GeForce RTX 3090 vs GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER
The GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a real step up in speed — leading the GeForce RTX 3090 by roughly 10% in our performance index. It also comes out ahead on value, making it the straightforward pick if the price fits your budget.
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GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER vs GeForce RTX 3090: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER vs GeForce RTX 3090
The GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is noticeably faster, around 10% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3090. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is comfortable at 4K with upscaling and native 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3090 is better matched to 1440p.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $720 CAD for the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER versus $800 CAD for the GeForce RTX 3090. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER wins on performance-per-dollar by about 23%. The GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER still sits about $121 CAD above its $599 CAD MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3090 is trading below its $1,499 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER draws just 220W versus 350W for the GeForce RTX 3090, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom. Its more modern Ada Lovelace architecture on a TSMC N4 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 24GB against 12GB, the GeForce RTX 3090 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER's 12GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 3090's memory is also faster — 936 GB/s versus 504 GB/s (384-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3090 (Ada Lovelace vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER?
The GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce RTX 3090 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER better than the GeForce RTX 3090?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3090 or the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER?
Is the GeForce RTX 3090 worth the extra $80 CAD over the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER?
Does the GeForce RTX 3090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC N4 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 10,496✓ | 7,168 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 82✓ | 56 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 328✓ | 224 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,395 MHz | 1,980 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,695 MHz | 2,475 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 24 GB✓ | 12 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19.5 Gbps | 21 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 936 GB/s✓ | 504 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 350 W | 220 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Sep 2020 | Jan 2024 |
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