Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB vs Nvidia RTX 4060
Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB is both faster and cheaper here - the default pick unless you need something specific from the other.
The verdict
- Local AI
- Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB has more VRAM (12GB vs 8GB) - up to ~13B (Q4).
Which wins for each job
| Job | Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB | Nvidia RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| Plex transcode | ~12 streams | ~12 streams |
| Frigate NVR | ~25 cameras | ~25 cameras |
| Local LLM | 12GB VRAM win | 8GB VRAM |
| Fits a mini-PC | full-size PCIe, DIY build | full-size PCIe, DIY build |
Approximate - capacity estimates from curated specs, the same logic as the recommender. Verify against your exact setup. Prices move; check the retailer.
Full specs
| Spec | Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB | Nvidia RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (list) | $280 | $300 |
| Type | gpu | gpu |
| Interface | pcie | pcie |
| Transcode | H.264/HEVC (NVENC Ampere) | H.264/HEVC/AV1 (NVENC Ada) |
| Frigate detector | TensorRT | TensorRT |
| TOPS | - | - |
| VRAM (GB) | 12 | 8 |
| Low profile | no | no |
| GPU sharing | - | - |
| Power (W) | 170 | 115 |