The RTX 3090 is far faster, roughly 30-35% at 1440p and 40-50% at 4K, with 24 GB of VRAM against 8 GB, so it is the right pick for 4K gaming, heavy ray tracing and any AI or rendering work; the RTX 3070 is the right pick for 1080p and budget 1440p gaming, where it delivers most of what players need at a fraction of the price, power and size. These two Ampere cards are three tiers apart, and the choice between them is mostly about resolution and memory.
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Where Each Card Sits
NVIDIA launched both cards in September 2020. The RTX 3070 at $499 was the mainstream high-end option, pitched as matching the previous RTX 2080 Ti. The RTX 3090 at $1,499 was the halo product, effectively a Titan-class card with a huge 24 GB frame buffer. They share an architecture and feature set, so every difference comes from GPU size, memory and power.
Spec Breakdown
| Spec | RTX 3070 | RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ampere |
| Release date | 1 September 2020 | 1 September 2020 |
| Launch MSRP | $499 | $1,499 |
| CUDA cores | 5,888 | 10,496 |
| Boost clock | 1,725 MHz | 1,695 MHz |
| Process | 8 nm | 8 nm |
| Board power | 220 W | 350 W |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 | 24 GB GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 256-bit | 384-bit |
| Bandwidth | 448.0 GB/s | 936.2 GB/s |
| L2 cache | 4 MB | 6 MB |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| Power connector (Founders Edition) | 1x 12-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Length / width (reference) | 242 mm, 2-slot | 336 mm, 3-slot |
| Outputs | 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort | 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort |
The RTX 3090 has about 78% more CUDA cores, more than double the memory bandwidth and three times the VRAM. In games, the gain is smaller than those figures suggest, because performance does not scale linearly with core count and lower resolutions put more load on the CPU.
Gaming Results by Resolution
The RTX 3070 performed in line with the RTX 2080 Ti in launch reviews, and TechSpot’s RTX 3090 review (Hardware Unboxed data) found the 3090 about 32% faster than the 2080 Ti at 1440p. Tom’s Hardware’s review data showed the 3090’s lead over the RTX 3080 growing at 4K, and the 3080 itself sat around 25-30% above the 3070 at 4K. Aggregated comparisons since then mostly put the 3090 about 40-50% ahead of the 3070 at 4K.
| Resolution | RTX 3090 lead | Example (varies with settings, CPU and patch) |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | About 20-30% | Often CPU-limited; both exceed 100 fps in most games |
| 1440p | About 30-35% | A game near 90 fps on the 3070 tends to run around 120 fps on the 3090 |
| 4K | About 40-50%, more when 8 GB overflows | A game near 45 fps on the 3070 often reaches 65 fps on the 3090 |
In recent VRAM-heavy releases at 1440p ultra or 4K, the gap can widen far beyond 50% because the 3070’s 8 GB forces texture swapping that shows up as stutter and poor 1% lows.
Ray tracing and upscaling
Both cards use the same second-generation RT cores, so the 3090’s ray tracing lead tracks its raster lead, and grows further when ray tracing pushes the 3070 past 8 GB. For upscaling, both support the DLSS 4 transformer model, and both can run the newer DLSS 4.5 model at a larger fps cost than RTX 40/50 cards, because Ampere lacks FP8 support. Neither supports DLSS Frame Generation (RTX 40 and RTX 50 only), and both can use FSR 3 frame generation in supported games. Both remain on NVIDIA’s current Game Ready driver branch.
VRAM: The Real Dividing Line
Memory is the clearest split between these cards in 2026:
- 1080p: about 8 GB is enough for high settings, so the 3070 is comfortable.
- 1440p: 10-12 GB is the comfortable range for new games. The 3070 needs texture reductions in many recent titles; the 3090 has no limits.
- 4K: 12-16 GB is advisable. The 3070 is regularly memory-bound; the 3090 has more than enough.
- AI and creative work: 24 GB allows larger local AI models, bigger 3D scenes and high-resolution video timelines that will not fit in 8 GB at all.
