RTX 4060 Ti Vs RTX 3060: Which Is Better?

The release of the RTX 4060 Ti has been rocky at best, with its low VRAM amount and degraded bus width compared to its predecessor, the RTX 3060 Ti. In the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3060 comparison, we will see if the aforementioned graphics card can hold a candle to the value proposition of the RTX 3060.

Key Takeaways

• The RTX 4060 Ti averaged 140 FPS across the 10 games tested, whereas the RTX 3060 came in with an impressive, yet much lower, average of 94 FPS.
• The RTX 4060 Ti had an average peak power draw of about 140 Watts, whereas the RTX 3060 Ti drew 157 Watts on average.
• The temperature difference between these two cards was within the margin of error.

Also Read: RTX 3050 Vs RTX 3060

RTX 4060 Ti Vs RTX 3060

Comparison Table 

Differences

There is quite a significant difference in the architecture and design of these cards. 

• The RTX 4060 Ti has much better power efficiency because of its smaller processing nodes.
• The smaller nodes also allow the 4060 Ti to pack significantly more transistors into a similar die size.
• The inclusion of frame generation increases the performance of this card significantly, as we will see in the gaming benchmarks below.
• The third-gen RT cores on the RTX 4060 Ti give much improved ray-traced performance compared to the second-gen RT cores on the RTX 3060.
• There are more RT, tensor, and CUDA cores are on the 4060 Ti, increasing the performance gap between it and the 3060.
• The narrower bus and smaller VRAM on the RTX 4060 Ti artificially bottlenecks its performance to compel buyers to get higher-tier cards.
• The significantly larger cache size of the RTX 4060 Ti helps compensate for the lack of VRAM.
• The RTX 4060 Ti is significantly smaller than the RTX 3060.
• The larger size and higher power draw of the RTX 3060 might increase the platform cost for you, as you might have to get a new case and power supply to accommodate it.

Also Read: RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti

RTX 3060 Vs RTX 4060 Ti: Gaming Benchmarks

In this section of the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3060 comparison, we will see how these graphics cards hold up against each other in real-world gaming scenarios. To keep the tests fair to the actual use of these cards, the benchmarks displayed utilize all the features each GPU offers, including different versions of DLSS.

These tests were performed on the 1080p resolution on a controlled test bench, the specifications of which are listed below:

• CPU – AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
• RAM – 64GB – 4x G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo 16GB DDR5 6000MHz
• MB – Asus ROG Strix X670-E Gaming
• PSU – GIGABYTE UD1000GM PG5 ATX 3.0 1000W
• SSD – WD Blue SN570 1TB + Crucial P3 Plus 4TB
• OS – Windows 10 Home 64 bit

Cyberpunk 2077 (RT On, DLSS 2/3)

• In the first game of the benchmark tests with ray tracing on, the RTX 4060 Ti gave an impressive average of 141 FPS with the help of DLSS 3, whereas the use of DLSS 2 allowed the RTX 3060 to achieve an average of 68 FPS.
• These GPUs faired well regarding 1% lows, as they did not deviate substantially from their average FPS. The RTX 4060 Ti had 1% lows of 131 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 had 1% lows of about 62 FPS.
• The power metric also favored the 4060 Ti, consuming 142 Watts at its peak compared to 166 Watts for the RTX 3060.
• Finally, temperatures were better on the older card, with a peak temperature of 62°C, while the RTX 4060 Ti was noticeably warmer at 67°C.

Also Check: RTX 2060 Super vs RTX 3060

God Of War (DLSS 2)

• Evening out the playing field, God Of War could only use DLSS 2 on both GPUs. In this scenario, the 4060 Ti averaged 111 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 was not far behind, averaging 83 FPS.
• The RTX 4060 Ti had 1% lows of about 95 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 was trailing behind with 75 FPS.
• Once again, the RTX 3060 consumed more power while delivering lower performance. It drew 170 Watts at its peak, while the 4060 Ti drew only 151 Watts.
• Temperatures were identical on both GPUs at 65°C.

Spiderman Miles Morales (DLSS 2/3, RT On)

• In the benchmark tests for Spider-Man: Miles Morales with DLSS 2 and RT enabled, the RTX 4060 Ti achieved an average of 160 FPS with the support of DLSS 3. On the other hand, the RTX 3060, utilizing DLSS 2, achieved an average of 105 FPS.
• The RTX 4060 Ti delivered 1% lows of 132 FPS, while the RTX 3060 maintained 1% lows of around 81 FPS. 
• When considering power consumption, the RTX 4060 Ti showcased more efficiency by consuming 101 Watts at its peak, while the RTX 3060 consumed a slightly higher 137 Watts.
• In terms of temperatures, the RTX 4060 Ti maintained a cooler profile with a peak temperature of 57°C, compared to the slightly higher peak temperature of 60°C for the RTX 3060.

