Since its release, the new generation mid-range graphics card GeForce RTX 4060 has been highly controversial. Compared to the previous generation, its bandwidth and VRAM capacity have not only failed to upgrade but have been reduced, leading to widespread criticism. Some have even labeled it as a “downgrade” or a “fool’s card,” suggesting that even pets would avoid it.
However, on the other hand, the GeForce RTX 4060 boasts advantages in new architecture and manufacturing processes. Additionally, it has a significant advantage: support for DLSS 3. This article compares the gaming performance of the GeForce RTX 4060 with DLSS 3 enabled against the native mode of the GeForce RTX 3080 10GB.
The performance of the GeForce RTX 4060 is approximately 57% that of the GeForce RTX 3080 10GB (refer to the figures above). If DLSS 3 is enabled, how much can this performance gap be narrowed? Is it possible to match or even surpass the competitor?
Therefore, this comparative test also serves to examine and verify the actual effectiveness of DLSS 3, making it highly informative. It’s now time for the GeForce RTX 4060 to showcase its “real technology,” marking an exciting moment.
01
Parameter Comparison
GeForce RTX 4060
- Release Date: June 29, 2023
- GPU: AD107
- Architecture: Ada Lovelace
- Process: TSMC 5nm
- CUDA Cores: 3072
- Texture Units: 96
- Raster Units: 32
- Streaming Multiprocessors: 24
- Tensor Cores: 96
- Ray Tracing Cores: 24
- L2 Cache: 24MB
- Base Clock Speed: 1830 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed: 2460 MHz
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- Memory Speed: 17 Gbps
- Memory Bus: 128 bit
- Memory Bandwidth: 272.0 GB/s
- FP32 Performance: 15.11 TFLOPS
- Power Consumption: 115W
- Suggested Retail Price: $299
GeForce RTX 3080
- Release Date: September 1, 2020
- GPU: GA102
- Architecture: Ampere
- Process: Samsung 8nm
- CUDA Cores: 8704
- Texture Units: 272
- Raster Units: 96
- Ray Tracing Cores: 68
- Streaming Multiprocessors: 68
- Tensor Cores: 272
- L2 Cache: 5MB
- Base Clock Speed: 1440 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed: 1710 MHz
- Memory: 10GB GDDR6X (various memory versions available)
- Memory Speed: 19 Gbps
- Memory Bus: 320 bit
- Memory Bandwidth: 760.3 GB/s
- Power Consumption: 320W
- Suggested Retail Price: $699
02
Test Platform Configuration
The main configuration is as follows:
- Processor: Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Motherboard: MSI MPG X670E CARBON
- Memory: 32GB DDR5 6000MHz
- Storage: Two Samsung 970 SSDs
- Operating System: Windows 11
03
Game Performance Test: DLSS 3 RTX 4060 vs RTX 3080
The following section tests seven games, all in 1080P with the highest graphics settings. In the series of images below, the left side represents the GeForce RTX 4060 with DLSS 3 enabled (hereinafter referred to as the “GeForce RTX 4060 platform”), and the right side represents the GeForce RTX 3080 10GB platform.
① First Game: “Alan Wake 2”
GeForce RTX 4060 Platform:
- Average FPS: 67
- Minimum Instant FPS: 60
- Frame Time: 15.6ms
- CPU Usage: 14%
- Power Consumption: 43W
- Temperature: 51°C
- Memory Usage: 10.7GB
- GPU Usage: 99%
- VRAM Usage: 7.5GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 118W
- GPU Temperature: 57°C
GeForce RTX 3080 Platform:
- Average FPS: 70
- Minimum Instant FPS: 63
- Frame Time: 14.4ms
- CPU Usage: 23%
- Power Consumption: 54W
- Temperature: 58°C
- Memory Usage: 10.1GB
- GPU Usage: 99%
- VRAM Usage: 8.2GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 301W
- GPU Temperature: 63°C
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 9% lower CPU usage, 0.6GB higher memory usage, equal GPU usage, and 0.7GB lower VRAM usage compared to the GeForce RTX 3080 platform.
The GeForce RTX 4060 platform has an average FPS that is 3 FPS lower, a minimum instant FPS that is also 3 FPS lower, and a frame time difference of about 1 ms. The GeForce RTX 3080 platform has a slight advantage but is very close to a tie, with 183W lower power consumption and 6°C lower temperature.
