Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 4090 – What’s the performance gap?

Will Nvidia's newest GPU, the 4060 Ti, be able to take on the powerhouse that is the 4090

A display of ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 gaming hardware including a graphics card and packaging with colorful RGB lighting in the background.

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In the world of GPUs, the competition is always fierce, and the upcoming Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is stepping into the ring. While it is often a battle between Nvidia, AMD, and Intel core, what happens when it becomes Nvidia competes against itself? With speculation rife about how this new entrant will fare against the reigning heavyweight champion, the RTX 4090, is currently considered the most powerful GPU on the market. Will the newest graphics card be able to take on the powerhouse in the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 4090 debate?

In this article, we will pit the RTX 4060 Ti against the RTX 4090, comparing these two RTX 40-series GPUs against their specifications, from RT cores to memory bandwidth. With the RTX 4060 Ti’s official specs now available to the public, they offer a glimpse into what this promising GPU will bring to the table in comparison to its formidable counterpart.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 4090 – Specs and components

When it comes to power, the RTX 4060 Ti, with its 160W, stands out against the RTX 4090’s whopping 450W. This significant difference suggests that the 4060 Ti could be a far more energy-efficient choice, a crucial aspect for users considering long-term power consumption and thermal management. However, this efficiency comes with a price. As we can see the 4060 Ti has left behind the GDDR6X memory for the normal GDDR6, which makes it less power-hungry but, at the same time, less powerful.

In terms of clock speed, the RTX 4060 Ti seems to have a slight edge with its boost clock speed of 2535 MHz, compared to the 4090’s 2520 MHz. While the difference is not substantial, it indicates that the 4060 Ti may offer competitive performance in FPS for short-term speed boosts.

SpecsNvidia RTX 4060 Ti (8GB)Nvidia RTX 4090
Architecture AD106AD102 (Ada Lovelace Architecture)
Cores435216384
Texture Units160512
Tensor Cores136512
RT Cores32128
Base Clock2310 MHz2235 MHz
Boost Clock2535 MHz2520 MHz
VRAM / Memory8 GB / GDDR6 24 GB / GDDR6X
L1 Cache128 KB (per SM)128 KB (per SM)
L2 Cache32 MB72 MB
Memory Interface128-bit384 bit
TDP (Watts)160W450W
Price / MSRP$450$1,599

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 4090 specs comparison

However, when it comes to cores, the RTX 4090 far surpasses the 4060 Ti, boasting an impressive 16384 cores against the 4060 Ti’s 4352. This indicates that the RTX 4090 is far superior in delivering raw computational power, crucial for high-end gaming and intensive professional workloads.

While the RTX 4060 Ti may be a more energy-efficient option with a slightly faster clock speed, the RTX 4090’s overwhelming superiority in terms of cores and memory positions it as the go-to GPU for users seeking the highest level of performance, regardless of cost.

Components of a graphics card setup including the RTX 4060 Ti, manuals, cables, and a support bracket.
Components of the ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 – Image © BGFG

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 4090- Price

The RTX 4090, currently the most powerful GPU in the market, is priced at a hefty $1,599. On the other hand, the 4060 Ti, a more mid-range option, is priced at $399 for the 8GB model and $499 for the 16GB option. This massive price gap reflects the 4090’s superior power and capabilities, designed for heavy-duty professional tasks and the most demanding games with ray tracing turned on, of course.

However, for casual gamers and budget enthusiasts, the 4060 Ti could provide substantial savings while still delivering solid performance for most gaming and light content creation tasks.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 4090 – Performance

In terms of sheer performance, the RTX 4090, Nvidia’s flagship GPU, stands unchallenged even well beyond its launch. With its immense amount of CUDA cores, high clock speeds, and impressive memory size, the 4090 is a powerhouse designed to deliver the ultimate 4K gaming experience. It’s the GPU of choice for professionals and high-end gamers who demand nothing but the best. Our in-house experts have reviewed the RTX 4090 in full, providing a more in-depth analysis of this great new addition to the Nvidia series cards. Make sure you take a peak.

By comparison, the RTX 4060 Ti is aimed more at the mid-range segment of the market. While it won’t be able to match the 4090 in terms of raw performance, the rumored specs suggest it will be no slouch in delivering smooth gaming at 1080p and even 1440p resolutions. Its support for DLSS 3.0 will also help in maintaining high frame rates without too much load on the GPU. For gamers who don’t necessarily need 4K gaming but want a capable, new-gen GPU, the 4060 Ti could be an attractive option. Pairing either of the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4090 with a compatible motherboard, CPU, or gaming monitor will cause improvements in overall performance and the immersive gameplay experience. In a similar vein to our RTX 4090 content, we have also reviewed the RTX 4060 Ti. We have managed to test both products with the benchmark results appearing below.

GamesNvidia RTX 4060 TiNvidia RTX 4090
Cyberpunk 207786 FPS168 FPS
Doom226 FPS516 FPS
Shadow of the Tomb Raider157 FPS300 FPS
Benchmark test results for the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4090 while playing games at 1080p – Tests conducted by PC Guide.

How much VRAM does RTX 4060 Ti have?

The upcoming RTX 4060 Ti is rumored to come with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. This is a substantial amount that should allow for smooth performance in most modern games at high settings. Moreover, this VRAM would also be beneficial for tasks such as 3D rendering and video editing, making the RTX 4060 Ti a versatile GPU option.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, the rumored RTX 4060 Ti specs suggest that it will offer solid performance for mid-range gamers and budget-conscious enthusiasts. Its new-gen features and the inclusion of DLSS 3.0 are significant selling points. However, when it comes to sheer performance, particularly in demanding tasks and 4K gaming, the RTX 4090 stands as the pinnacle of Nvidia’s GPU lineup. Therefore, for those seeking the best that the current generation has to offer, the RTX 4090 is undoubtedly the way to go.

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