It's always an interesting moment when a new graphics card hits the market, especially when it carries the 'SUPER' moniker. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, which landed in early 2024, promised a bit more oomph for gamers and creators without necessarily breaking the bank. But how does it actually stack up?
When you dive into the benchmarks, the 4070 SUPER consistently shows its strengths. Based on thousands of PerformanceTest benchmark results, it lands with an overall rank of 21. That's a solid position, placing it firmly in the upper echelons of desktop GPUs. Its average G3D Mark score hovers around 29,970, which is a pretty substantial number, indicating its capability for handling demanding graphical tasks.
One of the key metrics many people look at is value for money, and the 4070 SUPER offers a G3DMark per dollar of about 33.30. This suggests it's trying to strike a good balance between raw performance and affordability, a sweet spot that many consumers are looking for.
Digging a bit deeper into its technical specifications, we see a PCIe 4.0 x16 bus interface, 12288 MB of memory, and a core clock speed starting at 1980 MHz. It supports DirectX 12_2 and OpenGL 4.6, which are standard for modern gaming and creative applications. The Max TDP is listed at 220 W, which is relatively efficient for its performance class, meaning it shouldn't demand an excessive amount of power or generate an unmanageable amount of heat.
Comparing it within the broader RTX 4000 series, the 4070 SUPER, with its 7168 cores, sits comfortably between the standard RTX 4070 (5888 cores) and the more powerful RTX 4070 Ti (7680 cores). This positioning is reflected in its performance, often slotting in just above the original 4070 and below the 4070 Ti, and even the newer 4070 Ti SUPER. For instance, in 3DMark benchmarks, it generally scores a bit lower than the 4070 Ti SUPER, which boasts more cores and a wider memory bus.
It's worth noting that the 4070 Ti SUPER, based on the AD103 chip, uses 8448 cores and 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, with a higher TGP of 285 watts. This extra horsepower allows it to push 4K gaming with ultra settings more comfortably, though even it might require DLSS or some settings adjustments for consistent 60 fps in the most demanding titles. The 4070 SUPER, with its 192-bit memory bus, is more geared towards high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, though it can certainly dabble in 4K with the right settings.
Ultimately, the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER presents itself as a compelling option for those seeking a significant performance uplift over previous generations or entry-level RTX cards. It offers a strong blend of gaming prowess and creative capability, all while maintaining a relatively sensible power draw and a competitive price point. It's a card that feels like a natural evolution, offering a tangible step up without venturing into the ultra-high-end territory.
