RTX 3090 vs RTX 4060 Ti

AmperevsAda LovelaceUpdated 35 days ago

The RTX 3090 emerges as the superior choice for most machine learning workloads on gpuperhour.com: its 24 GB VRAM and 35.6 TFLOPS outperform the RTX 4060 Ti's 8 GB and 15.1 TFLOPS, enabling larger models and batches critical for training and Stable Diffusion despite higher power and average cost.

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 achieves 35.6 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32 performance, surpassing the RTX 4060 Ti's 15.1 TFLOPS by more than double in both precisions. This gap translates to faster matrix multiplications in training, where FP16 tensor cores on the 3090 process larger datasets efficiently. For inference, the higher FP32 throughput on the 3090 supports complex models without bottlenecks. Memory bandwidth defines practical limits: the 3090's 936 GB/s sustains batch sizes up to four times larger than the 4060 Ti's 272 GB/s, crucial for stable training convergence and high-throughput serving. Lower bandwidth on the 4060 Ti restricts it to modest batches, increasing latency in memory-bound tasks. Power draw influences cloud viability: 350W on the 3090 demands robust cooling, while 115W on the 4060 Ti fits low-cost instances.

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

Select the RTX 3090 for workloads demanding high VRAM, such as training large language models exceeding 8 GB requirements, where its 24 GB capacity prevents out-of-memory errors. Multi-GPU setups benefit from NVLink, enabling 936 GB/s bandwidth scaling across cards for distributed training. Cloud users prioritizing raw 35.6 TFLOPS performance over efficiency favor it despite higher average pricing of $0.45/hr.

When to Choose the RTX 4060 Ti

Opt for the RTX 4060 Ti in power-constrained or budget scenarios, like batch inference on models under 8 GB, leveraging its 115W TDP for cheaper hosting at $0.14/hr average. The Ada Lovelace architecture delivers improved efficiency per watt, suitable for edge-like cloud deployments. Smaller memory footprint suits fine-tuning compact networks without NVLink needs.

Use Cases

LLM Training
RTX 3090

The RTX 3090's 24 GB VRAM handles large models that exceed the RTX 4060 Ti's 8 GB limit. Its 936 GB/s bandwidth supports bigger batches for efficient convergence.

LLM Inference
RTX 4060 Ti

The RTX 4060 Ti suffices for models under 8 GB with lower latency at 115W TDP. Average pricing of $0.14/hr makes it economical for high-volume serving.

Fine-tuning
RTX 3090

RTX 3090's 35.6 TFLOPS FP16 accelerates parameter updates on datasets needing 24 GB VRAM. NVLink aids multi-GPU fine-tuning scalability.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3090

High VRAM of 24 GB on RTX 3090 enables high-resolution generations without swapping. Superior 936 GB/s bandwidth speeds up diffusion steps.

Scientific Computing
RTX 3090

RTX 3090's 35.6 TFLOPS FP32 excels in simulations requiring extensive memory. 24 GB capacity processes large arrays beyond RTX 4060 Ti limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the VRAM difference between RTX 3090 and RTX 4060 Ti?

The RTX 3090 has 24 GB GDDR6X VRAM, while the RTX 4060 Ti offers 8 GB GDDR6. This tripling allows the 3090 to manage larger models in training.

How do TFLOPS compare on these GPUs?

RTX 3090 delivers 35.6 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32, over twice the RTX 4060 Ti's 15.1 TFLOPS per precision. Higher compute favors 3090 for intensive ML tasks.

Which GPU has higher memory bandwidth?

RTX 3090 provides 936 GB/s, exceeding RTX 4060 Ti's 272 GB/s by over 3x. Greater bandwidth supports larger batch sizes in inference.

What are the power requirements?

RTX 3090 draws 350W TDP, compared to RTX 4060 Ti's 115W. Lower power on 4060 Ti reduces cloud instance costs.

Cloud pricing for RTX 3090 versus RTX 4060 Ti?

RTX 3090 starts at $0.08/hr averaging $0.45/hr across 43 offers; RTX 4060 Ti from $0.08/hr averaging $0.14/hr over 6 offers. 4060 Ti offers better value for light loads.

Does RTX 4060 Ti support NVLink?

RTX 4060 Ti lacks NVLink interconnect, unlike RTX 3090. Absence limits multi-GPU scaling on 4060 Ti.

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 Ti: 2.4x FP16 Gap, 24GB vs 8GB | GPUPerHour