Power Supply Sizing
With GPU power plus CPU power plus about 150 W of headroom:
- RTX 3070: 220 W + 125 W + 150 W = about 495 W, so a quality 550-650 W unit.
- RTX 3090: 350 W + 125 W + 150 W = about 625 W, so a quality 750-850 W unit. Ampere’s high-end cards produce short power spikes, and NVIDIA recommended 750 W for the 3090.
The facts list a single 12-pin for both, which refers to the Founders Edition cards with their adapters. Most partner RTX 3070 cards use an 8-pin plus 6-pin or two 8-pins, while partner RTX 3090 cards typically use two or three 8-pin connectors. Use separate PSU cables for each plug.
Size and Heat
The reference RTX 3090 is listed at 336 mm long and three slots thick, compared with 242 mm and two slots for the 3070. That difference rules the 3090 out of many compact and small-form-factor cases, and a three-slot card can block a second expansion slot. The 3090 also dumps much more heat into the case, and its GDDR6X memory runs hot, so good airflow matters. Partner models of both cards vary in length; measure before buying.
Value Comparison
At launch, indexing the 3070 at 100 and the 3090 at about 145 at 4K:
- RTX 3070: $499 / 100 = about $5.00 per point
- RTX 3090: $1,499 / 145 = about $10.30 per point
The used market narrows the gap but does not close it. In late 2026, a used RTX 3070 usually sells for around $200-$260, while a used RTX 3090 tends to sit around $600-$800 because of demand for its 24 GB in AI workloads. At the midpoints that is about $2.30 per point for the 3070 versus about $4.80 for the 3090. Gamers pay heavily for the 3090’s memory; creators and AI users get something they cannot find elsewhere at that price.
Pick the RTX 3070 If / Pick the RTX 3090 If
| Pick the RTX 3070 if… | Pick the RTX 3090 if… |
|---|---|
| You play at 1080p, or 1440p with medium-high settings | You play at 4K or 1440p ultra in new AAA games |
| Your budget is around $250 used | Your budget is $600 or more |
| Your PSU is 550-650 W | Your PSU is 750 W or higher |
| You have a compact case | Your case fits a 3-slot, 330 mm+ card |
| You only game | You also run local AI, rendering or video editing |
For pure gaming on a mid-range budget, newer options deserve a look too. An RTX 5070 or RX 9070 lands much closer to the 3090 than the 3070 in many games while drawing far less power, though with 12 GB and 16 GB of VRAM respectively.
Used Buying Notes
- Many RTX 3090 cards ran compute or mining workloads for long periods. Ask about usage and check memory junction temperatures, since the 3090’s back-side memory chips run hot and worn thermal pads are common.
- RTX 3070 listings often include the RTX 3070 Ti; confirm the exact model, since the Ti draws noticeably more power with the same 8 GB.
- Test any used card under a sustained gaming load for artifacts, crashes or loud fan bearings before paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much faster is the RTX 3090 than the RTX 3070?
About 30-35% at 1440p and 40-50% at 4K based on review data and later comparisons. At 1080p the gap is smaller because the CPU often limits both cards. In games that exceed 8 GB of VRAM, the 3090’s lead can be much larger.
Is the RTX 3090 overkill for 1440p gaming?
For most players, yes. The RTX 3080 or a current card like the RTX 5070 delivers similar 1440p frame rates for far less money. The 3090 makes more sense when its 24 GB of VRAM is needed for creative or AI work.
Can the RTX 3070 handle 4K?
Only in older or lighter games, or with DLSS and reduced textures. Its 8 GB of VRAM is a major limit at 4K in recent titles. For regular 4K play, a card with 12-16 GB or more is better suited.
What PSU is needed to switch from an RTX 3070 to an RTX 3090?
A quality 750-850 W unit with enough separate PCIe cables is advisable. The 3090 is rated at 350 W, 130 W more than the 3070, and can spike higher. Many 650 W supplies used with a 3070 are too small.
Why do used RTX 3090 cards still cost so much?
Its 24 GB of VRAM makes it popular for running AI models and GPU rendering at home. That demand keeps prices high relative to its gaming performance. Gamers who do not need the memory usually get better value elsewhere.
