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. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.
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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 4090 currently lists from $170 USD, $1,980 USD less than the GeForce RTX 4070 at $2,150 USD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 4090 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 2355%. The GeForce RTX 4090 is trading below its $1,599 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 4070 still sits about $1,550 USD above its $600 USD 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?
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 4070 if you find it at a steep discount.
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 4070 worth the extra $1,980 USD over the GeForce RTX 4090?
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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