Also Read: RX 6600 XT Vs RTX 3060

Forza Horizon 5 (DLSS 2/3)

• In the benchmark tests for Forza Horizon 5, the RTX 4060 Ti showcased exceptional performance, delivering an average of 150 FPS. On the other hand, the RTX 3060, utilizing DLSS 2, achieved an average of 79 FPS, exhibiting a notable difference compared to its higher-tier counterpart.
• Both GPUs exhibited respectable 1% lows. The RTX 4060 Ti recorded 1% lows of 122 FPS, while the RTX 3060 maintained 1% lows of around 70 FPS. 
• Switching gears to power consumption, the RTX 4060 Ti showcased better efficiency by consuming 109 Watts at its peak, while the RTX 3060 consumed a slightly higher 137 Watts.
• Focusing on temperatures, the RTX 4060 Ti showed superior thermal management with a peak temperature of 55°C, compared to the slightly higher peak temperature of 59°C for the RTX 3060.

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (DLSS 2)

• In the benchmark tests for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 with DLSS 2, the RTX 4060 Ti demonstrated impressive performance, achieving an average of 167 FPS. On the other hand, the RTX 3060 delivered a respectable average of 121 FPS. 
• The RTX 4060 Ti recorded 1% lows of 123 FPS, while the RTX 3060 maintained 1% lows of around 106 FPS.
• When considering power consumption, the RTX 4060 Ti drew 120 Watts at its peak, while the RTX 3060 consumed a slightly higher 145 Watts.
• Both GPUs maintained comparable temperatures during the run of COD MW 2, with the RTX 4060 Ti peaking at 60°C and the RTX 3060 reaching a slightly lower peak temperature of 59°C.

Also Check: RX 5700 XT Vs RTX 3060

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Native)

• In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla at native resolution, the RTX 4060 Ti showcased impressive performance, achieving an average FP of 111 FPS. On the other hand, the RTX 3060 delivered a respectable average FP of 78 FPS, offering a solid performance but with a noticeable difference compared to the higher-end RTX 4060 Ti.
• Both GPUs maintained decent 1% lows. The RTX 4060 Ti recorded 1% lows of 81 FPS, while the RTX 3060 maintained 1% lows of around 62 FPS. Both of the cards delivered a 60 FPS experience in this game, at the least signifying smooth performance. This is a relief as this title has generally been regarded as unoptimized and hard to run.
• Coming to power consumption, the RTX 4060 Ti drew 139 Watts at its peak, while the RTX 3060 consumed a slightly higher 157 Watts.
• Once again, both GPUs maintained similar temperature levels during the benchmark tests, with the RTX 4060 Ti peaking at 62°C and the RTX 3060 reaching a slightly higher peak temperature of 63°C.

Shadow Of The Tomb Raider (DLSS 2, RT On)

• In Shadow of the Tomb Raider with DLSS 2 and ray tracing enabled, the RTX 4060 Ti delivered exceptional performance, providing an impressive average of 170 FPS. On the other hand, the RTX 3060 performed well with an average frame rate of 121 FPS.
• Both GPUs maintained great 1% lows. The RTX 4060 Ti recorded 1% lows of 151 FPS, while the RTX 3060 maintained 1% lows of around 98 FPS. 
• Power consumption was slightly lower on the RTX 4060 Ti, which drew 136 Watts at its peak, compared to the RTX 3060’s consumption of 164 Watts.
• Both GPUs maintained manageable temperatures during the benchmark, with the RTX 4060 Ti peaking at 60°C and the RTX 3060 reaching a higher peak temperature of 62°C.

Also Read: AMD RX 6700 XT Vs Nvidia RTX 3060

Red Dead Redemption 2 (DLSS 2)

• In Red Dead Redemption 2 with DLSS 2, the RTX 4060 Ti delivered an impressive performance, achieving an average FP of 107 FPS. On the other hand, the RTX 3060 performed well with an average of 69 FPS, although it fell behind the higher-tier RTX 4060 Ti in terms of raw performance.
• The RTX 4060 Ti recorded 1% lows of 80 FPS, while the RTX 3060 maintained 1% lows of around 58 FPS. 
• Power consumption was higher on the RTX 3060, which drew 170 Watts at its peak, compared to the RTX 4060 Ti’s consumption of 154 Watts.
• The temperatures in this game were again better on the RTX 3060, with the RTX 4060 Ti reaching a peak temperature of 67°C and the RTX 3060 peaking at 63°C. 

Far Cry 6 (Native, RT On)

• In Far Cry 6 with ray tracing enabled, the RTX 4060 Ti showcased impressive performance, delivering an average of 128 FPS. This allowed for a visually stunning, immersive gameplay experience with realistic lighting and reflections. On the other hand, the RTX 3060 performed well, with an average of 96 FPS.
• Both GPUs maintained respectable 1% lows, with the RTX 4060 Ti recording 1% lows of 98 FPS, while the RTX 3060 maintained 1% lows of around 79 FPS.
• In terms of power consumption, the RTX 4060 Ti drew 128 Watts at its peak, while the RTX 3060 consumed slightly more power at 149 Watts.
• Both GPUs maintained low-temperature levels during the benchmark, with the RTX 4060 Ti reaching a peak temperature of 61°C and the RTX 3060 peaking at 58°C.

