GeForce RTX 5070 vs GeForce RTX 4090
The GeForce RTX 4090 is a massive performance leap — leading the GeForce RTX 5070 by roughly 57% in our performance index. The GeForce RTX 5070, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $1,974 EUR cheaper.
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GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 5070: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 5070
The GeForce RTX 4090 is dramatically faster, around 57% ahead of the GeForce RTX 5070. 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 5070 is better matched to 4K with upscaling and native 1440p. The GeForce RTX 4090 packs 16,384 CUDA cores versus 6,144 on the GeForce RTX 5070.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $626 EUR for the GeForce RTX 5070 versus $2,600 EUR for the GeForce RTX 4090. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 5070 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~165% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 5070 still sits about $77 EUR above its $549 EUR MSRP. The GeForce RTX 4090 still sits about $1,001 EUR above its $1,599 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 5070 draws just 250W versus 450W for the GeForce RTX 4090, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 24GB against 12GB, the GeForce RTX 4090 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 5070's 12GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 4090's memory is also faster — 1,008 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 3 years newer than the GeForce RTX 4090 (Blackwell vs Ada Lovelace), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 5070 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 5070 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 4090 better than the GeForce RTX 5070?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 5070 or the GeForce RTX 4090?
Is the GeForce RTX 4090 worth the extra $1,974 EUR over the GeForce RTX 5070?
Does the GeForce RTX 4090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 5070 or GeForce RTX 4090?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 5070 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Blackwell | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | TSMC 4N | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 6,144 | 16,384✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 48 | 128✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 192 | 512✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 5070 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 2,160 MHz | 2,235 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 2,512 MHz | 2,520 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 5070 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB | 24 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR7 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 28 Gbps✓ | 21 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 672 GB/s | 1,008 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 5070 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 250 W✓ | 450 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 16-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Mar 2025 | Sep 2022 |
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