RTX 3060 vs RTX 4070 for Blender
Compare RTX 3060 12 GB and RTX 4070 for Blender Cycles. See benchmark performance, VRAM, power ratings and checked prices side by side. RTX 4070 leads the Blender benchmark score by 158.5%.
Fastest in Cycles
RTX 4070
158% faster than RTX 3060 12 GB
Most VRAM
Tie
Same memory capacity
Lowest power draw
RTX 3060 12 GB
15% lower rating than RTX 4070
Cheapest
RTX 3060 12 GB
45% cheaper than RTX 4070
Best value for money
RTX 4070
42% better value than RTX 3060 12 GB
GPU comparison
Key specifications for Blender rendering.
| Spec | RTX 3060 12 GB | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | $449.82 Checked Oct 19, 2026 | $820.05 Checked Oct 14, 2026 |
| Value for money | 4.42 | 6.27 +42% |
| Blender benchmark score | 1,989.05 | 5,141.31 +158% |
| VRAM | 12 GB Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM | 12 GB Meets Blender’s recommended VRAM |
| System PSU | N/A | N/A |
| Performance | ||
| CUDA cores | 3,584 | 5,888 +64% |
| Boost clock | 1.78 GHz | 2475 MHz +39% |
| RT cores | 28 | 46 +64% |
| Tensor cores | 112 | 184 +64% |
| Memory | ||
| Memory bandwidth | 360 GB/s | 504.2 GB/s +40% |
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory speed | 15 Gbps | N/A |
| Platform | ||
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Render support | OptiX, CUDA | OptiX, CUDA |
| TDP | 170 W −15% | 200 W |
| Release year | 2021 | 2023 |
Blender Cycles benchmarks
Estimated seconds / frame Lower is faster
RTX 3060 12 GB
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 101 runs
RTX 4070
Blender 5.2.0 · OptiX · 34 runs
Junkshop
Monster
Classroom
Which GPU should you choose for Blender?
RTX 4070 is the stronger Blender rendering pick here, and both cards have the same VRAM capacity.
Cycles rendering performance
RTX 4070 leads by 158.5% in the Renderjuice Blender benchmark model (5,141 vs 1,989). For render-time-first decisions, that is the card to prioritize.
VRAM and scene capacity
Both cards have 12 GB of VRAM, so the decision is less about scene capacity and more about render speed, architecture, power draw, and price.
Power ratings and cooling
RTX 3060 12 GB is the lower-power option at 170 W TDP, compared with 200 W for RTX 4070. If render speed is close, that can make RTX 3060 12 GB easier to cool and run quietly.
Is the upgrade worthwhile?
RTX 4070 is both the newer and faster Blender rendering choice here. The main reason to choose RTX 3060 12 GB would be price, availability, existing ownership, or a specific workstation requirement.
Comparison summary
RTX 4070 leads the Blender benchmark score by 158.5%.
Fastest in Cycles: RTX 4070 158% faster than RTX 3060 12 GB.
Most VRAM: Tie Same memory capacity.
Lowest power draw: RTX 3060 12 GB 15% lower rating than RTX 4070.
Cheapest: RTX 3060 12 GB 45% cheaper than RTX 4070.
Best value for money: RTX 4070 42% better value than RTX 3060 12 GB.
Both GPUs ship with 12 GB of VRAM, so the tradeoff is more about speed, architecture, and efficiency than memory capacity.
If you are deciding between these cards for Blender, focus first on Blender benchmark score, VRAM capacity, memory bandwidth, and whether your scenes are likely to benefit more from raw speed or extra memory headroom. The comparison table above keeps those tradeoffs in one place.