G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 970

2014

Why buy it

✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 150W instead of 200W, a 50W reduction.
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 29.3 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅221.5% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 53.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 29.3 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌33.3% higher power demand at 200W vs 150W.
❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

GeForce GTX 970

2014

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $270 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 150W instead of 200W, a 50W reduction.
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅221.5% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 53.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 29.3 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 29.3 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌33.3% higher power demand at 200W vs 150W.
❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4070 better than GeForce GTX 970?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4070 averages 221.5% more FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 26,919 vs 9,640 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4070 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 970 is a 2014 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2014, 179.2% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 4 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 4070 is about 82.1% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and you are getting 221.5% more estimated average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data and 179.2% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 970 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is GeForce GTX 970 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 970 is 2014 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM, 9,640 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 970 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4070 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	81 FPS	183 FPS
medium	69 FPS	167 FPS
high	58 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	70 FPS	150 FPS
medium	62 FPS	124 FPS
high	46 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	29 FPS	101 FPS
4K
low	26 FPS	92 FPS
medium	24 FPS	78 FPS
high	17 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	58 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	185 FPS	544 FPS
medium	152 FPS	454 FPS
high	122 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	299 FPS
1440p
low	132 FPS	351 FPS
medium	102 FPS	288 FPS
high	81 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	63 FPS	172 FPS
medium	50 FPS	144 FPS
high	46 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	101 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	405 FPS	884 FPS
medium	347 FPS	713 FPS
high	289 FPS	643 FPS
ultra	217 FPS	569 FPS
1440p
low	325 FPS	684 FPS
medium	260 FPS	549 FPS
high	217 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	163 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	210 FPS	467 FPS
medium	174 FPS	373 FPS
high	129 FPS	326 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	277 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970 Open GeForce RTX 4070

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	179 FPS	751 FPS
medium	138 FPS	612 FPS
high	120 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	497 FPS
1440p
low	138 FPS	615 FPS
medium	107 FPS	500 FPS
high	94 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	395 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	384 FPS
medium	59 FPS	324 FPS
high	46 FPS	301 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	272 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 970 and GeForce RTX 4070

GeForce GTX 970

The GeForce GTX 970 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 19 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1050 MHz to 1178 MHz. It has 1664 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,640 points. Launch price was $329.

GeForce RTX 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 970 scores 9,640 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 179.2%. The GeForce GTX 970 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,664 (GeForce GTX 970) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 3.92 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 970) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1178 MHz vs 2475 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	9,640	26,919+179%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1664	5888+254%
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.92 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+644%
Boost Clock	1178 MHz	2475 MHz+110%
ROPs	56	64+14%
TMUs	104	184+77%
L1 Cache	0.61 MB	5.8 MB+851%
L2 Cache	2 MB	36 MB+1700%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce GTX 970 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 970 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 970 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 4070 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce GTX 970) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) — a 125% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Bus width: 256-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 970) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	12 GB+200%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	504 GB/s+125%
Bus Width	256-bit+33%	192-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	36 MB+1700%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (FL 12_1) (GeForce GTX 970) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX	12 (FL 12_1)	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 2nd gen (GeForce GTX 970) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: PureVideo VP6 vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 970) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	NVENC 2nd gen	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	PureVideo VP6	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 970 draws 150W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 28.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 970 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 970) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	150W-25%	200W
Recommended PSU	500W-23%	650W
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	80°C	80°C
Perf/Watt	64.3	134.6+109%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 970 launched at $329 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. The GeForce GTX 970 costs 45.1% less ($270 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 29.3 (GeForce GTX 970) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 53.2% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2014).