NVIDIA RTX 3070
Rated: 8.5/10
Nvidia RTX 4060
Rated: 8.8/10
Pros And Cons
| GPU | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA RTX 3070 | ✅Better performance according to the price tag | ❌Significant power consumption |
| Nvidia RTX 4060 | ✅Better overall performance ✅Frame Generation tech can double the performance | ❌Higher price tag |
- According to my testing, the RTX 3070 demonstrates a notable 25% performance boost over the RTX 4060 on average.
- While the RTX 3070 consumes approximately 48% more power on average than the RTX 4060, it maintains lower temperatures during gaming tests.
- The price difference between the two GPUs is significant, approximately 42%, which may not be justified by the performance gap.
- I would recommend RTX 3070 for users prioritizing raw gaming performance and affordability. On the other hand, the RTX 4060 may appeal to users concerned about power efficiency and heat management.
Comparison Table
| Technical Specs | NVIDIA RTX 3070 | Nvidia RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | GA104 | AD107 |
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| CUDA Cores | 5888 | 3072 |
| Compute Units | 184 | 96 |
| RT Cores | 46 | 24 |
| TMUs | 184 | 96 |
| ROPs | 96 | 32 |
| Best Variants | Best RTX 3070 Cards | Best RTX 4060 Cards |
Architectural Differences
- Process Size: The RTX 3070 utilizes an 8nm process size, while the RTX 4060 utilizes a more advanced 5nm process size. The smaller process size indicates better power efficiency on the RTX 4060.
- Clock Speeds: The base clock of the RTX 3070 is 1500MHz, with a boost clock of 1725MHz. In comparison, the RTX 4060 has a higher base clock of 1830MHz and a higher boost clock of 2460MHz.
- VRAM: These graphics cards have the same amount of VRAM; 8GB of GDDR6 memory.
- Bus Width: The RTX 3070 has a wider 256-bit bus. In contrast, the RTX 4060 halves this by only having a bus width of 128-bit. This narrow bus can be a major bottleneck to the performance of this graphics card.
- TDP: The RTX 3070 has a TDP of 220W, whereas the RTX 4060 drops this to about 115W.
- Other features: The RTX 4060 has an implementation of frame generation technology in place, whereas the RTX 3070 relies on AI upscaling to increase its performance on demand.
In the RTX 4060 vs RTX 3070 comparison, we will pin these cards together to gauge their strengths and weaknesses in real-world gaming scenarios.
Gaming Performance Benchmarks
Moving ahead in comparing the RTX 4060 and the RTX 3070, we will now focus on their game performances.
Testing Rig
- CPU: Intel Core i7 13700k
- Motherboard: ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite Motherboard
- RAM: Kingston Fury Renegade RGB DDR5 32GB 7200MHz
- CPU Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360
- SSD: XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 2TB NVMe SSD
Forza Horizon 5
- When I played Forza Horizon 5, the RTX 3070 achieved a higher average of 91 FPS than the RTX 4060, which recorded an average of 77 FPS.
- Interestingly, Both cards had a similar disparity in 1% lows, with the RTX 3070 having slightly higher 1% lows of 76 FPS, compared to the RTX 4060’s 63 FPS.
Cyberpunk 2077
- During my Cyberpunk gameplay, the RTX 3070 achieved a higher average of 68 FPS than the RTX 4060, which recorded an average of 48 FPS.
- Both cards exhibited a similar disparity in 1% lows, with the RTX 3070 again showcasing higher 1% lows of 57 FPS, while the RTX 4060 had 1% lows of 43 FPS.
Hogwarts Legacy
- During the Hogwarts Legacy gaming session, the RTX 3070 demonstrated a higher average of 66 FPS than the RTX 4060, which achieved an average of 47 FPS.
- Interstingly, both cards showed a similar difference in 1% lows, with the RTX 3070 again displaying higher 1% lows of 46 FPS, while the RTX 4060 recorded 1% lows of 38 FPS.
Spiderman Miles Morales
- When I played Spider-Man Remastered, the RTX 3070 demonstrated superior performance with an average of 101 FPS, outperforming the RTX 4060, which achieved an average of 72 FPS.
- Both cards showed a similar difference in 1% lows, with the RTX 3070 having slightly higher 1% lows of 69 FPS, while the RTX 4060 recorded 1% lows of 62 FPS.
