GeForce RTX 2070 vs GeForce RTX 4070
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 4070 comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 147% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2070. That said, the GeForce RTX 2070 is the smarter buy on value — $280 USD less for the performance on offer.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 4070 vs GeForce RTX 2070: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4070 vs GeForce RTX 2070
The GeForce RTX 4070 is dramatically faster, around 147% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2070. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 4070 is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 2070 is better matched to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 4070 packs 5,888 CUDA cores versus 2,304 on the GeForce RTX 2070.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 2070 currently lists from $170 USD, $280 USD less than the GeForce RTX 4070 at $450 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 2070 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~7% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 2070 is trading below its $499 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 4070 is trading below its $600 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
On power, the GeForce RTX 2070 is the gentler choice at 175W versus 200W. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 200W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU. Its more modern Ada Lovelace architecture on a TSMC N4 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 4070 at 12GB versus 8GB on the GeForce RTX 2070 — that extra 4GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce RTX 4070's memory is also faster — 504 GB/s versus 448 GB/s (192-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 4070 is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce RTX 2070 (Ada Lovelace vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2070 or GeForce RTX 4070?
Choose the GeForce RTX 4070 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 2070 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 4070 better than the GeForce RTX 2070?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2070 or the GeForce RTX 4070?
Is the GeForce RTX 4070 worth the extra $280 USD over the GeForce RTX 2070?
Does the GeForce RTX 4070 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2070 or GeForce RTX 4070?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2070 | GeForce RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | TSMC N4 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,304 | 5,888✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 36 | 46✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 288✓ | 184 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2070 | GeForce RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,410 MHz | 1,920 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,620 MHz | 2,475 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2070 | GeForce RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit✓ | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 21 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 504 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2070 | GeForce RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 175 W✓ | 200 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Oct 2018 | Apr 2023 |
