Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 vs Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

Updated Nov 2026 · Scored by the Let’s Compare Data Engine · How we score

For most buyers the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the better pick — it scores 84/100 to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060's 48, leading on Memory and Theoretical Performance. Choose the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 instead if core specifications matters most to you, where it comes out ahead.

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 leads overall

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

Why it stands out

Core Specifications Maximum Power: 450 W (165% more)
Memory Capacity: 24 GB (100% more)
Memory Bandwidth: 1,008 GB/s (200% more)

Winner by category for Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 vs Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
Category	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060	Winner
Core Specifications	42	58	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
Memory	87	45	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
API Support	50	50	Tie
Theoretical Performance	96	38	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Benchmark	93	43	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Miscellaneous	78	78	Tie

In-depth analysisAI

AI-generated from the cited sources — may be incomplete or inaccurate; verify important details before deciding · generated Nov 2026.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090

The GeForce RTX 4090 is the flagship graphics card in Nvidia's consumer GPU family, succeeding the GeForce RTX 30 series. It is based on Nvidia's Ada Lovelace architecture and features third-generation RT cores and fourth-generation Tensor Cores for hardware acceleration.

Best for High-end graphics tasks

Pros

Features a TSMC 4N process designed by Nvidia
Includes three-generation Ray Tracing Cores for accelerated ray tracing
Supports OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4, and DirectX Direct3D 12.0 Ultimate APIs
Features dual NVENC with 8K 10-bit 120FPS AV1 fixed function hardware encoding

Cons

No NVLink support
Double-precision performance is 1/64 of single-precision performance

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is a desktop graphics card built on an 8nm manufacturing process, designed primarily for mainstream gaming and entry-level content creation. It operates with a base frequency of 1.32 GHz and can boost up to 1.777 GHz, featuring a generous 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM frame buffer on a 192-bit memory bus. With a 170 W power rating and broad API support, it delivers steady FP32 compute performance for mid-range desktop PC builds.

Best for Mid-range 1080p and 1440p PC gaming setups requiring higher VRAM capacityBest for Entry-level 3D modeling and video editing builds that benefit from a 12 GB frame

Pros

Generous 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM buffer on a 192-bit bus provides high memory capacity for modern workloads
Solid compute throughput offering 12.7 TFLOPS of FP32 performance
Comprehensive API compatibility supporting DirectX 12, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenCL 3.0

Cons

Maximum power consumption of 170 W requires adequate system power delivery
Utilizes an 8nm manufacturing node rather than a more efficient current-gen process

Value for Money

Which is the better deal for the price

Pre-filled with launch prices where known — enter today's price for an up-to-date check. Use the same currency for both.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090

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Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

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Performance

Higher benchmark score = faster

Nvidia GeForce RTX 409038,037

Nvidia GeForce RTX 306016,883

See the raw benchmark values →

Benchmark score — a measured indicator of raw performance, not a guarantee of real-world speed.

Review Videos

Hand-picked expert reviews for each product

Detailed Specifications

The full spec sheet, side by side

Core Specifications

Feature	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
Base Frequency	2.23 GHz	1.32 GHz
Base Power	N/A	N/A
Maximum Frequency	2.52 GHz	1.777 GHz
Maximum Power	450 W165% more	170 W
Lithography Process	5 nm38% less	8 nm

Memory

Feature	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
Capacity	24 GB100% more	12 GB
Technology
Bus Width	384 bit	192 bit
Bandwidth	1,008 GB/s200% more	336 GB/s
Is Shared	No	No

API Support

Feature	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
DirectX Version	12	12
OpenGL Version	4.6	4.6
Vulkan Version	1.4	1.4
OpenCL Version	3	3

Theoretical Performance

Feature	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
Pixel Rate	443.5 GP/s	85.4 GP/s
Texture Rate	1,290 GT/s	199.02 GT/s
Performance (FP16)	82.575 TFLOPS548% more	12.738 TFLOPS
Performance (FP32)	82.6 TFLOPS550% more	12.7 TFLOPS
Performance (FP64)	1,290 GFLOPS	198.9 GFLOPS

Benchmark

Feature	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
G3D Mark	38,037125% more	16,883

Miscellaneous

Feature	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
Release Date	October 12, 2022	February 25, 2021
Platform

Specification Note

Specifications are compiled from official manufacturer data and other reliable internet sources. Some features may vary by region or model configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 vs Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 comparison

Based on our overall comparison score, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 rates higher at 92/100 versus 61/100 for Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 — a 31-point lead. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the stronger overall pick, though the right choice still depends on which specs matter most to you; the full spec table above breaks down every difference.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 are compared side by side above across every spec in the gpus category — including performance, features and design — each scored 0–100 so you can see exactly where one leads the other. Our overall scores are 92/100 for Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and 61/100 for Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060.

At launch, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 was the more affordable option ($329) versus Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 ($1599). Weigh that against the overall scores (92/100 vs 61/100) and the value-for-money meter above to judge whether the higher-rated model justifies its price for your needs. Current retail prices vary — check the retailer.

If you want the higher-rated gpus option overall, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 (92/100) edges out Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 (61/100). But if Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is cheaper or stronger on the specific specs you care about, it can still be the better buy — use the spec table and strengths profile above to decide.