Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
Rated: 8.7/10
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090
Rated: 8.8/10
Pros & Cons
| GPU | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| RX 6950 XT | ✅ Higher performance. ✅ Slightly better specifications. | ❌ 1% lows quite low. |
| RX 6800 XT | ✅ Great budget card. ✅ Readily available. | ❌ Similar temperatures with lower performance. |
- Compared to the RTX 4070, the RTX 3090 is 11.1% better in terms of average FPS and 6.1% faster when it comes to 1% lows on average.
- From what was observed, the RTX 4070 is the power-efficient option as it consumes 62.5% less power than compared to the RTX 3090.
- We also noticed that the RTX 4070 also operates 8.7% cooler on average compared to the RTX 3090.
- We recommend the RTX 3090 for its sheer performance and the RTX 4070 as it has everything packed at a reasonable price tag.
Comparison Table
| Specifications | GeForce RTX 4070 | GeForce RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Tensor Core | 4th Generation | 3rd Generation |
| RT Core | 3rd Generation | 2nd Generation |
| Base Clock | 1.92 GHz | 1.40 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 2.48 GHz | 1.70 GHz |
| DirectX Support | Yes | Yes |
| Power Connectors | 2x PCIe 8-pin | 2x PCIe 8-pin |
| Dimensions | 9.6" (244 mm) x 4.4" (112 mm) x 2-Slot | 12.3" (313 mm) x 5.4" (138 mm) x 3-Slot |
| Price (MSRP) | $599.00 | $1,499 (at launch) |
| Best Variants | BEST RTX 4070 Graphics Cards | BEST RTX 3090 Graphics Cards |
Architectural Differences
- CUDA Cores and Architecture: The RTX 4070 has 5888, while the RTX 3090 has 10,496 CUDA cores. The RTX 4070 is based on Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace architecture, while the RTX 3090 is based on the Ampere architecture.
- Memory: The RTX 3090 has a hefty 24 GB of memory, while the RTX 4070 has 12 GB of memory. Both VRAMs are GDDR6X. However, the one on 3090 is 384-bit, whereas the 4070 one is 192-bit.
- TDP: The RTX 4070 comes with a substantially smaller TDP at only 200 watts. Compared to that, the TDP of 3090 is much higher at 350 Watts.
- Ray-Tracing And AI: The GeForce RTX 4070 and the RTX 3090 are optimized for ray-tracing and artificial intelligence-based workloads. They both have dedicated hardware in the form of special RT (Ray Tracing) and Tensor cores for the task.
The RTX 4070 and RTX 3090 are both high-end GPUs of the NVIDIA GeForce Series. If you are looking for a good recommendation for which you should opt, let’s dive deep into the RTX 4070 vs 3090 comparisons and analyze their gaming benchmarks in popular video games.
RTX 4070 Vs RTX 3090: Benchmarks At 1440p
Analysis of the gaming performance of any GPU is the best way to judge the overall performance and cost-to-performance ratio. I will analyze the RTX 4070 and the RTX 3090 in different video games at 1440p resolution. Let’s discuss the outcomes.
Testing Rig
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
- GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 3090
- MOBO: GIGABYTE Z690 AERO G
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR-5 32GB RAM 5600Mhz (2X 16GB)–CL36
- CPU Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360mm
- PSU: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
- Storage: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus G 2TB
- Resolution: 1080p
The Last Of Us Part 1
- On average, our testing evaluates that the RTX 4070 delivered 92 FPS, while the RTX 3090 delivered 104 FPS in The Last Of Us Part I benchmarks.
- Furthermore, from what we saw, the 1% low FPS of the RTX 4070 was 63 FPS, whereas the RTX 3090 was higher than its rival, i.e. 66 FPS.
Uncharted LOTC
- Regarding the Uncharted LOTC benchmark, our observation indicates that the RTX 4070 delivered an average framerate of 114 FPS, while the RTX 3090 delivered an aggregate of 121 FPS.
- Moreover, the %1 low was dominated by the RTX 3090 as the RTX 4070 has a 1% low FPS of 101 FPS, while the RTX 3090 was 107 FPS.
Cyberpunk 2077
- Next, we moved on to the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmarks, where we witnessed the average FPS that was 78 FPS on the RTX 4070 and 93 FPS on the RTX 3090.
- The RTX 4070 had a 1% low FPS of 52 FPS, while the RTX 3090 cruised forward with a dominant with a 1% low FPS of 67 FPS.
Spider-Man Miles Morales
- In Spiderman Miles Morales, we observed the RTX 3090 averaged 118 FPS, but the RTX 4070 only managed 107 FPS. This was traditional as it had been the case for most of the previous games.
- Conversely, we also saw that the RTX 4070 had a 1% low FPS of 84 FPS, whereas the RTX 3090 hit 95 FPS to lead the test.
A Plague Tale Requiem
- At 1440p resolution, A Plague Tale returned promising results as the RTX 4070 delivered an average FPS of 77 FPS, whereas the RTX 3090 delivered an average FPS of 91 FPS.
- Furthermore, the 1% low FPS of the RTX 4070 was recorded as 64 FPS, while the RTX 3090 led the test with 67 FPS.
