GeForce RTX 2070 vs GeForce RTX 3070
The GeForce RTX 3070 is a massive performance leap — leading the GeForce RTX 2070 by roughly 80% 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 3070 vs GeForce RTX 2070: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3070 vs GeForce RTX 2070
The GeForce RTX 3070 is dramatically faster, around 80% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2070. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3070 is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 2070 is better matched to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3070 packs 5,888 CUDA cores versus 2,304 on the GeForce RTX 2070.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $391 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3070 versus $1,030 EUR for the GeForce RTX 2070. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3070 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 374%. The GeForce RTX 3070 is trading below its $499 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 2070 still sits about $531 EUR above its $499 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 2070 pulls less power (175W vs 220W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 3070 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3070 is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce RTX 2070 (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2070 or GeForce RTX 3070?
The GeForce RTX 3070 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 2070 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3070 better than the GeForce RTX 2070?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2070 or the GeForce RTX 3070?
Is the GeForce RTX 2070 worth the extra $639 EUR over the GeForce RTX 3070?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2070 or GeForce RTX 3070?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2070 | GeForce RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,304 | 5,888✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 36 | 46✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 288✓ | 184 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2070 | GeForce RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,410 MHz | 1,500 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,620 MHz | 1,725 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2070 | GeForce RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 14 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 448 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2070 | GeForce RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 175 W✓ | 220 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Released | Oct 2018 | Sep 2020 |