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

✅+230.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 81.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 24.8 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌10.5% longer card at 304mm vs 275mm.

Radeon R9 290 / 390

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Measures 275mm instead of 304mm, a 29mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (8,150 vs 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 24.8 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Radeon R9 290 / 390

2015

Why buy it

✅+230.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 81.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 24.8 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Measures 275mm instead of 304mm, a 29mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌10.5% longer card at 304mm vs 275mm.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (8,150 vs 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 24.8 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4070 better than Radeon R9 290 / 390?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 26,919 vs 8,150 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4070 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while Radeon R9 290 / 390 is a 2015 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. 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 2015, 230.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 4 GB, and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of FSR upscaling. 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 82.1% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 230.3% higher G3D Mark. Radeon R9 290 / 390 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Radeon R9 290 / 390 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Radeon R9 290 / 390 is 2015 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM, 8,150 in G3D Mark, and FSR upscaling. 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

Radeon R9 290 / 390 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
1080p
low	183 FPS	103 FPS
medium	167 FPS	89 FPS
high	151 FPS	72 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	43 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	90 FPS
medium	124 FPS	79 FPS
high	110 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	33 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	28 FPS
medium	78 FPS	27 FPS
high	65 FPS	18 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	15 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon R9 290 / 390

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
1080p
low	544 FPS	196 FPS
medium	454 FPS	165 FPS
high	353 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	351 FPS	138 FPS
medium	288 FPS	107 FPS
high	235 FPS	85 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	65 FPS
4K
low	172 FPS	61 FPS
medium	144 FPS	49 FPS
high	125 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	35 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon R9 290 / 390

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
1080p
low	884 FPS	367 FPS
medium	713 FPS	293 FPS
high	643 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	569 FPS	183 FPS
1440p
low	684 FPS	275 FPS
medium	549 FPS	220 FPS
high	483 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	467 FPS	183 FPS
medium	373 FPS	147 FPS
high	326 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	92 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon R9 290 / 390

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
1080p
low	751 FPS	186 FPS
medium	612 FPS	154 FPS
high	536 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	497 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	615 FPS	129 FPS
medium	500 FPS	108 FPS
high	433 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	395 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	384 FPS	75 FPS
medium	324 FPS	60 FPS
high	301 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	35 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon R9 290 / 390

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4070 and Radeon R9 290 / 390

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.

Radeon R9 290 / 390

The Radeon R9 290 / 390 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 18 2015. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,150 points. Launch price was $329.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4070 scores 26,919 versus the Radeon R9 290 / 390's 8,150 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 230.3%. The GeForce RTX 4070 is built on Ada Lovelace while the Radeon R9 290 / 390 uses GCN 2.0, both on 5 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 2,560 (Radeon R9 290 / 390). Raw compute: 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 5.12 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 290 / 390). Boost clocks: 2475 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
G3D Mark Score	26,919+230%	8,150
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	GCN 2.0
Process Node	5 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	5888+130%	2560
Compute (TFLOPS)	29.15 TFLOPS+469%	5.12 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2475 MHz+148%	1000 MHz
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	184+15%	160
L1 Cache	5.8 MB+821%	0.63 MB
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 Radeon R9 290 / 390 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 Radeon R9 290 / 390 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4070 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 290 / 390 has 4 GB. The GeForce RTX 4070 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 320 GB/s (Radeon R9 290 / 390) — a 57.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Bus width: 192-bit vs 512-bit. L2 Cache: 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 1 MB (Radeon R9 290 / 390) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+200%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	504 GB/s+57%	320 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	512-bit+167%
L2 Cache	36 MB+3500%	1 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 12.0 (Radeon R9 290 / 390). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 6.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
DirectX	12.2+2%	12.0
Vulkan	1.3+8%	1.2
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	6+50%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070) vs VCE 2.0 (Radeon R9 290 / 390). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs UVD 4.2. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 (Radeon R9 290 / 390).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC (2x)	VCE 2.0
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	UVD 4.2
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1	MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4070 draws 200W versus the Radeon R9 290 / 390's 300W — a 40% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 750W (Radeon R9 290 / 390). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 6-pin + 8-pin. Card length: 304mm vs 275mm, occupying 3 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 95°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290 / 390
TDP	200W-33%	300W
Recommended PSU	650W-13%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	6-pin + 8-pin
Length	304mm	275mm
Height	137mm	109mm
Slots	3	2-33%
Temp (Load)	80°C-16%	95°C
Perf/Watt	134.6+395%	27.2

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599 MSRP, while the Radeon R9 290 / 390 launched at $329. The Radeon R9 290 / 390 costs 45.1% less ($270 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 24.8 (Radeon R9 290 / 390) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 81% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2015).