GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is dramatically faster than the GeForce RTX 3090, leading by roughly 85% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
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GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 3090: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 3090
The GeForce RTX 4090 is dramatically faster, around 85% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3090. 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 3090 is better matched to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 4090 packs 16,384 CUDA cores versus 10,496 on the GeForce RTX 3090.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 3090 starts at $1,790 EUR against $3,190 EUR for the GeForce RTX 4090. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 4090 wins on performance-per-dollar. The GeForce RTX 3090 still sits about $291 EUR above its $1,499 EUR MSRP. The GeForce RTX 4090 still sits about $1,591 EUR above its $1,599 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 3090 pulls less power (350W vs 450W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 4090 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it. Its more modern Ada Lovelace architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 4090 is roughly 2 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 4090?
The GeForce RTX 4090 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.