GeForce RTX 3070 vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book

CPU

GPU

GeForce RTX 3070

2020Core: 1500 MHzBoost: 1725 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Maxwell GPU Surface Book

2015Core: 954 MHzBoost: 993 MHz

Popular choices:

•••RTX 3070••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce RTX 3070

8 GB 220

22,172

+569.6%

GeForce RTX 2070 (Mobile)

GeForce GTX 1070 Ti

RTX 2000 Ada Generation

GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU

GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

Maxwell GPU Surface Book

2 GB 30

3,311

0.0%

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

✅+569.6% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 101.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 22.1 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌633.3% higher power demand at 220W vs 30W.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $349 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 220W, a 190W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,311 vs 22,172).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.1 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

Maxwell GPU Surface Book

2015

Why buy it

✅+569.6% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 101.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 22.1 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $349 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 220W, a 190W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌633.3% higher power demand at 220W vs 30W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,311 vs 22,172).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.1 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3070 better than Maxwell GPU Surface Book?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 22,172 vs 3,311 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3070 is a 2020 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Maxwell GPU Surface Book is a 2015 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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 3070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 generation instead of 2015, 569.6% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 2 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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 3070 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3070 is about 232.7% more expensive on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and you are getting 569.6% higher G3D Mark. Maxwell GPU Surface Book really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Maxwell GPU Surface Book still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Maxwell GPU Surface Book is 2015 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM, 3,311 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

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.

GeForce RTX 3070 Benchmark Check

Maxwell GPU Surface Book Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
1080p
low	158 FPS	77 FPS
medium	140 FPS	65 FPS
high	123 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	28 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	61 FPS
medium	109 FPS	51 FPS
high	96 FPS	31 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	19 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	22 FPS
medium	67 FPS	21 FPS
high	52 FPS	13 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	11 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
1080p
low	470 FPS	97 FPS
medium	405 FPS	68 FPS
high	327 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	31 FPS
1440p
low	294 FPS	53 FPS
medium	246 FPS	31 FPS
high	213 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	15 FPS
4K
low	141 FPS	18 FPS
medium	120 FPS	11 FPS
high	105 FPS	9 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	7 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
1080p
low	885 FPS	149 FPS
medium	712 FPS	119 FPS
high	619 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	499 FPS	74 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	112 FPS
medium	557 FPS	89 FPS
high	473 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	374 FPS	56 FPS
4K
low	479 FPS	74 FPS
medium	388 FPS	60 FPS
high	330 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	249 FPS	37 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
1080p
low	600 FPS	149 FPS
medium	527 FPS	119 FPS
high	433 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	385 FPS	74 FPS
1440p
low	489 FPS	110 FPS
medium	433 FPS	88 FPS
high	339 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	297 FPS	56 FPS
4K
low	292 FPS	64 FPS
medium	270 FPS	50 FPS
high	238 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	200 FPS	30 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3070 and Maxwell GPU Surface Book

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.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book

The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is manufactured by an unknown manufacturer. It was released in October 1 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 954 MHz to 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3070 scores 22,172 versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book's 3,311 — the GeForce RTX 3070 leads by 569.6%. The GeForce RTX 3070 is built on Ampere while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book uses Maxwell, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 384 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). Boost clocks: 1725 MHz vs 993 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
G3D Mark Score	22,172+570%	3,311
Architecture	Ampere	Maxwell
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	5888+1433%	384
Boost Clock	1725 MHz+74%	993 MHz

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3070 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3070 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 3070 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 256-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
VRAM Capacity	8 GB+300%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	448 GB/s	Unknown
Bus Width	256-bit+100%	128-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 12 (11_0) (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 3.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 (11_0)
Vulkan	1.4+27%	1.1
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4+33%	3

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3070) vs None (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs PureVideo VP6. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	None
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	PureVideo VP6
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3070 draws 220W versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book's 30W — a 152% difference. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 350W (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 242mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
TDP	220W	30W-86%
Recommended PSU	650W	350W-46%
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	242mm	0mm
Height	112mm	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75°C-12%	85
Perf/Watt	100.8	110.4+10%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3070 launched at $499 MSRP, while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book launched at $150. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book costs 69.9% less ($349 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.4 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 22.1 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book) — the GeForce RTX 3070 offers 100.9% better value. The GeForce RTX 3070 is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2015).