than it did originally.
RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 specs comparison
| Specs | RTX 4060-Ti | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | AD106 | GA104 |
| Cuda Cores | 4352 | 5888 |
| Texture Units | 160 | 184 |
| Raytracing Cores | 32 | 46 |
| Base Clock | 2310 MHz | 1500 MHz |
| Boost Clocks | 2535 MHz | 1730 MHz |
| VRAM | 8 GB GDDR6 / 16GB GDDR6 | 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit | 256-bit |
| TDP | 160W | 220W |
When comparing Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti refresh with the well-established RTX 3070, there are several key specifications to consider to appreciate their relative strengths and differences. But first, here’s a bit about each individual card’s specs in detail, starting with the 4060 Ti.
The RTX 4060 Ti has been built on the AD106 graphics processor and stars a total of 4,352 CUDA cores, paired with 8GB GDDR6 memory capacity on a 128-bit memory bus width; there is a 16 GB variant available though if you can stretch your budget. In terms of clock speeds, you’ve got a bandwidth of 288GB/sec with a base clock speed of 2,310 GHz and a boost clock speed of 2,535 GHz. The 4060 Ti also benefits from a broader feature set thanks to its next-gen architecture, getting 34 3rd Gen RT cores and 136 4th Gen Tensor cores as well as DLSS 3 frame generation for better gameplay, texturing, and better game compatibility. Of course, you can read the full extent of its capabilities in our RTX 4060 Ti review, where we conclude that this GPU gets an editor’s rating of four out of five stars.
Let’s move over to the Ampere contender on our hands. In our review, the RTX 3070 scored a solid three-point five, but for a card that’s coming up to four years old, its specs still hold up. Under the hood of the 3070 is the GA104 die with a total of 5,888 CUDA cores and 8GB GDDR6 VRAM on a 256-bit memory bus. It’s got a peak bandwidth of 448 GB/sec which is respectable if unimpressive in 2024, but its base clock speed of 1,500 MHz and boost clock of up to 1,750 Mhz for 14 Gbps effective memory are a bit sub-par compared to the modern market.
So, we’ve got clear-cut differences in terms of the number of cores and clock speeds, yet in the realm of memory, both GPUs are equipped with an ample 8 GB of memory. However, the RTX 3070’s memory is of the GDDR6X type, which theoretically allows for higher bandwidth/memory bandwidth than the GDDR6 memory in the RTX 4060 Ti.
What’s particularly interesting, though, is the comparison of their thermal design power (TDP). The RTX 4060 Ti, with a TDP of 160W, is a more energy-efficient option when compared to the RTX 3070’s 220W TDP. This could be a significant factor for environmentally-conscious consumers and for those who wish to keep their energy bills in check with lower power consumption requirements.
RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 performance comparison
The Zotac RTX 4060 Ti graphics card © BGFG
Palit GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card in front of its packaging box © BGFG
So, specs aside, which GPU has the better performance in terms of real-world scenarios and benchmarks? Even though the RTX 3070 has a respectable architecture, the 4060 Ti, with its newer architecture, promises to deliver a more potent punch with its DLSS 3.0 capabilities and great power efficiency.
DLSS 3.0, or Deep Learning Super Sampling, has been a transformative feature in the realm of gaming, dramatically enhancing performance in compatible games without the need for top-tier hardware. This is where the RTX 4060 Ti’s superior cores truly shine, so you might find that the 4060 Ti makes lighter work of Max or Ultra gaming settings. So, unsurprisingly, the RTX 4060 Ti excelled across the board in 1080p and 1440p with some impressive figures, especially for its sub-$400 price point.
| Game / software | RTX 4060 Ti Average | RTX 3070 Average |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1440p: 86 FPS 4K: 51 FPS | 1080p: 98 FPS 1440p: 62 FPS 4K: 29 FPS |
| Fire Strike Ultra | Score of 7,273 | Score of 8591 |
As you can see from the above table, there is a commendable performance from both cards in demanding titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, but there’s a clear-cut difference in the playable resolutions. The 4060 Ti is far more of a 1440p contender, reaching 86 FPS no doubt bolstered by its next-gen cores and architecture, and can push 4k with just below 51 frame rates – not completely playable, but not out of the question if you scale down your settings. On the other hand, the 3070 reaches a decent 62 FPS at 1440p, but clearly excels as a 1080p card with highs of 98 FPS at Ultra settings.
4060 Ti vs 3070 price comparison
When it comes to price, the official announcement shows the RTX 4060 Ti as a more wallet-friendly option over the RTX 3070. With an MSRP of $399 for the 8GB model and $499 for the 16GB option, the RTX 4060 Ti is a bit more affordable than the RTX 3070, which saw a price of $499 at launch. Notably though, a lot more time has passed since the original launch of the 3070, so it’s far more likely that this card can be found discounted well below its original price point.
However, the lower price point, combined with the fact that the RTX 4060 Ti supports Ray Tracing 3.0 and DLSS 3.0, makes it a highly attractive option for gamers looking to balance cost with the ability to experience the latest gaming technologies – higher resolutions and frame rates. Therefore, if the RTX 4060 Ti does indeed deliver on these features, it could be the perfect choice for those wanting a taste of next-gen gaming without breaking the bank. Naturally, those who are more budget-conscious should consider checking out our choices of the best GPU under $400.
Is the RTX 4060 Ti better than the RTX 3070?
When it comes to which card is better overall, with the specifications and improvements in architecture, and features like DLSS 3.0 and Ray Tracing 3.0, the RTX 4060 Ti is equipped to outperform the RTX 3070 in many respects on modern games/gaming benchmarks. Also, it’s notably more power efficient with its TDP of just 160W, meaning not only is it cheaper to run, but it’s quieter too. So, while you might occasionally find a similar performance between the two, the 4060 Ti offers a more well-rounded and future-proof set of features for a relatively similar price, but probably for a little more than what you can currently find a 3070 for.
RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 final thoughts
In the grand scheme of GPU evolution, the RTX 4060 Ti outperforms its predecessor, the RTX 3070, in numerous ways, and has made its own impact in the mid-range market – just like the 3070 did when it came out back in 2020. Its advanced architecture and Ti specifications, coupled with the power of DLSS 3.0 and Ray Tracing 3.0, means RTX 4060 Ti delivers a potent performance in a wide array of workloads due to its processor. So, if you’re going for a mid-range PC specification, the 4060 Ti is one of the most affordable ways to get an Ada GPU, and might last you for a few more years in the long run in comparison to the 3070. However, PC gamers looking to instead join AMD’s army will find a similar performance ratio and rasterization performance from the RX 7800 XT.
