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.

GeForce FX 5500 vs GeForce RTX 4070 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce FX 5500 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.

GeForce FX 5500

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $562 less on MSRP ($37 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 200W, a 175W reduction.
✅Measures 171mm instead of 304mm, a 133mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 256 MB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Older hardware, 256 MB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.2 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($37 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅19124.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 20684.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 0.2 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $37 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅4700% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 256 MB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌700% higher power demand at 200W vs 25W.
❌77.8% longer card at 304mm vs 171mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 19124.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 336387.5% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 8), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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 256 MB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce FX 5500 is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 12nm, 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 $562 more expensive on MSRP at $599 vs $37, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 20684.7% (44.9 vs 0.2), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce FX 5500 vs GeForce RTX 4070 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce FX 5500

The GeForce FX 5500 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 17 2021. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock ranges from 1065 MHz to 1320 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8 points.

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 GeForce FX 5500 scores 8 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 336387.5%. The GeForce FX 5500 is built on Rankine while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 12 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce FX 5500) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 2.703 TFLOPS (GeForce FX 5500) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1320 MHz vs 2475 MHz.

Feature	GeForce FX 5500	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	8	26,919+336388%
Architecture	Rankine	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	12 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1024	5888+475%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.703 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+978%
Boost Clock	1320 MHz	2475 MHz+88%
ROPs	16	64+300%
TMUs	32	184+475%
L1 Cache	2 MB	5.8 MB+190%
L2 Cache	2 MB	36 MB+1700%

✨

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 GeForce FX 5500 does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce FX 5500 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce FX 5500	GeForce 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	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce FX 5500 has 256 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 4070 gives you 4700% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce FX 5500 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce FX 5500) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce FX 5500	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	0.25 GB	12 GB+4700%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	504 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	2 MB	36 MB+1700%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 9.0a (GeForce FX 5500) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: None vs 1.3. OpenGL: 1.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce FX 5500	GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX	9.0a	12.2+36%
Vulkan	None	1.3
OpenGL	1.5	4.6+207%
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: No (GeForce FX 5500) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: No vs 5th Gen NVDEC.

Feature	GeForce FX 5500	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	No	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	No	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs		MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5500 draws 25W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 155.6% difference. The GeForce FX 5500 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5500) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: Legacy vs 8-pin. Card length: 171mm vs 304mm, occupying 1 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 70°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce FX 5500	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	25W-88%	200W
Recommended PSU	350W-46%	650W
Power Connector	Legacy	8-pin
Length	171mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	1-67%	3
Temp (Load)	70°C-13%	80°C
Perf/Watt	0.3	134.6+44767%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5500 came in at $37, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. On MSRP, GeForce FX 5500 was 93.8% cheaper ($562 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.2 (GeForce FX 5500) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 22350% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2021).

Feature	GeForce FX 5500	GeForce RTX 4070
MSRP	$37-94%	$599
Performance per Dollar	0.2	44.9+22350%
Codename	TU117S	AD104
Release	December 17 2021	April 12 2023
Ranking	#468	#32

Search GeForce FX 5500 on Amazon

Search GeForce RTX 4070 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.