Last Of Us
- The RTX 3070 demonstrated superior performance with an average of 51 FPS, surpassing the RTX 4060, which achieved an average of 34 FPS.
- The difference in 1% lows between the two cards is significant, with the RTX 3070 recording 1% lows of 29 FPS, while the RTX 4060 only managed 1% lows of 15 FPS.
Red Dead Redemption 2
- During our Red Dead Redemption 2 testing, the RTX 3070 displayed superior performance, achieving an average of 71 FPS and outperforming the RTX 4060, which recorded an average of 53 FPS.
- The 1% lows also show a notable difference between the two cards, with the RTX 3070 registering 1% lows of 57 FPS, while the RTX 4060 only managed 1% lows of 46 FPS.
Dying Light 2
- The RTX 3070 exhibited better performance than the RTX 4060. The RTX 3070 achieved an average of 69 FPS, surpassing the RTX 4060’s average of 55 FPS.
- The 1% lows also demonstrated a notable difference between the two cards. The RTX 3070 recorded 1% lows of 59 FPS, while the RTX 4060 managed 1% lows of 48 FPS.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
- The RTX 3070 performed better than the RTX 4060. The RTX 3070 achieved an average of 69 FPS, outperforming the RTX 4060’s average of 55 FPS.
- The 1% lows also showed a significant disparity between the two cards. The RTX 3070 recorded 1% lows of 62 FPS, while the RTX 4060 had lower 1% lows of 43 FPS.
Watch Dogs Legion
- In our test of Watch Dogs Legion, at the chosen settings, the RTX 3070 demonstrated a higher average FPS than the RTX 4060. The RTX 3070 achieved an average of 99 FPS, while the RTX 4060 had an average of 82 FPS.
- Looking at the 1% lows, the RTX 3070 again outperformed the RTX 4060. The RTX 3070 recorded 1% lows of 83 FPS, while the RTX 4060 had 1% lows of 66 FPS.
Overall Gaming Performance
Framerate
In our gaming tests, the RTX 3070 maintained an impressive average frame rate of 76 FPS, outperforming the RTX 4060’s lackluster average of 56 FPS. Moreover, the 1% lows of the RTX 3070 remained stable at 56 FPS, whereas the RTX 4060 struggled with less consistent performance at 45 FPS.
Winner: NVIDIA RTX 3070
Power
The RTX 3070 had an average peak power draw of 183 watts throughout our gaming tests, whereas the RTX 4060 had an average peak power draw of 123. The difference between the power consumption between the current-gen RTX 4060 and the last-gen RTX 3070 is about 48%, with the 3070 drawing more power.
Winner: NVIDIA RTX 4060
Temperatures
The RTX 3070 had an average peak temperature of 66°C throughout our testing at 1440p, while the RTX 4060 averaged a peak temperature of 64°C in our gaming tests. The temperature difference between these GPUs is not large enough to be a deciding factor.
Winner: NVIDIA RTX 4060
Price And Availability
| GPU | MSRP | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 4060 | 💲299 | 💲299 |
| RTX 3070 | 💲499 | 💲424 |
| Difference | 66.8% | 41.8% |
The price difference between the two GPUs is almost 42%, which is quite large. I believe this difference is not justified when we see the performance difference.
Final Thoughts – Which One Should You Go For?
RTX 3070: Despite drawing approximately 48% more power than the RTX 4060, the RTX 3070 boasts a notable 25% performance boost. It consistently demonstrates superior raw performance throughout gaming tests and comes at a lower price point than the RTX 4060. This combination of higher performance and affordability suggests greater longevity for users seeking a reliable gaming experience.
RTX 4060: While the RTX 4060 falls short in raw performance compared to the RTX 3070, it can outperform its counterpart. Moreover, it excels in power efficiency, a feature that could be attractive to users mindful of energy consumption and heat management.
Gamers seeking raw power may favor the RTX 3070, while those prioritizing energy efficiency and heat control could opt for the RTX 4060 for a cooler, more efficient gaming experience.
FAQs
Nvidia has not announced any plans to bring DLSS to cards that are not included in the RTX 40 series of GPUs.
The RTX 3070 has a performance comparable to the performance of an RTX 2080 Ti.
No, that problem was only widespread on the new power connector used with the RTX 4090.
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[Comparisons Expert]
Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.
Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.
As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.
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