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

✅147.9% more average FPS across 45 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 194.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 15.3 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $549 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 290X / 390X

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Measures 275mm instead of 304mm, a 29mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 45 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌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 15.3 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($549 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Radeon R9 290X / 390X

2015

Why buy it

✅147.9% more average FPS across 45 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 194.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 15.3 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $549 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 $50 less on MSRP ($549 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 average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 45 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌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 15.3 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($549 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Quick Answers

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4070 averages 147.9% more FPS across 45 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 26,919 vs 8,380 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4070 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while Radeon R9 290X / 390X 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, 221.2% 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 9.1% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $549 MSRP, and you are getting 147.9% more estimated average FPS across 45 tracked games in our benchmark data and 221.2% higher G3D Mark. Radeon R9 290X / 390X really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

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

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Radeon R9 290X / 390X is 2015 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM, 8,380 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 290X / 390X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290X / 390X
1080p
low	183 FPS	80 FPS
medium	167 FPS	69 FPS
high	151 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	37 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	70 FPS
medium	124 FPS	61 FPS
high	110 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	28 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	25 FPS
medium	78 FPS	24 FPS
high	65 FPS	16 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	14 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon R9 290X / 390X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290X / 390X
1080p
low	544 FPS	185 FPS
medium	454 FPS	157 FPS
high	353 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	103 FPS
1440p
low	351 FPS	130 FPS
medium	288 FPS	102 FPS
high	235 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	63 FPS
4K
low	172 FPS	59 FPS
medium	144 FPS	48 FPS
high	125 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	35 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon R9 290X / 390X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290X / 390X
1080p
low	884 FPS	377 FPS
medium	713 FPS	302 FPS
high	643 FPS	251 FPS
ultra	569 FPS	189 FPS
1440p
low	684 FPS	283 FPS
medium	549 FPS	226 FPS
high	483 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	141 FPS
4K
low	467 FPS	189 FPS
medium	373 FPS	151 FPS
high	326 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	94 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon R9 290X / 390X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290X / 390X
1080p
low	751 FPS	155 FPS
medium	612 FPS	128 FPS
high	536 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	497 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	615 FPS	110 FPS
medium	500 FPS	91 FPS
high	433 FPS	79 FPS
ultra	395 FPS	65 FPS
4K
low	384 FPS	66 FPS
medium	324 FPS	52 FPS
high	301 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	31 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon R9 290X / 390X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 290X / 390X

The Radeon R9 290X / 390X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 18 2015. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1050 MHz. It has 2816 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 275W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,380 points. Launch price was $429.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4070 scores 26,919 versus the Radeon R9 290X / 390X's 8,380 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 221.2%. The GeForce RTX 4070 is built on Ada Lovelace while the Radeon R9 290X / 390X uses GCN 2.0, both on 5 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 2,816 (Radeon R9 290X / 390X). Raw compute: 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 5.914 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 290X / 390X). Boost clocks: 2475 MHz vs 1050 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290X / 390X
G3D Mark Score	26,919+221%	8,380
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	GCN 2.0
Process Node	5 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	5888+109%	2816
Compute (TFLOPS)	29.15 TFLOPS+393%	5.914 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2475 MHz+136%	1050 MHz
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	184+5%	176
L1 Cache	5.8 MB+741%	0.69 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 290X / 390X 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 290X / 390X relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290X / 390X
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 290X / 390X 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 290X / 390X) — 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 290X / 390X) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290X / 390X
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 290X / 390X). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 6.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290X / 390X
DirectX	12.2+2%	12.0
Vulkan	1.3+18%	1.1
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 290X / 390X). 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 290X / 390X).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon R9 290X / 390X
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 290X / 390X's 275W — a 31.6% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 750W (Radeon R9 290X / 390X). 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 290X / 390X
TDP	200W-27%	275W
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+341%	30.5

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599 MSRP, while the Radeon R9 290X / 390X launched at $549. The Radeon R9 290X / 390X costs 8.3% less ($50 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 15.3 (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 193.5% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2015).