GeForce RTX 4070 vs Iris Xe MAX Graphics

CPU

GPU

GeForce RTX 4070

2023Core: 1920 MHzBoost: 2475 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Iris Xe MAX Graphics

2020Core: 300 MHzBoost: 1650 MHz

Popular choices:

••••••RTX 4070•••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce RTX 4070

12 GB 200

26,919

+1265.1%

RTX 2000 Ada Generation Embedded GPU

GeForce GTX 1070 SLI

GeForce RTX 5060

RTX 5000 Ada Generation Mobile

GeForce RTX 5070

GeForce RTX 4090 D

GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER

Iris Xe MAX Graphics

Shared System RAM 25

1,972

0.0%

Arc A530M

Arc A770M

Arc B580

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 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅+1265.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 25.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 35.9 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $55 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs Unknown).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌700% higher power demand at 200W vs 25W.

Iris Xe MAX Graphics

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $544 less on MSRP ($55 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 200W, a 175W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (1,972 vs 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2020-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 35.9 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($55 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Iris Xe MAX Graphics

2020

Why buy it

✅+1265.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 25.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 35.9 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $55 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs Unknown).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $544 less on MSRP ($55 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 200W, a 175W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌700% higher power demand at 200W vs 25W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (1,972 vs 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2020-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 35.9 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($55 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4070 better than Iris Xe MAX Graphics?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 26,919 vs 1,972 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4070 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while Iris Xe MAX Graphics is a 2020 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 4070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2020, 1265.1% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of Unknown, and better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) 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 4070 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 4070 is about 989.1% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $55 MSRP, and you are getting 1265.1% higher G3D Mark. Iris Xe MAX Graphics really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Iris Xe MAX Graphics still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Iris Xe MAX Graphics is 2020 hardware with Unknown of VRAM, 1,972 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 4070 Benchmark Check

Iris Xe MAX Graphics Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
1080p
low	183 FPS	44 FPS
medium	167 FPS	31 FPS
high	151 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	11 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	35 FPS
medium	124 FPS	22 FPS
high	110 FPS	12 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	6 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	11 FPS
medium	78 FPS	8 FPS
high	65 FPS	4 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	3 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Iris Xe MAX Graphics

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
1080p
low	544 FPS	77 FPS
medium	454 FPS	50 FPS
high	353 FPS	33 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	24 FPS
1440p
low	351 FPS	52 FPS
medium	288 FPS	29 FPS
high	235 FPS	21 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	16 FPS
4K
low	172 FPS	25 FPS
medium	144 FPS	15 FPS
high	125 FPS	12 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	9 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Iris Xe MAX Graphics

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
1080p
low	884 FPS	89 FPS
medium	713 FPS	71 FPS
high	643 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	569 FPS	44 FPS
1440p
low	684 FPS	67 FPS
medium	549 FPS	53 FPS
high	483 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	33 FPS
4K
low	467 FPS	44 FPS
medium	373 FPS	35 FPS
high	326 FPS	30 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	22 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Iris Xe MAX Graphics

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
1080p
low	751 FPS	89 FPS
medium	612 FPS	71 FPS
high	536 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	497 FPS	44 FPS
1440p
low	615 FPS	67 FPS
medium	500 FPS	53 FPS
high	433 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	395 FPS	33 FPS
4K
low	384 FPS	44 FPS
medium	324 FPS	35 FPS
high	301 FPS	30 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	22 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Iris Xe MAX Graphics

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4070 and Iris Xe MAX Graphics

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.

Iris Xe MAX Graphics

The Iris Xe MAX Graphics is manufactured by Intel. It was released in October 31 2020. It features the Generation 12.1 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1650 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 10 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,972 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4070 scores 26,919 versus the Iris Xe MAX Graphics's 1,972 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 1265.1%. The GeForce RTX 4070 is built on Ada Lovelace while the Iris Xe MAX Graphics uses Generation 12.1, both on 5 nm vs 10 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 768 (Iris Xe MAX Graphics). Raw compute: 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 2.534 TFLOPS (Iris Xe MAX Graphics). Boost clocks: 2475 MHz vs 1650 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
G3D Mark Score	26,919+1265%	1,972
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Generation 12.1
Process Node	5 nm	10 nm
Shading Units	5888+667%	768
Compute (TFLOPS)	29.15 TFLOPS+1050%	2.534 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2475 MHz+50%	1650 MHz
ROPs	64+167%	24
TMUs	184+283%	48
L2 Cache	36 MB+3500%	1 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070 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 Iris Xe MAX Graphics lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Iris Xe MAX Graphics relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4070 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Iris Xe MAX Graphics has 0 MB. The GeForce RTX 4070 offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs System. L2 Cache: 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 1 MB (Iris Xe MAX Graphics) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR6X	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	504 GB/s	System
Bus Width	192-bit	System
L2 Cache	36 MB+3500%	1 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 12.1 (Iris Xe MAX Graphics). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
DirectX	12.2	12.1
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070) vs QuickSync (Iris Xe MAX Graphics). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs QuickSync. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (Iris Xe MAX Graphics).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC (2x)	QuickSync
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	QuickSync
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4070 draws 200W versus the Iris Xe MAX Graphics's 25W — a 155.6% difference. The Iris Xe MAX Graphics is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 1W (Iris Xe MAX Graphics). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Integrated. Card length: 304mm vs 0mm, occupying 3 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Iris Xe MAX Graphics
TDP	200W	25W-88%
Recommended PSU	650W	1W-100%
Power Connector	8-pin	Integrated
Length	304mm	0mm
Height	137mm	0mm
Slots	3	0-100%
Temp (Load)	80°C	80
Perf/Watt	134.6+71%	78.9

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599 MSRP, while the Iris Xe MAX Graphics launched at $55. The Iris Xe MAX Graphics costs 90.8% less ($544 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 35.9 (Iris Xe MAX Graphics) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 25.1% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2020).