RTX 3090 vs RTX 4060

AmperevsAda LovelaceUpdated 36 days ago

The RTX 3090 emerges as the superior choice for most machine learning use cases on gpuperhour.com, particularly training and fine-tuning. Its 24 GB VRAM, 936 GB/s bandwidth, and 35.6 TFLOPS outperform the RTX 4060's 8 GB, 272 GB/s, and 15.1 TFLOPS, enabling larger models and batches despite higher average pricing of $0.41 per hour.

RTX 3090 from $0.20/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecRTX-3090RTX-4060
TDP350W115W
VRAM24 GB8 GB
CUDA Cores10,4963,072
Memory TypeGDDR6XGDDR6
ArchitectureAmpereAda Lovelace
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
InterconnectNVLink
Tensor Cores32896
FP16 Performance35.6 TFLOPS15.1 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance35.6 TFLOPS15.1 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth936 GB/s272 GB/s

Performance Analysis

The RTX 3090's 35.6 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32 outperforms the RTX 4060's 15.1 TFLOPS by 136 percent, accelerating matrix operations central to neural network training and inference. Equal FP16 and FP32 rates on both GPUs indicate balanced performance for half-precision training and single-precision inference, but the RTX 3090's higher throughput processes larger datasets faster.

Memory bandwidth of 936 GB/s on the RTX 3090 supports batch sizes up to three times larger than the RTX 4060's 272 GB/s, reducing data loading bottlenecks in deep learning pipelines. The 24 GB VRAM capacity handles models exceeding 8 GB without offloading, enabling seamless fine-tuning of large language models, whereas the RTX 4060 limits scale to smaller architectures.

Power consumption differs markedly: the RTX 3090's 350W TDP demands robust cooling and higher electricity costs, while the RTX 4060's 115W TDP enhances efficiency in prolonged inference runs. These specs translate to the RTX 3090 excelling in compute-bound tasks and the RTX 4060 in memory-light, energy-conscious environments.

Live Cloud Pricing

Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.

RTX 3090

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
TensorDock
TensorDock
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.20/GPU/hr
Available
TensorDock
TensorDock
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.21/GPU/hr
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
4×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.25/GPU/hr
$1.01/hr total (4×)
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
4×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.27/GPU/hr
$1.07/hr total (4×)
Available
LeaderGPU
LeaderGPU
8×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.29/GPU/hr
$2.29/hr total (8×)
Available

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the RTX 3090

The RTX 3090 excels in memory-intensive workloads such as training large language models, where its 24 GB GDDR6X VRAM accommodates models over 8 GB without partitioning. High bandwidth of 936 GB/s sustains large batch sizes, and 35.6 TFLOPS compute doubles the RTX 4060's capacity for faster iterations.

Multi-GPU setups benefit from NVLink interconnect, unavailable on the RTX 4060, making the RTX 3090 ideal for distributed training despite its 350W TDP and average $0.41 per hour pricing across 50 offers.

When to Choose the RTX 4060

The RTX 4060 suits inference on smaller models or edge deployments, leveraging its 115W TDP for lower operational costs compared to the RTX 3090's 350W. At an average $0.15 per hour across 6 offers, it provides economical access to Ada Lovelace features without needing 24 GB VRAM.

Tasks with modest memory demands, under 8 GB, run efficiently on its 272 GB/s bandwidth and 15.1 TFLOPS, prioritizing power efficiency over raw capacity.

Use Cases

LLM Training
RTX 3090

The RTX 3090's 24 GB VRAM and 936 GB/s bandwidth handle large models and batch sizes infeasible on the RTX 4060's 8 GB and 272 GB/s.

LLM Inference
Either

Smaller models fit within 8 GB on the RTX 4060 for efficient 115W runs, but 24 GB on the RTX 3090 supports batched high-throughput inference.

Fine-tuning
RTX 3090

35.6 TFLOPS and 24 GB VRAM on the RTX 3090 accelerate fine-tuning of parameter-heavy models, surpassing the RTX 4060's 15.1 TFLOPS and 8 GB limits.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3090

High-resolution image generation requires 24 GB VRAM and 936 GB/s bandwidth on the RTX 3090 to avoid out-of-memory errors on the RTX 4060.

Scientific Computing
RTX 3090

Compute-intensive simulations leverage the RTX 3090's 35.6 TFLOPS FP32 and NVLink for scaling, outperforming the RTX 4060's 15.1 TFLOPS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has more VRAM: RTX 3090 or RTX 4060?

The RTX 3090 offers 24 GB of GDDR6X VRAM, three times the RTX 4060's 8 GB GDDR6. This enables handling larger AI models on the RTX 3090. Memory bandwidth is 936 GB/s versus 272 GB/s.

RTX 3090 vs RTX 4060 for machine learning training?

The RTX 3090 provides 35.6 TFLOPS FP16/FP32 and 24 GB VRAM, ideal for training large models. The RTX 4060's 15.1 TFLOPS and 8 GB suit smaller datasets. Bandwidth of 936 GB/s on RTX 3090 supports bigger batches.

What are the power requirements for RTX 3090 and RTX 4060?

The RTX 3090 has a 350W TDP, requiring strong power supplies. The RTX 4060 uses 115W, enhancing efficiency in cloud instances. This impacts long-run costs significantly.

Cloud pricing comparison: RTX 3090 vs RTX 4060?

Both start at $0.08 per hour; RTX 3090 averages $0.41 across 50 offers, RTX 4060 $0.15 across 6. More availability favors RTX 3090 for high-demand tasks.

Does RTX 4060 support multi-GPU like RTX 3090?

The RTX 3090 includes NVLink for multi-GPU interconnects, enabling scaled training. The RTX 4060 lacks this feature. Both use PCIe form factors.

RTX 3090 or RTX 4060 for Stable Diffusion?

RTX 3090's 24 GB VRAM handles high-resolution Stable Diffusion without issues, unlike RTX 4060's 8 GB. Compute at 35.6 TFLOPS speeds generation.

Which is cheaper to rent, the RTX 3090 or the RTX 4060?

Cloud rental prices for both the RTX 3090 and RTX 4060 vary by provider, configuration, and availability. This page shows live pricing from 25+ providers updated every 60 seconds. Scroll to the Live Cloud Pricing section to compare current rates.

How much VRAM does the RTX 3090 have compared to the RTX 4060?

The RTX 3090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X memory. The RTX 4060 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Can I find RTX 3090 and RTX 4060 GPUs available to rent right now?

Yes. This page shows real-time availability across 25+ cloud GPU providers. The Live Cloud Pricing section displays only in-stock offers with current pricing.

What is the main difference between the RTX 3090 and the RTX 4060?

The RTX 3090 uses the Ampere architecture (2020) while the RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace (2023). The RTX 3090 delivers 2.4x the FP16 throughput and 3.4x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 4060.

RTX 3090 vs RTX 4060: 2.4x FP16 Gap, 24GB vs 8GB | GPUPerHour