FireStream 9170 vs GeForce RTX 4070

FireStream 9170

2010Core: 825 MHz
Similar parts
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VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4070

2023Core: 1920 MHzBoost: 2475 MHz
RTX family
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FireStream 9170 vs GeForce RTX 4070 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

FireStream 9170 vs GeForce RTX 4070: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

FireStream 9170

2010

Why buy it

  • Measures 241mm instead of 304mm, a 63mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (647 vs 26,919).
  • Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • 2010 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 233.7% HIGHER MSRP
    $1,999 MSRPvs$599 MSRP

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

  • +4060.6% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Costs $1,400 less on MSRP ($599 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
  • Delivers 13784.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 0.3 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • 2300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 512 MB).

Trade-offs

  • 26.1% longer card at 304mm vs 241mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 4070 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 4060.6% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 647), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 512 MB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while FireStream 9170 is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 40nm, and 46 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce RTX 4070 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $1,400 cheaper on MSRP at $599 vs $1,999, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 13784.8% (44.9 vs 0.3), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

FireStream 9170 vs GeForce RTX 4070 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

FireStream 9170

The FireStream 9170 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 23 2010. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 825 MHz. It has 1600 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 647 points.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the FireStream 9170 scores 647 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 4060.6%. The FireStream 9170 is built on TeraScale 2 while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 40 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,600 (FireStream 9170) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 2.64 TFLOPS (FireStream 9170) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070).

FeatureFireStream 9170GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score
647
26,919+4061%
Architecture
TeraScale 2
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
40 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
1600
5888+268%
Compute (TFLOPS)
2.64 TFLOPS
29.15 TFLOPS+1004%
ROPs
32
64+100%
TMUs
80
184+130%
L1 Cache
0.16 MB
5.8 MB+3525%
L2 Cache
0.5 MB
36 MB+7100%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4070 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The FireStream 9170 does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The FireStream 9170 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureFireStream 9170GeForce RTX 4070
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation
Not Supported
DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction
No
Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency
Standard
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The FireStream 9170 has 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 4070 gives you 2300% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the FireStream 9170 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (FireStream 9170) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureFireStream 9170GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity
0.5 GB
12 GB+2300%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR6X
Bus Width
64-bit
192-bit+200%
L2 Cache
0.5 MB
36 MB+7100%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 10.1 (FireStream 9170) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

FeatureFireStream 9170GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX
10.1
12.2+21%
OpenGL
3.3
4.6+39%
Max Displays
2
4+100%
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: None (FireStream 9170) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: UVD+ vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (FireStream 9170) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

FeatureFireStream 9170GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder
None
8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder
UVD+
5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs
H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The FireStream 9170 draws 225W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 11.8% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FireStream 9170) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 8-pin. Card length: 241mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 80°C.

FeatureFireStream 9170GeForce RTX 4070
TDP
225W
200W-11%
Recommended PSU
350W-46%
650W
Power Connector
PCIe-powered
8-pin
Length
241mm
304mm
Height
111mm
137mm
Slots
2-33%
3
Temp (Load)
85°C
80°C-6%
Perf/Watt
2.9
134.6+4541%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the FireStream 9170 came in at $1999, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 4070 was 70% cheaper ($1400 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.3 (FireStream 9170) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 14866.7% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2010).

FeatureFireStream 9170GeForce RTX 4070
MSRP
$1999
$599-70%
Performance per Dollar
0.3
44.9+14867%
Codename
Cypress
AD104
Release
June 23 2010
April 12 2023
Ranking
#631
#32

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