RTX 3060 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 4060 leads the RTX 3060 by about 20% — a large gap. The RTX 3060 has more VRAM (12GB vs 8GB), which helps at high resolutions and in VRAM-hungry titles.
| RTX 3060 | RTX 4060 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance index | 30/100 | 36/100 |
| VRAM | 12GB | 8GB |
| Board power (TBP) | 170W | 115W |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 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 4060 if you want the higher frame rate and can find it at a fair price. Choose the RTX 3060 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 PSU · RTX 4060 PSU.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 3060 better than the RTX 4060?
On our relative index the RTX 4060 is about 20% ahead of the RTX 3060. The RTX 3060 has more VRAM (12GB vs 8GB), which helps at high resolutions and in VRAM-hungry titles. The smaller the gap, the more other factors like price, VRAM and features should decide it.
Which is better value, the RTX 3060 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 and RTX 4060 need different power supplies?
The RTX 3060 is rated around a 550W PSU and the RTX 4060 around 550W. Size for the more demanding card if you might upgrade, and prefer an ATX 3.x unit for any 12V-2x6 card.
Make sure your CPU can keep up with either card using the Bottleneck Estimator, or compare more cards in the GPU comparison hub.