NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
FPS benchmarks across 150 games (reference CPU: r9-9950x3D2), live prices, popularity and community builds.
RTX 3060 12GB
Ampere · 12 GB GDDR6

Lowest price
$449
FPS / $
0.826
RTX 4090
Ada Lovelace · 24 GB GDDR6X

Lowest price
$4,299
FPS / $
0.149
Our verdict
- The RTX 4090 is on average 70% faster than the RTX 3060 12GB at 1440p across our reference games.
- The RTX 3060 12GB is currently $3,850 cheaper ($449 vs $4,299).
- With 0.826 FPS/$, the RTX 3060 12GB offers the best price-to-performance ratio.
- The RTX 4090 packs more video memory (24 GB vs 12 GB), an advantage for 4K and heavy textures.
Gaming performance
Benchmarks measured with a r9-9950x3D2 to avoid bottlenecking the graphics cards.
FPS / $
The higher the number, the better the performance you get for your money.
Want to see FPS in other games? Explore all our benchmarks
Specifications
| RTX 3060 12GB | RTX 4090 | |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Release date | 2021-02 | 2022-10 |
| Video memory | 12 GB | 24 GB |
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 192 bit | 384 bit |
| Bandwidth | 360 GB/s | 1008 GB/s |
| Shading units | 3584 | 16384 |
| Boost clock | 1777 MHz | 2520 MHz |
| Power draw (TDP) | 170 W | 450 W |
| Recommended PSU | 550 W | 850 W |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| Launch price | $329 | $1599 |
Popularity on DropReference
RTX 3060 12GB
#14 / 71Number of builds created with this GPU
130
Average build price
$1,022
Most paired CPUs
Most used power supply

GIGABYTE P650G 650W 80 Plus Gold ATX
650 W · $141
RTX 4090
#32 / 71Number of builds created with this GPU
34
Average build price
$5,666
Most paired CPUs
Most used power supply

EVGA SuperNOVA 1300 P+ 1300W 80 Plus Platinum Fully Modular
1300 W · $270
All models
Real-time prices and stock in your region
RTX 3060 12GB
21 models tracked
Gigabyte RTX 3060 WINDFORCE OC 12GB GDDR6 Black$500
ASUS Dual RTX 3060 V2 OC 12GB GDDR6$500
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 Eagle OC 12G Graphics Card, 2X WINDFORCE Fans, 12GB 192-bit GDDR6, GV-N3060EAGLE OC-12GD Video Card$479
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12GB GDDR6 OC Black$480
PNY GeForce RTX 3060 Uprising Dual Fan 12GB GDDR6 Black$595
MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 3060 Graphics Card RTX 3060 Ventus 2X 12G OC$449
Zotac RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC 12GB GDDR6 Black$799
ZOTAC Twin Edge GeForce RTX 3060 Graphics Card ZT-A30600E2-10A$480
Frequently asked questions
Which is the better graphics card, the RTX 3060 12GB or the RTX 4090?
The RTX 4090 is on average 70% faster than the RTX 3060 12GB at 1440p across our reference games. The RTX 3060 12GB is currently $3,850 cheaper ($449 vs $4,299). With 0.826 FPS/$, the RTX 3060 12GB offers the best price-to-performance ratio. The RTX 4090 packs more video memory (24 GB vs 12 GB), an advantage for 4K and heavy textures.
Which card should you pick for 1440p gaming: RTX 3060 12GB or RTX 4090?
At 1440p, the RTX 3060 12GB averages 332 FPS versus 564 FPS for the RTX 4090 across our reference games.
What power supply do you need for the RTX 3060 12GB?
A power supply of around 550 W is recommended for the RTX 3060 12GB. On DropReference, the most used PSU with this card is the GIGABYTE P650G 650W 80 Plus Gold ATX.
What power supply do you need for the RTX 4090?
A power supply of around 850 W is recommended for the RTX 4090. On DropReference, the most used PSU with this card is the EVGA SuperNOVA 1300 P+ 1300W 80 Plus Platinum Fully Modular.
Which CPU should you pair with the RTX 3060 12GB?
In community builds, the CPU most often paired with the RTX 3060 12GB is the r5-5500 (21 builds).
Which CPU should you pair with the RTX 4090?
In community builds, the CPU most often paired with the RTX 4090 is the r7-9800x3D (7 builds).
How much does the RTX 3060 12GB cost right now?
The RTX 3060 12GB is available from $449. We track 21 models in real time.
How much does the RTX 4090 cost right now?
The RTX 4090 is available from $4,299. We track 4 models in real time.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 delivers smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p thanks to the Ampere architecture. Featuring 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, it's ideal for gamers seeking great performance at a reasonable price. Supports ray tracing and DLSS for more realistic graphics and better frame rates.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, with Ada Lovelace architecture, offers ultra high-end gaming performance with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory. The absolute flagship card of the RTX 4000 series excels at 4K and competes with the best cards of its generation.
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