Hogwarts Legacy
- As per our testing in the Hogwarts Legacy, the RTX 3090 averaged 82 FPS, but the RTX 4070 only managed 69 FPS, thus lagging behind its rival.
- Meanwhile, on the %1 low turf, the RTX 3090 had a 1% low FPS 43, while the RTX 4090 mustered a far greater reading of 52 FPS.
COD Warzone 2.0
- The average FPS, from what we saw, in COD Warzone 2.0 at 1440p, was 127 FPS on the RTX 3090 and 119 FPS on the RTX 4070.
- Regarding the %1 low performance in our benchmarks, the RTX 3090 and the RTX 4070 have a 1% low FPS of 71 FPS and 76 FPS, respectively.
Hitman 3
- In Hitman 3, we witnessed that the RTX 3090 averaged 158 FPS, but the RTX 4070 only managed to score 143 FPS, thus getting behind in line with its competitor.
- Moreover, about the %1 low, the results were distinct as the 4070 had a 1% low FPS of 120 FPS, while that of the RTX 3090 was far better i.e. 133 FPS.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- During our Assassin’s Creed Valhalla benchmark at 1440p, the RTX 4070 averaged 102 FPS, while the RTX 3090 averaged 107 FPS, taking over the 4070 easily.
- As for the 1% low FPS, the RTX 4070 was able to get a resultant framerate of 68 FPS, while for the RTX 3090, it was 69 FPS.
God Of War
- In our last game, God Of War, the RTX 4070, as per our observation, gave an average FPS of 89 FPS, while the RTX 3090 gave an average FPS of 107 FPS.
- Finally, the 1% low FPS of the RTX 4070 was recorded at 76 FPS, while that of the RTX 3090 was a staggering 86 FPS.
Overall Gaming Performance
| Graphics Card | Average FPS | 1% Lows |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 4070 | 📈 110.7 | 📉 80.4 |
| RTX 3090 | 📈 99 | 📉 75.6 |
| Winner: RTX 4070 | ||
When considering the average FPS and 1% low FPS across all games, the RTX 3090 shows an approximate improvement of around 11.1% in average FPS and 6.1% in 1% low FPS over the RTX 4070. Focusing on gaming performance, the RTX 3090 is the more powerful GPU, leading on average and 1% lows in every game tested.
Power Consumption
| Games | RTX 4070 (W) | RTX 3090 (W) |
|---|---|---|
| Average Power Consumption | 180.1⚡️ | 344.2⚡️ |
| Winner: RTX 4070 | ||
Regarding power efficiency, the RTX 4070 is the GPU that delivers good performance while using less power, showcasing an average consumption of around 62.5% less power than compared to the RTX 3090.
Thermal Efficiency
| Games | RTX 4070 (°C) | RTX 3090 (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Average Thermal Capacity | 57.1🌡️ | 62.5🌡️ |
| Winner: RTX 4070 | ||
While the RTX 3090 offers superior gaming performance, it does that so at the cost of higher temperatures. Hence, the RTX 4070 runs about 8.7% cooler on average compared to the RTX 3090.
Price And Availability
| Graphics Card | MSRP | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 4070 | 💲529 | 💲574 |
| RTX 3090 | 💲1499 | 💲1599 |
| Price Difference | 95.6% | 94.3% |
The RTX 4070’s price has been increased by 6.4% on average. As for the RTX 3090, its price has been increased by 2.2% for its higher-end variants while the base models are still being sold for the MSRP. Overall, the RTX 4070 is 94.3% cheaper than the RTX 3090.
Final Remarks – Which One We Recommend?
RTX 3090: Considering all factors, the RTX 3090 leads in raw performance, with a higher average and 1% low FPS across the tested games. We recommend you get it if you want extremely high performance and if you’re not restrained by any budget.
RTX 4070: The RTX 4070 proved to be only 11.1% behind the RTX 3080 as far as the average FPS is concerned, which isn’t a drastic difference. Additionally, it is more power and thermal-efficient, consuming 47.4% less power and generating 8.7% less heat than the RTX 3090.
Due to all these factors, our recommendation is in favour of the RTX 4070. Sure, its performance lags behind the 3090, but raw performance is not everything. In every other aspect, the 4070 is ahead. Not to mention, the lower performance can easily be compensated with better upscaling, which the RTX 4070 offers.
FAQs
The RTX 3090 may produce more noise to manage heat due to increased fan activity, especially under high loads.
Yes, both GPUs support multi-monitor configurations due to their numerous output ports.
The RTX 3090, with its higher memory capacity, is better suited for 8K gaming than the RTX 4070.
Assuming your motherboard and power supply can support it, you should be able to use two GPUs in your system, but the support for multi-GPU setups depends on the specific game.
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[Comparisons Specialist]
I’m a passionate computer hardware expert specializing in CPUs and GPUs. With a lifelong curiosity for hardware and extensive hands-on experience, I provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth analysis on these components. Engaging with the hardware community, I exchange knowledge and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.
Get In Touch: uzair@tech4gamers.com
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