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 GTX 280 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 GTX 280 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 GTX 280

2008

Why buy it

✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm 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 1 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌2008 hardware with 1 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
8.3% HIGHER MSRP
$649 MSRPvs$599 MSRP

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅894.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($599 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 2169.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 2.0 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅1100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 1 GB).

Trade-offs

❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

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 894.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 1994.9% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 1,285), 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 1 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce GTX 280 is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 65nm, 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 $50 cheaper on MSRP at $599 vs $649, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 2169.7% (44.9 vs 2.0), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 280 vs GeForce RTX 4070 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 280

The GeForce GTX 280 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 16 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 602 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 236W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,285 points. Launch price was $649.

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 GTX 280 scores 1,285 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 1994.9%. The GeForce GTX 280 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 65 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 240 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 0.6221 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 280) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	1,285	26,919+1995%
Architecture	Tesla 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	65 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	240	5888+2353%
Compute (TFLOPS)	0.6221 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+4586%
ROPs	32	64+100%
TMUs	80	184+130%
L2 Cache	0.25 MB	36 MB+14300%

✨

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 GTX 280 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 GTX 280 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	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 GTX 280 has 1 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 4070 gives you 1100% 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 GTX 280 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070. L2 Cache: 0.25 MB (GeForce GTX 280) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	1 GB	12 GB+1100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	504 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	0.25 MB	36 MB+14300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce GTX 280) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: N/A vs 1.3. OpenGL: 3.3 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX	11.1 (10_0)	12.2+10%
Vulkan	N/A	1.3
OpenGL	3.3	4.6+39%
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: None (GeForce GTX 280) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP2) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 280) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	None	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	PureVideo HD (VP2)	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 280 draws 236W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 16.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 280) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 85 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	236W	200W-15%
Recommended PSU	550W-15%	650W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	85	80°C-6%
Perf/Watt	5.4	134.6+2393%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 280 came in at $649, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 4070 was 7.7% cheaper ($50 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 2.0 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 2145% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2008).

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	GeForce RTX 4070
MSRP	$649	$599-8%
Performance per Dollar	2.0	44.9+2145%
Codename	GT200	AD104
Release	June 16 2008	April 12 2023
Ranking	#802	#32

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