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We’re comparing the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070, to see how they compare to one another.
The RTX 4060 Ti’s release date is upon us and you are now able to purchase the latest Nvidia GPU. The capable mid-tier card will eventually be available with both 8GB and 16GB RAM, though it is just the 8GB variant currently on sale. If this is the kind of thing you’re in the market for, it’s definitely worth seeing how it looks in comparison to other GPUs in a similar range.
Up against the latest 40-series card we’ve got the RTX 3070 which has been a popular card ever since its release, lauded especially for its 1440p performance and respectable price. To make the comparison as straightforward as possible we’ve broken it down into several categories including specs, performance and price.
RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 – specs comparison
| RTX 4060 Ti specs | RTX 4060 Ti 16GB specs | RTX 3070 specs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Lovelace | Lovelace | Ampere |
| CUDA Cores | 4352 | 4352 | 5888 |
| Base Clock | 2310 MHz | TBC | 1500MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2535 MHz | TBC | 1750MHz |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR6X | 16GB GDDR6X | 8GB GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 128-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 288GB/s | 288GB/s | 448GB/s |
| TDP | 160W | 165W | 220W |
As you can see we’ve listed the specs for two variants of the RTX 4060 Ti, one with 16GB of VRAM and one with 8GB. This in turn results in a 5W increase for the TDP though nothing else looks different.
By just glancing at the table you’ll see the RTX 4060 Ti goes head-to-head with the 3070. While the latter has a wider memory bus and the increased memory bandwidth that comes with it, as well as a superior core count, the 4070 Ti has a significantly faster clock, as well as a greater VRAM count in the 16GB version. There’s an ace in the sleeve for the RTX 4060 Ti too – its Lovelace architecture.
RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 – architecture
Architecture is possibly the most important spec of them all. All cards in the RTX 40-series range are built using the Ada Lovelace architecture. This is incredibly powerful and a significant step up from the Amhpere architecture that features in the RTX 3070.
- Amazon – RTX 4060 Ti
- Best Buy – RTX 4060 Ti
- Newegg – RTX 4060 Ti
Both feature Ray Tracing and Tensor Cores. The former assist with light tracking and are what makes many Nvidia cards among the best GPUs for ray tracing. Meanwhile, tensor cores power the deep learning algorithm which powers DLSS and other predictive tools.
Not all cores are built equal, however, and the RTX 4070 Ti’s Lovelace architecture comes out on top here with 3rd generation Ray Tracing cores and 4th generation Tensor cores. These are both a generation ahead of the cores found in the Amphere architecture.
RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 – performance
So how does all this actually translate to performance? Well, the superior cores explain the incredible power of DLSS 3, which will feature in the RTX 4060 Ti. In compatible games enabling DLSS 3 can hugely improve performance, without having to rely on superior hardware.
For example, when looking at the RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080, we saw that if DLSS 3 was enabled the 4070 could actually outperform the 3080, despite the latter having far superior hardware. It also means that ray tracing performance is very similar, despite the card having inferior specs in certain areas.
The RTX 4060 Ti struggle at a 4K resolution, but this is not surprising as, just like the RTX 3070, it is not designed for QHD. Its 1440p performance is not stunning but it will get to around 60FPS all the way up to high and ultra settings on most games.
RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 – price
The 8GB model of the RTX 4060 Ti costs $399, while the 16GB model will cost slightly more at $499 when it is released. This makes the 4060 Ti the first Ada Lovelace GPU to cost less than $500 which should be welcome news, especially after the eye watering prices of Nvidia’s flagship RTX 4090 graphics card. If you’re trying to keep your spending to a minimum, go for the 8GB Founders Edition card which is the cheapest option available. Otherwise, the 16GB looks like it will be a great investment for 1080p and 1440p gaming.
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Founders Edition
Base clock
2310MHz
Boost clock
2535MHz
VRAM
8GB
Dimensions
240 x 111 x 40mm
Recommended PSU
450W
Interestingly, the RTX 3070 launched with an MSRP of $499. Since then the price has remained pretty stable being available for sometimes a bit more or less depending on the AIB. Though we can hope for the price to drop down with the 4060 Ti announcement, the 4060 Ti potentially still offers better value in today’s climate.
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
Base Clock
1,500MHz
Boost Clock
1,830MHz
VRAM
8GB
Dimensions
12.7 x 5.5 x 2.2in
Recommended PSU
550W
RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 3070 – final word
The RTX 3070 is a great graphics card. However, it’s very likely the 4060 Ti trumps that performance, especially with DLSS 3 enabled which will also ease the work your CPU has to do.
Our advice is generally to upgrade. Potential buyers shouldn’t underestimate Nvidia’s Lovelace architecture and what it can do for a GPU’s power efficiency and overall performance.
So, unless you’re sticking to a tighter budget, go for the 4060 Ti over a previous gen graphics card. You can also check out how the RTX 4060 Ti shapes up to the RTX 3060 Ti.