Also Check: RTX 3060 Vs 3060 Ti

Horizon Zero Dawn (DLSS 2, RT On)

• In Horizon Zero Dawn with DLSS 2 and ray tracing enabled, the RTX 4060 Ti delivered an impressive performance, achieving an average FP of 161 FPS. On the other hand, the RTX 3060 performed well with an average of 116 FPS, although it fell slightly behind the higher-tier RTX 4060 Ti in terms of raw performance.
• Both GPUs maintained smooth 1% lows, indicating minimal frame rate drops during gameplay. The RTX 4060 Ti recorded 1% lows of 131 FPS, while the RTX 3060 maintained 1% lows of around 91 FPS.
• In terms of power consumption, the RTX 4060 Ti drew 142 Watts at its peak, while the RTX 3060 consumed slightly more power at 170 Watts. The power consumption difference can be attributed to the performance and efficiency variations between the two GPUs.
• Both GPUs demonstrated effective cooling solutions, keeping temperatures within optimal ranges during gameplay. The RTX 4060 Ti reached a peak temperature of 62°C, while the RTX 3060 peaked at 61°C, ensuring stable and reliable performance.

RTX 3060 Vs RTX 4060 Ti: Overall Gaming Performance

In this section of the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3060 comparison, we will look over the findings of our benchmark test in terms of average framerate, 1% lows, power, and temperatures.

Framerate

Though the framerates were exceptional on both cards, there was a significant performance disparity.

• The RTX 4060 Ti averaged 140 FPS across the 10 games tested, whereas the RTX 3060 came in with an impressive, yet much lower, average of 94 FPS.
•  The RTX 4060 Ti had 1% lows of about 114 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 maintained 1% lows of about 78 FPS.

All in all, the performance of these cards is satisfying, considering their place in the GPU hierarchy.

Also Read: RTX 3060 Vs GTX 1660 Ti

Check out our list of the best GPU overclocking software if you wish to squeeze out all the performance your GPU offers.

Power Consumption 

These cards were also very promising in power consumption through the benchmark tests. 

• The RTX 4060 Ti had an average peak power draw of about 140 Watts, whereas the RTX 3060 Ti drew 157 Watts on average.
• The power draw of the RTX 4060 Ti is particularly significant as it is a higher tier and higher performing card than the RTX 3060, yet it manages to consume less power.

The power efficiency story gets much more interesting when considering performance per watt.

• The RTX 4060 Ti had a performance per watt of about 1 frame/watt, whereas the RTX 3060 was significantly behind with a performance of about 0.6 frames/watt.
• DLSS serves to boost these numbers artificially, but the truth is you won’t be getting your money’s worth if you do not pair the excellent performance of DLSS with the power efficiency of these cards.

If you want to match your power supply to the power target of the rest of your computer, read our article on how many watts a gaming PC consumes.

Temperatures

Both graphics cards remained cool throughout the testing. The temperature difference between these two GPUs while gaming is not very noticeable.

• The RTX 4060 Ti had an average peak temperature of 61.6°C.
• The RTX 3060 had an average peak temperature of 61.2°C.

Temperatures are very important to keep in check if you want your GPU to reach its maximum lifespan. If you want to learn about safe GPU idle temperatures, read our guide on the topic.

Similar Comparisons: RTX 3060 Vs RTX 3070

Price And Availability 

The 8 GB variant of the RTX 4060 Ti comes in at an MSRP of $399, whereas the RTX 3060 launched with an MSRP of $329.

It is essential to mention that it would not be a great investment if you buy the RTX 3060 Ti at its launch MSRP this late into its lifecycle. Instead, opting for a used card off a platform like eBay would be much better. If you choose to do so, a 3060 will cost you anywhere from $150-220.

As for availability, both cards are recent enough to be on store shelves in major retailers like Microcenter. You can also get these cards from any online retail website like Amazon or Alibaba.

RTX 4060 Ti Vs RTX 3060: Which One Should You Go For?

The RTX 4060 Ti targets avid gamers seeking exceptional performance in 1080p gaming with enabled frame generation while also excelling at higher resolutions. It is a high-performing choice for those looking for top-tier graphics cards.

On the other hand, the RTX 3060 offers about two-thirds of the performance at a lower cost, making it ideal for budget-conscious gamers. Despite being a previous-generation entry-level card, it still delivers excellent performance and advanced features like ray tracing and DLSS.

Pros And Cons 

More From RTX 3060

• 2070 Super Vs 3060
• RTX 3060 vs GTX 1080
• RTX 2060 Vs 3060