Which is faster for gaming, RTX 4060 (8GB) or RTX 3060 (12GB)?

In 1440p Ultra gaming benchmarks, the RTX 4060 (8GB) is approximately 12.1% faster (74 FPS vs 66 FPS).

How much power and what PSU is needed for RTX 4060 (8GB) vs RTX 3060 (12GB)?

The RTX 4060 (8GB) has a rated TDP of 115W and requires a recommended 550W power supply. In contrast, the RTX 3060 (12GB) has a TDP of 170W and recommends a 550W PSU.

Does RTX 4060 (8GB) or RTX 3060 (12GB) offer better price-to-performance value?

Based on current live market pricing, the RTX 4060 (8GB) offers superior value at $3.92 per 1440p frame compared to $4.09 on the RTX 3060 (12GB).

Real Gaming Speeds · Side-by-Side Comparison

RTX 4060 (8GB) vs RTX 3060 (12GB)

Real gaming speeds (average FPS), memory size, power needs, and price-to-performance across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K.

NVIDIA ✓ Tested Speeds

RTX 4060 (8GB)

💾 8GB GDDR6 ⚡ 115W $290

NVIDIA ✓ Tested Speeds

RTX 3060 (12GB)

💾 12GB GDDR6 ⚡ 170W $270

🎯 The Quick Answer: Which Should You Buy?

The RTX 4060 (8GB) is the faster card, delivering about 12.1% higher framerates in 1440p gaming (74 FPS vs 66 FPS). However, it costs about $20 more. If your budget allows, the extra speed is great for demanding titles; otherwise, the RTX 3060 (12GB) is still a solid pick for less money.

📊 Real-World Gaming Speeds (Average FPS)

Tested across demanding modern games. 60+ FPS represents smooth, enjoyable gameplay.

1080p Ultra Preset (Full HD) Delta: +12%

RTX 4060 (8GB) 112 FPS

RTX 3060 (12GB) 100 FPS

1440p Ultra Preset (QHD Resolution) Delta: +12.1%

RTX 4060 (8GB) 74 FPS

RTX 3060 (12GB) 66 FPS

4K Ultra Preset (3840 x 2160) Delta: +8.6%

RTX 4060 (8GB) 38 FPS

RTX 3060 (12GB) 35 FPS

🎮 How We Test Real Gaming Speeds

All gaming framerates (FPS) are measured across popular modern games (including Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Forza Horizon 5) on a standardized gaming PC. Speeds are shown in native resolution without upscaling tricks, giving you honest, real-world numbers.

Tested speeds are calibrated with trusted testing lab records from Hardware Unboxed, Gamers Nexus, and TechPowerUp.

⚙️ Specs Side-by-Side

Specification	RTX 4060 (8GB)	RTX 3060 (12GB)
Testing Status	✓ Tested in Real Games	✓ Tested in Real Games
Architecture / Generation	Ada Lovelace (4nm)	Ampere (8nm)
Memory (VRAM)	8GB GDDR6	12GB GDDR6
Memory Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit
Power Consumption (TDP)	115 Watts	170 Watts
Recommended Power Supply	550W PSU	550W PSU
Original Retail Price (MSRP)	$299 USD	$329 USD
Current Store Price	$289.99	$269.99
Cost-per-Frame (Bang for Buck)	$3.92 / FPS	$4.09 / FPS

Why Choose RTX 4060 (8GB)?

✓ Runs games about 12.1% faster on 1440p monitors (74 vs 66 FPS).
✓ Uses 55W less power (115W vs 170W), running cooler and quieter.
✓ Supports NVIDIA DLSS 3 Frame Generation for extra smoothness in supported games.

Why Choose RTX 3060 (12GB)?

✓ Has 12GB of memory (+4GB more than RTX 4060 (8GB)), giving you more headroom for high-res textures.
✓ Costs about $20 less, leaving more room in your budget for other parts.
✓ Wider 192-bit memory bus handles high-resolution graphics more easily.