RTX 3090 vs RTX 4070
Full specification comparison between the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (2020) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (2023).
RTX 3090
NVIDIA High-end
- ✓ More VRAM (24 GB vs 12 GB)
- ✓ Wider memory bus (384-bit vs 192-bit)
RTX 4070
NVIDIA High-end
- ✓ Lower power draw (200 W vs 350 W)
- ✓ Cheaper at launch ($599 vs $1499)
- ✓ Newer (2023 vs 2020)
- ✓ Better performance per dollar
Verdict: The RTX 3090 and RTX 4070 deliver essentially the same level of performance — the difference is within a few percent and won't be noticeable in real use. The decision comes down to price, power draw and features.
The RTX 3090 also carries more video memory (24 GB vs 12 GB), which matters for high-resolution textures, modern AAA titles and future-proofing.
At launch pricing, the RTX 4070 offers more performance per dollar, and the RTX 4070 is the more power-efficient chip.
Estimated performance
Estimated average 1440p raster gaming performance compiled from publicly available benchmark data. Individual games vary.
Specs side by side
| Specification | RTX 3090 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Release year | 2020 | 2023 |
| Est. performance | ||
| Shading units | ||
| Boost clock | ||
| FP32 compute | ||
| VRAM | ||
| Memory type | GDDR6X | GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | ||
| Board power | ||
| Launch MSRP |
Green bars mark the better value in each row (for power and price, lower wins).
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 3090 better than the RTX 4070?
They perform almost identically (within ~2%). Choose based on price, power consumption and platform rather than raw speed.
How much faster is the RTX 3090 than the RTX 4070?
Roughly 2% on average in raster gaming workloads. The gap varies by title, resolution and settings.
Which graphics card is better value?
Comparing launch prices, the RTX 4070 delivers more performance per dollar. Check current street prices, as market pricing often shifts the value equation.