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After the launch of the new Nvidia RTX 4060, many users may be feeling the urge to upgrade from the Nvidia RTX 3060. That's because they have high hopes that the new graphics card will provide them with a similar performance boost as the previous one once did. However, that's not the case here.
So, should you upgrade from the Nvidia RTX 3060 to the RTX 4060? No, you should not. This article explains why that's the case.
Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinions.
Nvidia RTX 3060 vs RTX 4060: Specs comparison
The Nvidia RTX 3060 is based on the Ampere architecture, which brings significant performance improvements over its Turing counterpart.
Meanwhile, the new Nvidia RTX 4060 is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, which brings many improvements, including a better price-to-performance ratio, higher efficiency, and superior ray tracing functionality. However, while this is true for the Nvidia RTX 4090, 4080 Super, and 4070 Ti Super, the same cannot be said about the new GPU. You will understand why in a second.
Here's the spec comparison between the two GPUs:
Apart from the clock speeds, every other specification of the RTX 4060 is a downgrade compared to the RTX 3060. The new GPU is more like an upgrade to the RTX 3050, not the RTX 3060.
In fact, the RTX 4060 has the same 8GB VRAM (with a 128-bit memory bus) as the RTX 3050. So, can the new GPU beat the RTX 3060? Let's check out their performance comparisons.
Nvidia RTX 3060 vs RTX 4060: Performance comparison
The Nvidia RTX 3060 vs RTX 4060 performance comparison brings to the fore some interesting truths. All the performance numbers you see here are from the GPU Tester channel on YouTube. These results are at both 1080p and 1440p. However, since both GPUs are entry-level cards, we will focus on the 1080p results only.
Here's what the upgrade from the Nvidia RTX 3060 to the RTX 4060 will get you in games:
On average, an upgrade from the RTX 3060 to the RTX 4060 brings about a 12% - 13% performance improvement.
If you pay attention to Red Dead Redemption 2's score, you will notice that the new GPU has scored lower. That's because Red Dead Redemption 2 is a memory-sensitive game, and since the new card has a downgraded 128-bit memory bus, it bottlenecks the GPU and the FPS takes a dip.
You will also see the same effects in emulators. The Nvidia RTX 3060 scores more FPS in emulated games compared to the new RTX GPU.
The RTX 4060's performance is quite erratic in The Last of Us: Part 1. That's because the 0.1 lows in the game are really bad on the new GPU due to the VRAM spillover. This title requires over 9GB of VRAM, which the RTX 4060 doesn't have, so there's quite a bit of stuttering.
However, the RTX 3060 does have it, and The Last of Us: Part 1 works normally with the card. You will get a really bad experience in this game if you upgrade from the RTX 3060 to the RTX 4060 due to VRAM spillover.
More and more games now require more than 8GB VRAM, which is something to keep in mind.
Also check out the best budget RTX 4060 laptops in 2024
Should you upgrade from Nvidia RTX 3060 to RTX 4060?
The upgrade from the Nvidia RTX 3060 to the RTX 4060 brings about a 12% - 13% increase in performance on average, but it also shows regression in some games and emulators. On top of that, the VRAM issues cast doubt on the performance of the new GPU in future games. So, knowing all this, should you upgrade from the RTX 3060 to the RTX 4060?
No, absolutely not. It doesn't make sense to pay $289 for a mere 12% - 13% performance increase. Instead, an upgrade from the RTX 3060 to the RTX 4070 would be wise. This GPU is significantly faster and has more VRAM and wider memory bus width. However, it's quite expensive. Ultimately, the choice is up to you.
You can also hold on to your current RTX 3060 for now and buy the RTX 5060 when it officially releases.
Check out our other GPU comparisons:
Nvidia RTX 4070 vs AMD RX 7700 XT || Intel ARC A750 vs RTX 4060 || Radeon 7900 GRE vs RTX 4070 Super
