Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti vs 3070 Ti – how do they compare?

Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti vs 3070 Ti – how do they compare?
Rory Greig Updated on by

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We’re looking at the RTX 4060 Ti specs vs 3070 Ti, to try and get a sense of how they compare and how this Nvidia graphics card fits into their range.

If you’ve had your eye on an RTX 40-series GPU and the Lovelace architecture it brings, this could be the perfect one to go for. The 4060 and 8GB 4060 Ti have already been released, and we’re expecting the more promising 4060 Ti 16GB model to drop on July 18th.

We’ll be comparing everything we know so far about the card with the RTX 3070 Ti. This is an apt comparison too. The RTX 4060 Ti has the advantage of the latest and greatest Ada Lovelace architecture, while the 3070 Ti boasts superior underlying components.

Expect a total breakdown of price, specs and overall performance. Let’s get into it.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti vs 3070 Ti – specs comparison


RTX 4060 Ti 16GB specsRTX 4060 Ti 8GB specsRTX 3070 Ti specs
ArchitectureLovelaceLovelaceAmpere 
CUDA Cores4,3524,3526,144
Base Clock (MHz)2,3102,3101,570MHz
Boost Clock (MHz)2,5352,5351,710MHz
GDDR6X Memory8GB16 GB8GB
Memory Bus width128-bit128-bit256-bit
Memory Bandwidth288-Gbps288-Gbps608-Gbps
TDP160W165W290W

The RTX 4060 Ti specs give us a good indicator of how the 4060 Ti shapes up to the 3070 Ti. As you can see its a story of give and take. The RTX 3070 Ti has the higher CUDA core count, a vital spec as it is these cores which do the brute work of computing and rendering graphics. It pairs this with a 256-bit bus which allows for superior memory bandwidth.

Meanwhile, the RTX 4060 Ti boasts a significantly faster clock speed, both base and boost. You’ll have noticed that there are two variants of the 4060 Ti listed above, each with a different VRAM count. We’ve seen Nvidia do this kind of thing in other GPUs such as the RTX 3060. VRAM is an important spec so you can be sure the 16GB version of the card will have improved performance.

One thing that is definitely worth considering is that the RTX 3070 Ti is significantly more power-hungry, with a TDP of 290W versus just 160W or 165W for the 4060 Ti. This means you’ll need one of the best PSUs for the RTX 3070 Ti to keep it operating.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti – architecture and rt cores

Architecture is an area of huge importance when comparing GPUs and considering potential performance. Essentially it is the scaffolding of the whole GPU, dictating the physical components and how they interact with one another. As a member of the RTX 40-series of GPUs, we can be sure it will feature Nvidia’s latest and next gen GPU architecture – Ada Lovelace. This is a generation ahead of the RTX 4070 Ti’s Amphere architecture.

Two key parts of recent Nvidia-designed architectures have been their Ray tracing and Tensor cores. These are specific components designed to excel at specific tasks. It’s the ray tracing cores that make Nvidia’s cards some of the best GPUs for ray tracing, while the Tensor cores and responsible for the incredibly powerful DLSS feature.

However, while both Amphere and Lovelace use these cores, the ones in Lovelace are more advanced, being 3rd and 4th generation. This means superior ray tracing ability and compatibility with the latest DLSS 3 for the RTX 4060 Ti, while the 3070 Ti is limited to DLSS 2.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti – performance and FPS

It’s all very well crunching numbers and consulting tables but what really matters for gamers is how these cards with perform. Let’s start with the RTX 3070 Ti. it is one of the best GPUs for 1080p and this performance continues to higher resolutions with the card still producing decent frame rates at 1440p with ultra settings enabled when paired with the best CPU for the RTX 4070 Ti. Overall it offers an impressive price-to-performance ratio.

The RTX 4060 Ti goes head to head with the 3070 Ti, and, when DLSS 3 is enabled, exceeds it. This is despite its inferior hardware. However, remember that DLSS 3 is not compatible with all games, and without it, the 3070 Ti tends to perform slightly better. For a more in-depth analysis of the 4060 Ti’s performance, check out our review roundup of the 4060 Ti.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti – price

The RTX 4060 Ti 8GB model costs $399, while the 16GB model will sell for slightly more at $499 when it is released July 18th. This is the first time that a Nvidia 40-series GPU will be selling for less than $500 which is definitely a reason to celebrate. You probably don’t need reminding of the eye watering prices of the RTX 4090 that was released back in October.

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Founders Edition

rtx 4060 ti founders edition

Base clock

2310MHz

Boost clock

2535MHz

VRAM

8GB

Dimensions

240 x 111 x 40mm

Recommended PSU

450W

Zotac GeForce RTX 4060Ti Twin Edge 8GB

Zotac GeForce RTX 4060Ti Twin Edge 8GB

Base clock

2,310MHz

Boost clock

2,535MHz

VRAM

8GB GDDR6

Dimensions

225.5 x 123.2 x 40.1mm

Recommended PSU

500W

The RTX 3070 Ti meanwhile retailed with a price tag of $599, a considerable chunk more than the RTX 4060 Ti price. The best AIBs we’ve seen for this card have also tended to be a bit higher than this too, though this is true for the 4060 Ti too. While the 4060 Ti might appear to offer the sweeter deal, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on the 3070 Ti prices over the coming weeks. The release of new graphics cards tends to push down the price of the older ones.

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Ventus 3X

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Ventus 3X

Base Clock

1575 MHz

Boost Clock

1800 MHz

VRAM

8GB

Dimensions

316 x 121 x 56 mm

Recommended PSU

600W

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti – laptop GPU

Just like with AMD and their RX 7000 XT series, not all cards from Nvidia are available as the mobile GPUs you’ll see in a laptop. In fact, the RTX 4060 Ti does not have a mobile form meaning you cannot purchase a laptop within it inside.

However, there is an RTX 3070 Ti laptop GPU. This has good performance and is capable of producing high frames across games, especially when paired with an effective motherboard and the frame generation capabilities of the Amphere architecture. However, the RTX 4060 mobile GPU also has good performance and can be found for a more affordable price, so it too is worth considering.

RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 Ti – final word

It’s looking likely that the RTX 4060 Ti will offer similar performance for a smaller price, especially in DLSS 3 compatible games.

However, you shouldn’t totally write off the 3070 Ti. This is a tried and tested card with proven ability all the way up to 1440p on the latest triple-A games. It can be a bit costly though so unless you can find an especially good deal, the RTX 4060 Ti will be more affordable.