GeForce RTX 4070 vs GeForce RTX 4090
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 4090 comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 95% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4070. That said, the GeForce RTX 4070 is the smarter buy on value — $587,743 JPY less for the performance on offer.
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GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 4070: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 4070
The GeForce RTX 4090 is dramatically faster, around 95% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4070. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 4090 is comfortable at 4K and high-refresh 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 4070 is better matched to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 4090 packs 16,384 CUDA cores versus 5,888 on the GeForce RTX 4070. The GeForce RTX 4090 also has more RT cores (128 vs 46) and more AI cores (512 vs 184), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 4070 currently lists from $175,766 JPY, $587,743 JPY less than the GeForce RTX 4090 at $763,509 JPY. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 4070 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~123% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 4070 still sits about $175,166 JPY above its $600 JPY MSRP. The GeForce RTX 4090 still sits about $761,910 JPY above its $1,599 JPY MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 200W against 450W, the GeForce RTX 4070 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 4090 at 24GB versus 12GB on the GeForce RTX 4070 — that extra 12GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce RTX 4090's memory is also faster — 1,008 GB/s versus 504 GB/s (384-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 4070 or GeForce RTX 4090?
Choose the GeForce RTX 4090 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 4070 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 4090 better than the GeForce RTX 4070?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 4070 or the GeForce RTX 4090?
Is the GeForce RTX 4090 worth the extra $587,743 JPY over the GeForce RTX 4070?
Does the GeForce RTX 4090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which is better for ray tracing, the GeForce RTX 4090 or the GeForce RTX 4070?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 4070 or GeForce RTX 4090?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4070 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | TSMC N4 | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 5,888 | 16,384✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 46 | 128✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 184 | 512✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4070 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,920 MHz | 2,235 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 2,475 MHz | 2,520 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4070 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB | 24 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 21 Gbps | 21 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 504 GB/s | 1,008 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4070 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 200 W✓ | 450 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 16-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Apr 2023 | Sep 2022 |
Related Reading
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