GeForce RTX 3090 vs GeForce RTX 5070
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 5070 comes out ahead: meaningfully ahead, about 18% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3090. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.
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GeForce RTX 5070 vs GeForce RTX 3090: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 5070 vs GeForce RTX 3090
The GeForce RTX 5070 is noticeably faster, around 18% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3090. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 5070 is comfortable at 4K with upscaling and native 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3090 is better matched to 1440p.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 5070 currently lists from $684 EUR, $1,306 EUR less than the GeForce RTX 3090 at $1,990 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 5070 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 243%. The GeForce RTX 5070 still sits about $135 EUR above its $549 EUR MSRP. The GeForce RTX 3090 still sits about $491 EUR above its $1,499 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 250W against 350W, the GeForce RTX 5070 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 3090 at 24GB versus 12GB on the GeForce RTX 5070 — that extra 12GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce RTX 3090's memory is also faster — 936 GB/s versus 672 GB/s (384-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 5070 is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3090 (Blackwell 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 5070?
The GeForce RTX 5070 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 5070 better than the GeForce RTX 3090?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3090 or the GeForce RTX 5070?
Is the GeForce RTX 3090 worth the extra $1,306 EUR over the GeForce RTX 5070?
Does the GeForce RTX 3090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 5070?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 10,496✓ | 6,144 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 82✓ | 48 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 328✓ | 192 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,395 MHz | 2,160 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,695 MHz | 2,512 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 24 GB✓ | 12 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 19.5 Gbps | 28 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 936 GB/s✓ | 672 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3090 | GeForce RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| TDP | 350 W | 250 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 12-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Sep 2020 | Mar 2025 |
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