RTX 4060 vs RTX 3070 – is the newcomer better?

The debate that pits the RTX 4060 vs its older sibling, the RTX 3070, will prove Nvidia's ample support in upgrading its cards

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Change is the rule of time. A graphics card that is a popular choice among gamers today will be replaced with a better one tomorrow. And that’s where comparison starts between a popular and a new graphics card. Such is the case with RTX 4060 vs GeForce RTX 3070 and many others like RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070.

Whether you plan to upgrade your RTX 3070 to the new RTX 4060 or just want some details about the newcomer, this article will help you. We will compare RTX 4060 vs RTX 3070 and list the differences so you can make an informed decision.

RTX 4060 – The Newcomer

The GeForce RTX 4060 is the NVIDIA graphics card RTX 4000 series newcomer. It has gained much traction among gamers and non-gamers because of its impressive specifications and performance capabilities, innovative hardware, and Ada Lovelace architecture.

RTX 3070 – The Veteran

The GeForce RTX 3070 is a powerful graphics card from NVIDIA’s RTX 3000 series built on the Ampere architecture. The GPU delivers amazing capabilities with a base frequency of 1575 MHz, a boost speed of 1770 MHz, 8 GB of GDDR6X memory, and a stunning bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s.

RTX 4060 vs RTX 3070: Specs Comparison

The new RTX 4060 comes with the Ada Lovelace architecture, which will likely have better efficiency than its predecessor RTX 3070. Learning about the specs of both graphics cards can help you understand which one may perform better.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 has a little extra TFLOPS compared to the newcomer. Additionally, it has a 105.12 GPixel/s higher pixel rate. On the other hand, RTX 4060 has a 105W lower TDP for better power efficiency. It also features 250MHz faster and 2000MHz higher memory clock speed. The table below lists all the specifications you should know when comparing RTX 4060 vs RTX 3070.

SpecificationsRTX 4060RTX 3070
NVIDIA CUDA Cores30725888
Boost Clock (GHz)2.461.73
Base Clock (GHz)1.831.50
Memory Interface Width128 bit256 bit
Memory Clock Speed2000MHz1750MHz
Ray Tracing Cores3rd Generation2nd Generation
Tensor Cores4th Generation3rd Generation
ArchitectureAda Lovelace AD107Ampere GA104
DLSS31
CUDA Capability8.98.6
Number of Transistors35,800 million17,400 million
Power Consumption115W220W
Texture Fill Rate236.2317.4
GPU Turbo Speed1890MHz1725MHz
TFLOPS Higher Floating-Point Performance11.61 TFLOPS20.31 TFLOPS
Texture Mapping Units96184
Maximum Display Resolution4K at 240Hz or 8K at 60Hz with DSC7680×4320

As you can see, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 specifications are amazing. But so are that of RTX 3070. Each of them has its own set of pros. The pros of going with RTX 4060 are that it is affordable and has DLSS 3.0 support, which could mean better performance and frames in some games that support it. The only con is that its performance is lower than specific last-generation GPUs. One of the best things about the RTX 3070 is that it is a more efficient and reliable graphics card. It can run your favorite AAA games for extended hours while providing a seamless gaming experience.

RTX 4060 vs RTX 3070: Price

The price difference between RTX 3070 and RTX 4060 at the starting range is $200. The MSRP for the RTX 4060 family starts at $299.00 at launch, which is an affordable price considering the specifications of the graphics card. On the other hand, the GeForce RTX 3070 price starts at $499.00. Although the cost of RTX 3070 is slightly higher, remember that it has been a reliable card for several years.

RTX 4060 vs RTX 3070: Performance Comparison

According to the benchmark tests done by Tech4Gamers, while playing various games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Call of Duty Warzone 2.0, and The Witcher 3, the RTX 3070 performs better than the RTX 4060. Also, it gives an increase in FPS of 7.7%.

When it comes to power efficiency, the RTX 3070 needs a robust power supply of at least 600W to operate at peak efficiency because of its high TDP of 290W. This demand can result in increased expenses for users. The RTX 4060, on the other hand, has a lower TDP. Therefore, it only requires a 450W power supply for maximum performance.

Final Verdict

Here is the complete comparison that will help you choose better. But the choice is all yours now. Every gamer is different, and so are their preferences. Though this article is a good handbook for making decisions, there is no better parameter than your gaming requirements. If you want a reliable card capable of providing high-quality graphics across games – and don’t mind the extra cost – the RTX 3070 is still a good buy. If value is your main concern, the RTX 4060 will be solid and more affordable.