Nvidia RTX 4090 vs Nvidia RTX 4070 SuperWhich Should You Buy in 2026?
The Nvidia RTX 4090 and Nvidia RTX 4070 Super are both Nvidia Ada Lovelace graphics cards competing at different price points within the same generation. The Nvidia RTX 4090 targets 4K ultra gaming with 24 GB GDDR6X and 16,384 CUDA cores. The Nvidia RTX 4070 Super is designed for 1440p with 12 GB GDDR6X. Both cards run DLSS 3, so upscaling quality is equal between them — the gap comes from raw compute and bandwidth. The 12 GB VRAM gap is significant — higher VRAM is increasingly important as games scale up texture budgets at 1440p and 4K. This 2026 guide gives you a clear answer on which is worth the money for your resolution and workload.
Option A
Nvidia RTX 4090
Ada Lovelace · 24GB GDDR6X
4K gaming at maximum settings — the fastest consumer GPU available
Option B
Nvidia RTX 4070 Super
Ada Lovelace · 12GB GDDR6X
High-performance 1440p gaming — strong value in the 40-series lineup
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace |
| Compute Units | 16,384 CUDA cores | 7,168 CUDA cores |
| VRAM | 24GB GDDR6X | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Memory Bandwidth | 1008 GB/s | 504 GB/s |
| TDP | 450 W | 220 W |
| DLSS | ✓ DLSS 3 | ✓ DLSS 3 |
| FSR | ✓ FSR FSR 3 | ✓ FSR FSR 3 |
| Ray Tracing | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Target Res. | 4K ultra | 1440p |
| Recommended PSU | 1000W | 750W |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2024 |
What actually makes them different
Nvidia RTX 4090 has 12GB more VRAM (24GB vs 12GB). This matters at higher resolutions and with modern AAA titles that use large texture packs — VRAM saturation causes stuttering and frame time spikes that raw performance numbers don't show.
Nvidia RTX 4090 has 504GB/s more memory bandwidth (1008GB/s vs 504GB/s), which benefits high-resolution rendering where large textures need to be fetched rapidly.
Nvidia RTX 4070 Super draws 230W less power (220W vs 450W), making it more practical for smaller cases, quieter cooling solutions, and builds with a lower-wattage PSU.
Want to see which GPU bottlenecks with your CPU? Read our GPU bottleneck guide or use the FPS Calculator on TechBenchPro to estimate frame rates for your full build.
Which one should you buy?
The straightforward answer — no specs required.
Buy RTX 4090 if…
- You game at 1440p or 4K with high texture settings — 24GB VRAM prevents stuttering
- You're targeting 4K or want 3+ years of headroom at max settings
Buy RTX 4070 Super if…
- You game primarily at 1080p where 12GB VRAM is sufficient today
- You have a smaller case, lower-wattage PSU, or want a quieter cooling setup
- You game at 1080p or 1440p and don't need flagship-level headroom
Best for your resolution
🖥️ 1080p High-Refresh Gaming
Nvidia RTX 4070 Super (more power efficient)
At 1080p, both cards have sufficient raw power for 144+ fps in most titles. The lower-tier card is usually the smarter purchase here — you're not using the extra performance headroom, but you are saving money and running cooler.
🎯 1440p Competitive Gaming
Nvidia RTX 4090
1440p is where upscaling tech and VRAM start to matter. Nvidia RTX 4090's DLSS 3 Frame Generation delivers a real FPS advantage in supported titles, making it the stronger 1440p choice.
🔮 4K & Future-Proofing
Nvidia RTX 4090
Nvidia RTX 4090's 24GB VRAM is the right buffer for 4K ultra texture packs — VRAM saturation at 4K causes stuttering that raw GPU power alone can't fix. This is the clear 4K pick between these two.
Building a budget gaming rig? Read our best budget GPU guide to see where each card fits in the broader market.
Bottom line
Gaming Performance
Nvidia RTX 4090's DLSS DLSS 3 support (including Frame Generation) gives it a practical FPS advantage in the growing library of DLSS 3-supported titles. In non-DLSS games, rasterization performance is more closely matched.
Resolution & VRAM
At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K), Nvidia RTX 4090's 24GB VRAM provides more headroom for texture-heavy games. At 1440p and 4K ultra textures, 16GB+ VRAM prevents the stuttering that smaller buffers cause.
Real-World Data
For the actual benchmark comparison and FPS estimates at your target resolution, use TechBenchPro's GPU comparator. It provides side-by-side performance data for both cards across popular games — more reliable than the spec-based analysis here.
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See FPS numbers side-by-side
This page covers spec-based analysis. For real FPS estimates across popular games at your resolution, use TechBenchPro's GPU Comparator — free, no signup.
Open GPU Comparator on TechBenchProFrequently asked questions
Which is better for gaming — Nvidia RTX 4090 or Nvidia RTX 4070 Super?
Nvidia RTX 4090 has a practical advantage in DLSS 3-supported games — Frame Generation can add significant frame rates with minimal quality loss. In non-DLSS titles, rasterization performance is closer, but Nvidia RTX 4090's 1008GB/s memory bandwidth gives it an edge at higher resolutions. For your specific game and resolution, use TechBenchPro's GPU comparator for real data.
Is 24GB VRAM actually worth it over 12GB?
At 1080p, 12GB is sufficient for most current games. At 1440p, you start to see VRAM pressure in texture-heavy titles at ultra settings. At 4K ultra, 24GB provides real headroom. If you plan to keep the card for 3+ years, more VRAM is meaningful future insurance.
Is Nvidia RTX 4070 Super worth buying over Nvidia RTX 4090?
Nvidia RTX 4070 Super is built on Ada Lovelace (2024) versus Nvidia RTX 4090's Ada Lovelace (2022). Newer architecture typically delivers better power efficiency and improved ray tracing performance per watt. At similar price points, the newer architecture is generally the better long-term buy.
Is DLSS on Nvidia RTX 4090 better than FSR on Nvidia RTX 4070 Super?
DLSS 3 uses Nvidia's Tensor cores for AI-based upscaling and adds Frame Generation for extra FPS in supported titles — the quality at equivalent presets is generally sharper than FSR. FSR FSR 3 is open-source, works on all GPUs, and has broad game support, but is typically less sharp at the same base resolution. The practical gap depends on your game library — DLSS has stronger quality in supported titles; FSR wins on compatibility.
What PSU wattage do I need for Nvidia RTX 4090 or Nvidia RTX 4070 Super?
For a full gaming system with Nvidia RTX 4090 (450W GPU TDP), a 1000W PSU is recommended. For Nvidia RTX 4070 Super (220W TDP), plan for 750W. These figures account for CPU, RAM, storage, and load headroom. Always choose a reputable PSU brand (Seasonic, Corsair, be quiet!) — a cheap PSU that can't sustain its rated wattage under gaming load is a common source of system instability.
Choosing a GPU for a new build? Read our full PC building guide — it walks through every component decision including GPU selection.