② Second Game: “Cyberpunk 2077”
GeForce RTX 4060 Platform:
- Average FPS: 85
- Minimum Instant FPS: 64
- Frame Time: 11.3ms
- CPU Usage: 42%
- Power Consumption: 61W
- Temperature: 59°C
- Memory Usage: 12.8GB
- GPU Usage: 98%
- VRAM Usage: 7.7GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 116W
- GPU Temperature: 54°C
GeForce RTX 3080 Platform:
- Average FPS: 85
- Minimum Instant FPS: 62
- Frame Time: 9.6ms
- CPU Usage: 61%
- Power Consumption: 74W
- Temperature: 64°C
- Memory Usage: 13.5GB
- GPU Usage: 96%
- VRAM Usage: 9.0GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 292W
- GPU Temperature: 65°C
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 19% lower CPU usage, 0.7GB lower memory usage, 2% higher GPU usage, and 1.3GB lower VRAM usage compared to the GeForce RTX 3080 platform.
Both platforms have the same average FPS. The GeForce RTX 4060 platform has a 2 FPS higher minimum instant FPS and about 2ms higher frame time. Overall, it is still a tie, but the GeForce RTX 3080 platform has a slight advantage with 176W lower power consumption and 11°C lower temperature.
③ Third Game: “Forza Horizon 5”
GeForce RTX 4060 Platform:
- Average FPS: 157
- Minimum Instant FPS: 109
- Frame Time: 6.4ms
- CPU Usage: 24%
- Power Consumption: 52W
- Temperature: 58°C
- Memory Usage: 11.9GB
- GPU Usage: 98%
- VRAM Usage: 7.9GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 104W
- GPU Temperature: 55°C
GeForce RTX 3080 Platform:
- Average FPS: 138
- Minimum Instant FPS: 118
- Frame Time: 7.3ms
- CPU Usage: 26%
- Power Consumption: 55W
- Temperature: 56°C
- Memory Usage: 12.1GB
- GPU Usage: 99%
- VRAM Usage: 8.0GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 302W
- GPU Temperature: 66°C
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 2% lower CPU usage, 0.2GB lower memory usage, similar GPU usage, and VRAM usage compared to the GeForce RTX 3080 platform.
The GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 19 FPS higher average FPS but 9 FPS lower minimum instant FPS and 1 ms lower frame time. It has a slight edge overall with 198W lower power consumption and 11°C lower temperature.
④ Fourth Game: “Ghostwire: Tokyo”
GeForce RTX 4060 Platform:
- Average FPS: 111
- Minimum Instant FPS: 88
- Frame Time: 9.0ms
- CPU Usage: 15%
- Power Consumption: 46W
- Temperature: 52°C
- Memory Usage: 11.3GB
- GPU Usage: 99%
- VRAM Usage: 7.5GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 111W
- GPU Temperature: 56°C
GeForce RTX 3080 Platform:
- Average FPS: 106
- Minimum Instant FPS: 83
- Frame Time: 9.3ms
- CPU Usage: 19%
- Power Consumption: 50W
- Temperature: 51°C
- Memory Usage: 11.5GB
- GPU Usage: 99%
- VRAM Usage: 6.4GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 306W
- GPU Temperature: 65°C
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 4% lower CPU usage, 0.2GB lower memory usage, equal GPU usage, and 1.1GB higher VRAM usage compared to the GeForce RTX 3080 platform.
The GeForce RTX 4060 platform has a 5 FPS higher average FPS and 5 FPS higher minimum instant FPS, with a similar frame time. Overall, it is a tie with the GeForce RTX 4060 platform having 195W lower power consumption and 9°C lower temperature.
