NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 represent two distinct generations of NVIDIA’s GPU lineup, separated by a single but massive architectural leap. The data shows a stark contrast in almost every measurable specification, yet the benchmark comparison is surprisingly narrow, with only a single shared test available. This analysis will dissect the available figures, focusing on what the numbers reveal about generational progress, raw compute capability, and the practical implications of these two very different products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available in the data is the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, and the result is decisive. The RTX 5090 D V2 scores 16,504 points, while the RTX 4060 manages just 2,302 points. This translates to a delta of -86.1% for the RTX 4060, meaning the newer card outperforms the older one by a factor of over seven. This is not an incremental gain; it is a generational chasm. The RTX 5090 D V2 is the clear winner, and the magnitude of this victory dwarfs any other comparison in the dataset.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, the RTX 4060’s average benchmark score is 17,639, derived from a suite of tests including Geekbench OpenCL (95,057) and Vulkan (48,643), as well as various Passmark tests. Its performance relative to all GPUs puts it in the 61st percentile. In contrast, the RTX 5090 D V2’s average benchmark score is 16,504, placing it in the 59th percentile. This is a curious inversion: the card that wins the head-to-head test by a massive margin has a lower average score and percentile ranking. The data suggests that the RTX 5090 D V2’s average is based on a single test, while the RTX 4060’s is based on ten. Therefore, the percentile figures are not directly comparable and should not be interpreted as a measure of overall superiority.

The nearest rivals for each card further illustrate their positioning. The RTX 4060’s closest competitor is the AMD Radeon HD 7790, with a delta of -0.2%, followed by the AMD Radeon 780M at +0.3%. These are all relatively close scores, indicating a tight cluster of performance around the RTX 4060’s level. In contrast, the RTX 5090 D V2’s nearest rival is the NVIDIA T400, with a delta of 0%, followed by the AMD Radeon PRO W7500 at +0.5%. This suggests that, despite its high-end positioning, the single benchmark score places it in a different performance tier than its specifications would imply, at least based on this limited dataset.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is profound. The RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, utilizing the AD107 chip, while the RTX 5090 D V2 uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with the GB202 chip. Both are manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC, but the transistor counts tell a story of scale. The RTX 5090 D V2 has 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die, compared to the RTX 4060’s 18,900 million on a 159 mm² die. This results in a similar transistor density (122.9M / mm² vs 118.9M / mm²), but the sheer physical size and transistor budget of the newer card is nearly five times larger.

The compute resources scale accordingly. The RTX 5090 D V2 features 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 176 raster operations pipelines (ROPs). The RTX 4060 has 3,072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. This represents a 7x increase in shading units and a 3.7x increase in ROPs. The RTX 5090 D V2 also has 170 ray tracing cores and 680 tensor cores, compared to 24 and 96 respectively on the RTX 4060. The FP32 compute performance is 104.8 TFLOPS for the newer card versus 15.11 TFLOPS for the older one, a 6.9x difference. The pixel rate is 423.6 GPixel/s versus 118.1 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 1,636.8 GTexel/s versus 236.2 GTexel/s.

Memory architecture is another major differentiator. The RTX 5090 D V2 comes with 24 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering 1.34 TB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 4060 has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, with 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The newer card offers three times the capacity and nearly five times the bandwidth. The RTX 5090 D V2 also supports PCIe 5.0 x16, while the RTX 4060 uses PCIe 4.0 x8, doubling the interface width and doubling the bandwidth of the connection to the host system.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 is significantly faster, scoring 16,504 points compared to the RTX 4060’s 2,302 points. The RTX 4060 trails by -86.1% in this specific test.

Q: How does the memory configuration differ between the two cards?

A: The RTX 5090 D V2 has 24 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 384-bit bus with 1.34 TB/s bandwidth. The RTX 4060 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 272.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The RTX 5090 D V2 has a TDP of 575 W and requires a 950 W power supply, using a 1x 16-pin connector. The RTX 4060 has a TDP of 115 W, requires a 300 W power supply, and uses a 1x 12-pin connector.

