GeForce RTX 3070 vs GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3070

2020Core: 1500 MHzBoost: 1725 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile

2023Core: 1335 MHzBoost: 1695 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 3070

Performance Spectrum - GPU

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

Why buy it

  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
  • 83.3% higher power demand at 220W vs 120W.

GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile

2023

Why buy it

  • 25.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 8 GB).
  • More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
  • Draws 120W instead of 220W, a 100W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 44.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile better than GeForce RTX 3070?
Yes. GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile averages 25.5% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 27,048 vs 22,172 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce RTX 3070 is a 2020 model from an older generation with DLSS Super Resolution. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2020, 22.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 16 GB instead of 8 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of DLSS Super Resolution. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?
GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and you are getting 25.5% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 22.0% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3070 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3070 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.
Is GeForce RTX 3070 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
Yes. GeForce RTX 3070 is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $499 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
1080p
low158 FPS204 FPS
medium140 FPS190 FPS
high123 FPS163 FPS
ultra104 FPS149 FPS
1440p
low134 FPS188 FPS
medium109 FPS159 FPS
high96 FPS128 FPS
ultra86 FPS118 FPS
4K
low80 FPS123 FPS
medium67 FPS102 FPS
high52 FPS76 FPS
ultra45 FPS70 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
1080p
low470 FPS501 FPS
medium405 FPS438 FPS
high327 FPS353 FPS
ultra277 FPS296 FPS
1440p
low294 FPS383 FPS
medium246 FPS332 FPS
high213 FPS268 FPS
ultra179 FPS220 FPS
4K
low141 FPS214 FPS
medium120 FPS187 FPS
high105 FPS159 FPS
ultra83 FPS131 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
1080p
low885 FPS884 FPS
medium712 FPS735 FPS
high619 FPS661 FPS
ultra499 FPS570 FPS
1440p
low692 FPS697 FPS
medium557 FPS577 FPS
high473 FPS508 FPS
ultra374 FPS433 FPS
4K
low479 FPS474 FPS
medium388 FPS396 FPS
high330 FPS347 FPS
ultra249 FPS282 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
1080p
low600 FPS723 FPS
medium527 FPS655 FPS
high433 FPS573 FPS
ultra385 FPS528 FPS
1440p
low489 FPS581 FPS
medium433 FPS520 FPS
high339 FPS456 FPS
ultra297 FPS408 FPS
4K
low292 FPS400 FPS
medium270 FPS364 FPS
high238 FPS334 FPS
ultra200 FPS296 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3070 and GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3070

The GeForce RTX 3070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1725 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,172 points. Launch price was $499.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile

The GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 3 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1335 MHz to 1695 MHz. It has 9728 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 76 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 27,048 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3070 scores 22,172 versus the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile's 27,048 — the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile leads by 22%. The GeForce RTX 3070 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 9,728 (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Raw compute: 20.31 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 32.98 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Boost clocks: 1725 MHz vs 1695 MHz. Ray tracing: 46 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 76 (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile) with 184 Tensor cores vs 304.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
G3D Mark Score
22,172
27,048+22%
Architecture
Ampere
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
8 nm
4 nm
Shading Units
5888
9728+65%
Compute (TFLOPS)
20.31 TFLOPS
32.98 TFLOPS+62%
Boost Clock
1725 MHz+2%
1695 MHz
ROPs
96
112+17%
TMUs
184
304+65%
L1 Cache
5.8 MB
9.5 MB+64%
L2 Cache
4 MB
64 MB+1500%
Ray Tracing Cores
46
76+65%
Tensor Cores
184
304+65%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce RTX 3070 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3070 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
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 RTX 3070 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile has 16 GB. The GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 576 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile) — a 28.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile. Bus width: 256-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 64 MB (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile) — the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
VRAM Capacity
8 GB
16 GB+100%
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
448 GB/s
576 GB/s+29%
Bus Width
256-bit
256-bit
L2 Cache
4 MB
64 MB+1500%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 1.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12.2+2%
Vulkan
1.4+8%
1.3
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4+300%
1
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
Encoder
NVENC 7th gen
8th Gen NVENC
Decoder
NVDEC 5th gen
5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3070 draws 220W versus the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile's 120W — a 58.8% difference. The GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Card length: 242mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
TDP
220W
120W-45%
Recommended PSU
650W
650W
Power Connector
8-pin
Mobile
Length
242mm
0mm
Height
112mm
0mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
75°C-6%
80°C
Perf/Watt
100.8
225.4+124%
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2020).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
MSRP
$499
Codename
GA104
AD103
Release
September 1 2020
January 3 2023
Ranking
#63
#30