⑤ Fifth Game: “Hellblade 2”
GeForce RTX 4060 Platform:
- Average FPS: 110
- Minimum Instant FPS: 91
- Frame Time: 9.1ms
- CPU Usage: 21%
- Power Consumption: 51W
- Temperature: 56°C
- Memory Usage: 12.1GB
- GPU Usage: 98%
- VRAM Usage: 6.7GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 115W
- GPU Temperature: 55°C
GeForce RTX 3080 Platform:
- Average FPS: 118
- Minimum Instant FPS: 93
- Frame Time: 9.1ms
- CPU Usage: 32%
- Power Consumption: 62W
- Temperature: 58°C
- Memory Usage: 11.4GB
- GPU Usage: 98%
- VRAM Usage: 6.2GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 307W
- GPU Temperature: 66°C
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 11% lower CPU usage, 0.7GB higher memory usage, equal GPU usage, and 0.5GB higher VRAM usage compared to the GeForce RTX 3080 platform.
The GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 8 FPS lower average FPS and 2 FPS lower minimum instant FPS, with equal frame time. Overall, it is a tie, with the GeForce RTX 3080 platform having a slight edge with 192W lower power consumption and 11°C lower temperature.
⑥ Sixth Game: “Hogwarts Legacy”
GeForce RTX 4060 Platform:
- Average FPS: 94
- Minimum Instant FPS: 64
- Frame Time: 10.9ms
- CPU Usage: 23%
- Power Consumption: 52W
- Temperature: 61°C
- Memory Usage: 19.8GB
- GPU Usage: 99%
- VRAM Usage: 7.6GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 118W
- GPU Temperature: 59°C
GeForce RTX 3080 Platform:
- Average FPS: 97
- Minimum Instant FPS: 75
- Frame Time: 10.0ms
- CPU Usage: 22%
- Power Consumption: 51W
- Temperature: 61°C
- Memory Usage: 20.6GB
- GPU Usage: 99%
- VRAM Usage: 7.7GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 306W
- GPU Temperature: 67°C
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 1% higher CPU usage, 0.8GB lower memory usage, similar GPU usage, and VRAM usage compared to the GeForce RTX 3080 platform.
The GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 3 FPS lower average FPS and 11 FPS lower minimum instant FPS, with similar frame time. Overall, it is a tie with the GeForce RTX 4060 platform having 188W lower power consumption and 8°C lower temperature.
⑦ Seventh Game: “Starfield”
GeForce RTX 4060 Platform:
- Average FPS: 63
- Minimum Instant FPS: 49
- Frame Time: 16.2ms
- CPU Usage: 25%
- Power Consumption: 52W
- Temperature: 54°C
- Memory Usage: 13.1GB
- GPU Usage: 99%
- VRAM Usage: 6.7GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 115W
- GPU Temperature: 56°C
GeForce RTX 3080 Platform:
- Average FPS: 61
- Minimum Instant FPS: 51
- Frame Time: 16.2ms
- CPU Usage: 36%
- Power Consumption: 58W
- Temperature: 54°C
- Memory Usage: 13.5GB
- GPU Usage: 99%
- VRAM Usage: 5.9GB
- GPU Power Consumption: 311W
- GPU Temperature: 67°C
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 11% lower CPU usage, 0.4GB higher memory usage, equal GPU usage, and 0.8GB higher VRAM usage compared to the GeForce RTX 3080 platform.
The GeForce RTX 4060 platform has 2 FPS higher average FPS and 2 FPS lower minimum instant FPS, with equal frame time. Overall, it is still a tie, with the GeForce RTX 4060 platform having 196W lower power consumption and 6°C lower temperature.
04
Comparison Conclusion
Overall, even with DLSS 3 enabled, the final performance of the GeForce RTX 4060 is still slightly inferior to the GeForce RTX 3080, but the difference is minimal and can be essentially considered a tie.
Given that the absolute performance of the GeForce RTX 4060 is approximately 57% of the GeForce RTX 3080 10GB, and that with DLSS 3 enabled, their performance is nearly equal, we can conclude that enabling DLSS 3 approximately doubles the performance of the GeForce RTX 4060. This conclusion is quite objective and fair.
Additionally, with DLSS 3 enabled, the GeForce RTX 4060 generally shows lower CPU usage compared to its competitor when GPU usage is similar. This indicates that the GPU is handling a higher load. Moreover, the power consumption of the GeForce RTX 4060 is less than half that of its competitor, and its temperature is also generally lower by a few degrees, demonstrating a significant overall advantage.
The conclusion is that the GeForce RTX 4060 is not as underwhelming as some might have imagined. DLSS 3 is not just a gimmick or flashy feature but is indeed highly effective and impressive.
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