The Nvidia RTX 5070 and RTX 4070 are both formidable contenders in the mid-premium graphics card market, expertly crafted to tackle the latest video games at QHD resolutions. Thanks to technologies such as DLSS and frame generation, both cards offer solid performance and playability, even pushing frames at 4K resolution. Because of their attractive balance of performance and pricing, the RTX 70-class GPUs have earned a strong following among gamers and tech enthusiasts.
Yet, the question remains: which GPU should you invest in, the Blackwell architecture of the RTX 5070 or the Ada Lovelace design of the RTX 4070? This article aims to explore the features, specifications, and performance of each graphics card, ultimately helping you make an informed decision.
Comparative Overview: RTX 5070 and RTX 4070 for 1440p Gaming
Priced at $549, both the RTX 5070 and RTX 4070 are aimed at the budget-conscious segment that desires high performance without breaking the bank. These GPUs are designed with essential features, such as streamlined memory configurations and efficient power consumption, yet they also pack a significant punch in terms of performance. Let’s delve into their specifications to understand their individual capabilities.
Specifications Breakdown
While both GPUs belong to the 70-class, they exhibit notable disparities. The architectural differences between the Ada Lovelace and Blackwell designs mean that direct performance comparisons may not be straightforward. Each rendering unit in the RTX 5070 is engineered to deliver enhanced performance due to its advanced generation packaging and improvements.
However, the RTX 4070 maintains competitive specifications, with only about 5% fewer CUDA, Tensor, and RT cores than its counterpart. Consequently, the RTX 5070 is projected to achieve approximately 20-25% higher performance in raw rasterization tasks. With the added advantage of DLSS 4’s multi-frame generation, this percentage could exceed a staggering 100% in some scenarios.
Notably, both cards feature a 12GB video memory buffer, but the RTX 5070 benefits from faster GDDR7 VRAM, offering a bandwidth of 672GB/s via a 192-bit bus. In comparison, the RTX 4070 employs a GDDR6X configuration with a bandwidth of 504.2GB/s. Below is a detailed specifications comparison:
| Feature | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 12GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Blackwell |
| GPU | AD104-250-A1 | GB205-300-A1 |
| CUDA Cores | 5,888 | 6,144 |
| Tensor Cores | 184 (4th Gen) | 192 (5th Gen) |
| RT Cores | 46 (3rd Gen) | 48 (4th Gen) |
| Base Clock | 1,920 MHz | 2,325 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2,475 MHz | 2,512 MHz |
| Memory | 12GB GDDR6X | 12GB GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 504.2GB/s | 672.0GB/s |
| L2 Cache | 36MB | 48MB |
| TDP (Total Power) | 200 W | 250 W |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| Display Outputs | 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x HDMI 2.1b, 3x DisplayPort 2.1b |
| DLSS Support | DLSS 3 | DLSS 4 |
| Ray Tracing | Yes | Yes |
| MSRP (USD) | $549 | $549 |
| Release Date | April 12, 2023 | March 4, 2025 |
Both GPUs carry the same MSRP of $549, but actual prices may vary, sometimes reaching around $700 in retail stores like Amazon and Best Buy.
Performance Evaluation
When it comes to gaming, the RTX 5070 12 GB clinches the lead. That said, the performance metrics reveal various percentage advantages. Primarily, the RTX 5070 utilizes DLSS 4 to optimize its performance gains, while the advanced hardware configuration allows it to expand on its native performance capabilities significantly.
The following table outlines the framerates recorded for both GPUs while playing some of the most popular games, sourced from the YouTube channel Testing Games:
| Nvidia RTX 4070 12GB | Nvidia RTX 5070 12GB | |
| The Last of Us Part II | 71 FPS | 85 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 115 FPS | 140 FPS |
| Ghost of Tsushima | 64 FPS | 72 FPS |
| Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 | 56 FPS | 73 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 60 FPS | 74 FPS |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 94 FPS | 114 FPS |
| Black Myth: Wukong | 37 FPS | 46 FPS |
| Horizon Forbidden West | 80 FPS | 97 FPS |
| God of War: Ragnarok | 107 FPS | 129 FPS |
| Silent Hill 2 | 79 FPS | 95 FPS |
From this comparison, the RTX 5070 12 GB emerges as approximately 30% faster than its predecessor, which is a notable improvement in native 1440p gaming experiences. While the RTX 4070 remains a strong performer, the RTX 5070 consistently demonstrates superior capabilities, often nearing the performance levels of the more expensive RTX 4070 Ti Super.
Given that both the RTX 4070 and RTX 5070 are priced similarly, opting for the older generation card may not be the most logical choice in 2025. Nevertheless, the RTX 4070 still possesses enough power to run the latest titles effectively. If you come across a fantastic deal on the 4070, it may still present a better value compared to the RTX 5060 Ti and RX 7700 XT, both of which lag behind the performance offered by the 70-class GPUs.