RX 9070 XT vs RTX 4080 Super spec and performance comparison – which one comes out on top?
Table of Contents
The next generation of AMD GPUs is here, and the heavy hitter of the Radeon 9000 lineup seriously impressed us when we put it through its paces for our RX 9070 XT review. The community took very well to the performance and the pricing of this GPU to the point that despite having plenty of stock at launch, it seems to be out of stock across all major retailers.
AMD seems to be on top of it, and they plan on stabilizing the stock, which should also counter the price hike, which many are experiencing due to scalpers. That being said, one variant of the RX 9070 XT uses the same power connector, which has caused some of the high-end RTX 50-series GPU connectors to melt. On the other hand, the other models use an 8-pin connector, so the connectors melting shouldn’t be an issue, but what we're more interested in is whether the architectural changes will be enough to enable the RX 9070 XT to compete with Nvidia’s high-end GPUs like the RTX 4080 Super.
The RTX 4080 Super is an excellent 4K card that increases upon the RTX 4080's capabilities, and we've tested and reviewed both of the contenders, meaning we have all the details regarding their gaming and synthetic performance. Here is how they stack against each other.
Today's best deals
- Intel Core Ultra 245K - 15% OFF NOW!
- ASUS ROG Swift PG32UQXR - $200 OFF NOW!
- Yeyian Yumi RTX 4060 Gaming PC - $500 OFF NOW!
- SAMSUNG 990 PRO 4TB SSD - 35% OFF NOW!
- Sony X77L 4K Smart TV - 16% OFF NOW!
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ - 29% OFF NOW!
- WD_BLACK 8TB SN850X SSD - 32% OFF NOW!
*Stock availability and pricing subject to change depending on retailer or outlet.
RX 9070 XT vs. RTX 4080 Super specs comparison
Here’s a quick look at how these two cards stack up side-by-side.
| Specifications | RX 9070 XT | RTX 4080 Super |
| Compute units/CUDA cores | 64 | 10240 |
| RT Accelerators | 64 | 80 |
| AI Accelerators | 128 | 320 |
| Peak AI TOPS | 1557 | 836 |
| Boost clock speed | 2.97 GHz | 2.55 GHZ |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6X |
| TDP | 304W | 320W |
| Connectivity | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| Display | DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b | DisplayPort 1.4a, HDMI 2.1 |
Performance comparison
Even at first look, we can see that the RX 9070 XT is outclassed in terms of hardware but does have certain advantages like a new architecture, better connectivity options, and most of all, despite having fewer AI cores, it has better AI TOPS performance, which should make this comparison interesting.
RX 9070 XT vs. RTX 4080 Super 4K performance
To gauge the performance of these graphics cards, we’ll take the output they showcased in Cyberpunk 2077, Doom Eternal, CS2, and Assassin’s Creed: Mirage. We chose these titles because they are a good mix of graphically demanding, well-optimized, and low graphical fidelity.
We’ll start off with Cyberpunk 2077; the RX 9070 XT managed to run this game at 4K with 61 FPS, while the RTX 4080 Super delivered 10 fewer frames and maxed out at 51 FPS. This means that the former had 17% better performance, which is incredible as the 4080 Super is the second most powerful GPU in the RTX 40-series lineup.
ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC Cyberpunk 2077, Image by PC Guide
RTX 4080 Super Cyberpunk 2077 4K performance
ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC Doom Eternal, Image by PC Guide
RTX 4080 Super Doom Eternal 4K performance
ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC CS2, Image by PC Guide
RTX 4080 Super CS2 4K performance
ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC AC Mirage, Image by PC Guide
RTX 4080 Super AC Mirage 4K performance
In Doom Eternal, we got 228 and 230 FPS with the 9070 XT and 4080 Super, respectively, which isn’t a huge difference, and 2 frames per second doesn’t matter a lot. However, the performance difference between these cards comes to around 0.8%, which is negligible. On the other hand, in CS2, the RX 9070 XT churned out 110 FPS while the 4080 Super blazed past that with 171 FPS (43% performance difference), but we suspect a driver or compatibility issue could be holding the 9070 XT back from performing better.
Lastly, in Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, we got 98 FPS with the RX 9070 XT and 95 FPS with the 4080 Super. This is also a close call between these cards and puts them only 3% apart, which can be easily bridged with DLSS or FSR. Overall, the RX 9070 XT showcased better 4K gaming performance, which is a huge blow to Nvidia as it means a graphics card that costs significantly less can outperform one of their heavy hitters with ease.
