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 590 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 590 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 590

2011

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌2011 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
16.7% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$599 MSRP

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅281.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($599 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 840.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 4.8 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 3 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

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 281.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 705.7% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 3,341), 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 3 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce GTX 590 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 $100 cheaper on MSRP at $599 vs $699, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 840.2% (44.9 vs 4.8), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 590 vs GeForce RTX 4070 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 590

The GeForce GTX 590 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 24 2011. It features the Fermi 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 607 MHz. It has 1024 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 365W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,341 points. Launch price was $699.

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 590 scores 3,341 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 705.7%. The GeForce GTX 590 is built on Fermi 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 40 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce GTX 590) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 1.244 TFLOPS ×2 (GeForce GTX 590) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	3,341	26,919+706%
Architecture	Fermi 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	40 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1024 ×2	5888+475%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.244 TFLOPS ×2	29.15 TFLOPS+2243%
ROPs	48 ×2	64+33%
TMUs	64 ×2	184+188%
L1 Cache	1 MB	5.8 MB+480%
L2 Cache	0.75 MB	36 MB+4700%

✨

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 590 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 590 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	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 590 has 3 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 4070 gives you 300% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce GTX 590 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070. L2 Cache: 0.75 MB (GeForce GTX 590) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	3 GB	12 GB+300%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	504 GB/s
Bus Width	256-bit+33%	192-bit
L2 Cache	0.75 MB	36 MB+4700%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 590) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX	12 (11_0)	12.2+2%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP5) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 590) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	—	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	PureVideo HD (VP5)	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 590 draws 365W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 58.4% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 700W (GeForce GTX 590) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 8-pin. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	365W	200W-45%
Recommended PSU	700W	650W-7%
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	8-pin
Length	—	304mm
Height	—	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	90°C	80°C-11%
Perf/Watt	9.2	134.6+1363%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 590 came in at $699, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 4070 was 14.3% cheaper ($100 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 4.8 (GeForce GTX 590) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 835.4% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2011).

Feature	GeForce GTX 590	GeForce RTX 4070
MSRP	$699	$599-14%
Performance per Dollar	4.8	44.9+835%
Codename	GF110	AD104
Release	March 24 2011	April 12 2023
Ranking	#555	#32

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