RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 4060: Which Should You Buy?
Head-to-head on performance, VRAM, power and value for 2026.
Quick Summary · TL;DR
On our relative performance index the RTX 3060 Ti leads the RTX 4060 by about 17% — a moderate gap. Both carry 8GB of VRAM.
| RTX 3060 Ti | RTX 4060 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance index | 42/100 | 36/100 |
| VRAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Board power (TBP) | 200W | 115W |
| Maker PSU guidance | 600W | 550W |
| Our starting PSU class | 650W | 550W |
| Power connector | 8-pin PCIe | 8-pin PCIe |
| Generation | RTX 30 | RTX 40 |
Relative gaming index — an estimate of typical performance. Real-world gaps vary by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy?
Buy the RTX 3060 Ti if you want the higher frame rate and can find it at a fair price. Choose the RTX 4060 if it is clearly cheaper and its 8GB+ of VRAM and features cover your target resolution. Both are from a similar lineage, so price is the main deciding factor.
Power planning: RTX 3060 Ti PSU · RTX 4060 PSU.
RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 4060 at each resolution
| Resolution | RTX 3060 Ti | RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | Excellent | Great (4 short of Excellent) |
| 1440p | Playable (6 short of Good) | Not ideal (2 short of Playable) |
| 4K | Not ideal (8 short of Playable) | Not ideal (14 short of Playable) |
The 6-point gap (42 vs 36) changes the verdict at 1080p and 1440p: that is where the RTX 3060 Ti earns its place. At 4K both get the same rating, so paying for the faster card buys headroom rather than a different experience there.
Power, PSU and efficiency
Reference board power is 200W for the RTX 3060 Ti and 115W for the RTX 4060, a 85W difference. Per 100W that works out to 21 index points for the RTX 3060 Ti and 31.3 for the RTX 4060, so the RTX 4060 does more per watt. An existing 550W supply meets the maker guidance for the RTX 4060 but not for the RTX 3060 Ti (600W). Full sizing: RTX 3060 Ti PSU · RTX 4060 PSU.
Ratings use the same index lines as our GPU resolution pages; the index is an editorial tier summary, not a benchmark. PSU figures are the makers’ reference guidance reviewed 12 September 2026.
Sources & verification
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series specifications
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series specifications
- SpecsCalc calculation methodology and limitations
Relative indices summarize broad gaming tiers and are not a substitute for game-by-game benchmark averages. Price and driver updates can change the buying recommendation. Last reviewed September 19, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 3060 Ti better than the RTX 4060?
On our relative index the RTX 3060 Ti is about 17% ahead of the RTX 4060. Both carry 8GB of VRAM. The smaller the gap, the more other factors like price, VRAM and features should decide it.
Which is better value, the RTX 3060 Ti or the RTX 4060?
Value depends on the price you can find each at. The slower card is usually the smart buy if it is meaningfully cheaper, unless you need the extra VRAM or features of the faster one.
Do the RTX 3060 Ti and RTX 4060 need different power supplies?
The RTX 3060 Ti's maker lists a 600W supply and the RTX 4060's lists 550W; our starting classes are 650W and 550W. If you might move to the RTX 3060 Ti later, size for its 600W now. The RTX 4060 can also take a PCIe Gen 5 (12V-2x6) cable; see the connector guide.
Make sure your CPU can keep up with either card using the Bottleneck Estimator, or compare more cards in the GPU comparison hub.