RX 9070 XT vs. RTX 4080 Super 1440p performance
While the RTX 4080 Super is a high-end graphics card, the RX 9070 XT is a mid-range GPU, which means that 1440p is more suited for it, but seeing how they performed at 4K, handling 1440p gaming shouldn’t be an issue for either. In Cyberpunk 2077, the RX 9070 XT churned out 129 FPS while the RTX 4080 Super delivered 125 FPS, which is only a difference of 3% and much closer than the 17% we saw at 4K.
In Doom Eternal, we got 387 and 370 FPS with these graphics cards, respectively, and while it might not feel like a huge difference, the 9070 XT performed 4.4% better than the 4080 Super, showcasing its 1440p performance. In CS2, we see the RX 9070 XT closing the performance gap to 27% with 231 FPS, but the 4080 Super still had much better output with 305 FPS.
In Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, the performance gap between these GPUs came around 5% as the 9070 XT managed 146 FPS while the 4080 Super topped out at 139 FPS. So, even at 1440p, the 9070 XT managed to stay ahead of the RTX 4080 Super.
RX 9070 XT vs. RTX 4080 Super synthetic performance
Nvidia GPUs have always been better than AMD GPUs when it comes to synthetic performance; however, seeing how the RX 9070 XT managed to outperform the 4080 Super in gaming, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the same happen in this final showdown. We’ll take the output of Fire Strike Ultra, Time Spy Extreme, and Port Royal as these tests gauge the 4K rendering performance with DX11, DX12, and real-time ray tracing, respectively.
ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC 3DMark, Image by PC Guide
RTX 4080 Super 3DMark performance benchmark
In Fire Strike Ultra, the RTX 4080 Super managed 17,005 points, but the RX 9070 XT blew past that with 17,604 points, which means the latter is 3.4% better at rendering 4K frames with DirectX11. On the other hand, in Time Spy Extreme, which is more taxing on the GPU, we got 14,275 and 13,622 points with the 9070 XT and 4080 Super, respectively. This is a performance difference of 4.6%, which means that, once again, the RX 9070 XT takes the lead.
In Port Royal, we got 18,086 points with the RX 9070 XT and 17,594 points with the RTX 4080 Super. This is the most interesting comparison because this means the former is 2.7% better at Ray Tracing, something Nvidia graphics cards always had the upper hand with. While 2.7% realistically shouldn’t make a huge difference, it is what it indicates that is exciting, as AMD is on the right path to bridging the gap between their respective RT technologies, which means more competition for Team Green.
Design differences
Memory and PCIe slot
The RX 9070 XT and the RTX 4080 Super share the same memory capacity of 16GB, but their memory type is different. Surprisingly, AMD decided to stick with GDDR6, while the second-best GPU from the RTX 40-series features GDDR6X.
GDDR6 has a maximum per-pin speed of 16GB/s, while GDDR6X maxes out at 21GB/s. This means the latter can process data faster because both of these GPUs have a 256-bit memory interface width. In addition, the RX 9070 XT has a 640 GB/s bandwidth, while the 4080 Super has 736.3 GB/s.
While the memory bandwidth dictates that the RTX 4080 Super should have a better output, the RDNA 4 architecture also promises significant improvement in performance. So, we might see the 9070 XT compete directly with the RTX 4080 Super, just like how the RTX 5070 Ti did.
Cores and
The RTX 4080 Super has 10240 CUDA cores, while the RX 9070 XT has 64 Compute Units. Each CU has a cluster of Stream Processors inside, and the 9070 XT has 4,096.
However, the sheer numbers advantage doesn’t necessarily guarantee better output as it has 836 AI TOPS, while the RX 9070 XT boasts 1,557 AI TOPS despite having much fewer AI accelerators. So, when it comes to productivity, specifically AI workloads, the RX 9070 XT should be the better option between the two.
Pricing
AMD aggressively priced the RX 9070 XT at $599, while the 4080 Super launched with a $999 price tag. However, AIB variants always cost more, but we spotted this ASUS TUF RTX 4080 Super OC on Amazon for $1,899.99, which is almost double its MSRP, and you could get a high-end gaming PC or an RTX 5090 in this price bracket.
On the other hand, even if the third-party RX 9070 XT costs $799, it would be a much better option as you’re getting better performance and more value for money. However, for the maximum value, we recommend trying to get one at MSRP as soon as the stock is replenished.
Verdict
Despite all odds, the RX 9070 XT managed to outperform the RTX 4080 Super in all the tests and delivered excellent synthetic and gaming output. On top of that, it costs significantly less than the 4080 Super, giving it exceptional value for money. So, the RX 9070 XT is the obvious choice if you’re building a new gaming PC or looking to upgrade your graphics cards.
About the Author