Q: Are there differences in the display outputs?

A: Yes. The RTX 5090 D V2 features 1x HDMI 2.1b and 3x DisplayPort 2.1b. The RTX 4060 features 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a.

Q: What is the production status of each GPU?

A: The RTX 4060 is marked as end-of-life, having been released in 2023. The RTX 5090 D V2 is marked as active, with a release date in 2025.

Specification Differences

The core specifications show a clear generational leap. The RTX 5090 D V2 has a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, while the RTX 4060 has a base of 1830 MHz and a boost of 2460 MHz. Interestingly, the RTX 4060 has a higher boost clock, but the RTX 5090 D V2 compensates with far more cores. The memory clock is 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective) for the newer card versus 2125 MHz (17 Gbps effective) for the older one. The bus interface is PCIe 5.0 x16 for the RTX 5090 D V2 and PCIe 4.0 x8 for the RTX 4060. The physical dimensions also differ: the RTX 5090 D V2 is 304 mm long, 137 mm high, and 48 mm wide, while the RTX 4060 is 240 mm long, 111 mm high, and 40 mm wide.

The most consequential differences are in the raw compute and memory resources. The RTX 5090 D V2 has 21,760 shading units, 680 TMUs, 176 ROPs, 170 RT cores, and 680 tensor cores. The RTX 4060 has 3,072 shading units, 96 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 24 RT cores, and 96 tensor cores. The FP32 performance is 104.8 TFLOPS versus 15.11 TFLOPS, and the memory bandwidth is 1.34 TB/s versus 272.0 GB/s. The launch MSRP for the RTX 4060 is 299 USD, while the RTX 5090 D V2 has a launch MSRP of 2,299 USD. The RTX 5090 D V2 also has a larger die (750 mm² vs 159 mm²) and more transistors (92,200 million vs 18,900 million).

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for raw performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 is in a completely different league, delivering over seven times the performance in the single available DX12 benchmark. For any application that can leverage its massive compute resources, 24 GB of GDDR7 memory, and higher bandwidth, the RTX 5090 D V2 is the obvious choice. Its higher TDP and power supply requirements are a logical consequence of its scale. The RTX 4060, while being an end-of-life product with a lower average score, still holds a higher percentile ranking (61st vs 59th) based on its more extensive benchmark suite. However, this is likely an artifact of the limited data for the newer card, not an indication of real-world parity.

The choice between these two is not a choice of similar products. The RTX 5090 D V2 is designed for maximum performance and is actively in production, while the RTX 4060 is a legacy part. The data suggests that the RTX 4060 was a capable mainstream card, but the RTX 5090 D V2 represents a new tier of capability. For a user prioritizing the highest possible frame rates and the ability to handle massive workloads, the RTX 5090 D V2 is the only rational option based on this data. For someone with a legacy system or a limited power budget, the RTX 4060 remains a functional, if outdated, choice. The benchmark results do not support a scenario where the RTX 4060 is competitive with the RTX 5090 D V2.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5090 D V2 wins unequivocally in the only head-to-head benchmark available. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it is the clear winner with a score of 16,504 versus 2,302. This suggests a massive advantage in modern DirectX 12 gaming and compute workloads. Its 24 GB of memory and 1.34 TB/s bandwidth make it suitable for high-resolution textures and large datasets, a conclusion supported by its specifications. Its higher TDP and power requirements are a trade-off for this performance.

The RTX 4060 has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head comparison. However, its data shows a more balanced profile, with a wider range of benchmark scores across different APIs. Its higher boost clock (2460 MHz vs 2407 MHz) is a minor point of distinction, but it does not compensate for the core count deficit. Its lower TDP of 115 W makes it a more power-efficient option, and its smaller physical footprint (240 mm vs 304 mm) means it can fit in more compact cases. In the absence of any performance win, the RTX 4060’s strengths are limited to its lower power draw and smaller size, which are not captured in the benchmark data. The RTX 5090 D V2 is the performance winner in every measurable aspect of this comparison.