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RTX 4070 Super vs RTX 4070 – Superior name, superior performance?

With the RTX 4070 Super hot off its unveiling at CES 2024, how does it compare to its predecessor?
Last Updated on April 4, 2024
The RTX 4070 Super
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One of the major comparisons that it has faced the RTX 4070 Super is that of its non-Super counterpart the RTX 4070. How do these two models compare in performance, specs, benchmarks, and price you may ask? Well, we have hands-on experience with both cards and are ready to divulge all the details. Let’s get stuck into the RTX 4070 Super vs RTX 4070.

✓ TOM SAYS

Two products, same price

It is not everyday that two products, especially one which is advertised as an upgrade, launch at the same price. The RTX 4070 Super has come in at the same MSRP of its predecessor, the original RTX 4070. The RTX 4070 Super has improved specs, a fresh new design, and performance increase for seemingly no extra cost. Therefore, Nvidia have made the decision quite simple for users – count us in.

RTX 4070 Super vs RTX 4070 – Price comparison

Both the RTX 4070 Super and RTX 4070 were both initially made available for the same launch price – $599. This is crucial as it immediately takes away the element of cost being a defining factor in this particular comparison. Since the release of the Super, prices naturally fluctuate so let’s take a look at where we stand now.

According to BestValueGPU, the RTX 4070 can currently be found for around $530 on Amazon, while the newer RTX 4070 Super is still roughly the same at $590. With this in mind, the 11% price gap between the RTX 4070 Super and RTX 4070 can be used as a point of comparison when looking at our benchmark results. Is that price percentage difference reflective of a performance difference? In short, it’s not. The RTX 4070 Super exceeds the RTX 4070 in most departments, especially in games like Cyberpunk 2077. Before we go headfirst into our findings, let’s take a look at the specs of these GPUs to spot where the performance differences originate.

RTX 4070 Super vs RTX 4070 – Specs comparison

Let’s break down the specs tables for these GPUs and figure out what they mean about gaming performance. The new Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super features a 192-bit memory bus, which enhances its memory bandwidth and overall graphical performance. This makes the Super variant a more powerful option than the RTX 4070. It makes a significant increase from the 5888 cores in the RTX 4070, with a staggering 7168 CUDA cores. This increase of approximately 21.7% in CUDA should translate to an increase in gameplay smoothness and other graphics-intensive tasks.

SpecsNvidia RTX 4070 SuperNvidia RTX 4070
GPUAD104AD104
Bus Width192 bit192 bit
CUDA Cores71685888
RT Cores5646
Tensor Cores224184
VRAM / Memory12 GB G6X12 GB G6X
L1 Cache128 KB (per SM)128 KB (per SM)
L2 Cache48 MB36 MB
Base Clock Speed1980 MHz1920 MHz
Boost Clock Speed2475 MHz2475 MHz
TDP220 W200 W
MSRP / Price$599$599
Specs comparison table between the RTX 4070 Super and the RTX 4070

The RTX 4070 does match the 4070 Super in terms of memory, both with 12GB G6X. However, this should not be a reason to choose the RTX 4070 over the Super. Most graphics cards, especially from major manufacturers, only need VRAM above 8GB to perform well in most modern games. The fact that both cards are equal in this capacity should not sway you in the favour of either card. Additionally, the RTX 4070 Super reigns supreme in the base clock, L2 cache, and cores – all of which translate to a more immersive and enjoyable gameplay feel. All of these improvements for the same price just further justify the RTX 4070 Super as a superior GPU choice.

The RTX 4070 was originally advertised by Nvidia as a “perfect entry point GPU for creators, video editors, and STEM students”. This is in relation to the ray tracing performance of the Ada architecture, AI usage, DLSS 3, Reflex, and a ton of other cutting-edge technology that comes along with the product. This is certainly true, as nearly all these features are crucial to your gaming performance and keep Team Green ahead of the pack when it comes to GPU manufacturing. Now, all new Nvidia GPUs come with heightened versions of these features, the RTX 4070 Super being one of them (as seen by the specs table). It would simply not make sense, in this case, to purchase the RTX 4070 over the 4070 Super in a straight product vs product battle – especially when they cost the same amount.

RTX 4070 Super components
A closer look at the components of the ASUS TUF RTX 4070 Super, as seen in our RTX 4070 Super review – Image © BGFG

Performance comparison

The latest Super upgrade of the RTX 4070, provides a solid mid-range build that lets you play your games in serene conditions with enhanced graphic details. There is no denying that the RTX 4070 Super is a particularly swift graphics card. It provides a great option for gamers looking to add the extra edge to their gameplay with additional details and increases FPS, especially in comparison to the RTX 4070. The specs truly tell a captivating picture of what the performance of the Super may bring, with many of these physical improvements correlating to a performance jump. As part of our hands-on experience with these products, we conducted both a review for the RTX 4070 and RTX 4070 Super. In these reviews, we have undergone testing and calculated benchmark scores for various games and titles. Below you will find the table of comparison between each GPU and how they scored:

Game(s)Nvidia RTX 4070 Super
1080p / 1440p
Nvidia RTX 4070
1080p / 1440p
CS2N/A313 FPS / 214 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077N/A108 FPS / 74 FPS
Assassin’s Creed Mirage150 FPS / 119 FPSN/A
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora117 FPS / 80 FPSN/A
Benchmark test results for the RTX 4070 Super and RTX 4070 – were conducted by BGFG.

In terms of breaking down these results, an immediate outlier here is the CS2 result for the RTX 4070. While it is much higher than the other games, this is simply because CS2 is a less visually demanding game. The RTX 4070 Super would still be expected to outperform the RTX 4070 on CS2. Further evidence of this is that when the RTX 4070 comes up against a game that is more modern and demanding, like Cyberpunk 2077, it drops quite significantly. In similar games, like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, the RTX 4070 Super is more robust. With the RTX 4070 launching close to a year ago now, it’s not a surprise that the newer RTX 4070 Super is unmatched when it comes to a direct performance comparison. If anything, it should be expected.

Is the RTX 4070 Super worth it?

It can all seem well for the RTX 4070 Super when it’s compared to its predecessors, but this does not always translate into the wider marketplace. Fortunately for fans of this new model, the RTX 4070 Super is very much worth it. The price is universally competitive and truly terrific value for money. The improvements in manufacturing, performance, and specs offer fans the increased capabilities expected from new releases at a price that feels worthy of the changes.

What is the difference between 4070 and 4070 Super?

The new RTX 4070 Super brings significant improvements over the RTX 4070. It packs 20% more CUDA cores, going from 5888 to a whopping 7168. While the base clock speed increase is modest, from 1.92GHz to 1.98GHz, the additional cores could translate to a noticeable performance boost in games and applications. Furthermore, all these improvements come at the same retail price, meaning you pay the same for the RTX 4070 Super upgrades as you would for the RTX 4070,

Final thoughts

The RTX 4070 Super marks a significant improvement in terms of specs and performance, as well as boasting a moderate and manageable price in comparison to its predecessor. The price match between the two items only further solidifies that the 4070 Super is the recommended purchase between the two. It is better value for money and improves gameplay significantly.