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 RTX 4090 D

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $29,401 less on MSRP ($1,599 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1727.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 19.2 vs 1.1 G3D/$ ($1,599 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 24 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌41.7% higher power demand at 425W vs 300W.
❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

L40

2022

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 24 GB).
✅Draws 300W instead of 425W, a 125W reduction.
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4090 D is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
1838.7% HIGHER MSRP
$31,000 MSRPvs$1,599 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.1 vs 19.2 G3D/$ ($31,000 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4090 D

2023

L40

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $29,401 less on MSRP ($1,599 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1727.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 19.2 vs 1.1 G3D/$ ($1,599 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 24 GB).
✅Draws 300W instead of 425W, a 125W reduction.
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 24 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌41.7% higher power demand at 425W vs 300W.
❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4090 D is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
1838.7% HIGHER MSRP
$31,000 MSRPvs$1,599 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.1 vs 19.2 G3D/$ ($31,000 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is L40 better than GeForce RTX 4090 D?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 30,725 vs 32,601 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer L40 is the overall package: you are getting no meaningful modern upscaling stack, plus much lower power draw (300W vs 425W).

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

GeForce RTX 4090 D is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2022 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 broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.

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

GeForce RTX 4090 D can still make sense if you find it at the right price, especially around $1,599 MSRP. L40 is still the smarter buy for most people, though, because the raw performance is close while the overall package is cleaner. L40 is about 1838.7% more expensive on MSRP at $31,000 MSRP versus $1,599 MSRP, and you are getting 6.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 4090 D is the newer 2023 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce RTX 4090 D make more sense than L40?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4090 D is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is excellent for 1080p and 1440p maxed-out gaming, and still very capable for 4K in many titles. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, future-proofing, and staying closer to $1,599 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of L40. The trade-off is that L40 currently gives you 6.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 4090 D still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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 RTX 4090 D Benchmark Check

L40 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
1080p
low	284 FPS	281 FPS
medium	263 FPS	252 FPS
high	225 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	262 FPS	251 FPS
medium	217 FPS	211 FPS
high	173 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	156 FPS	95 FPS
4K
low	180 FPS	116 FPS
medium	150 FPS	97 FPS
high	114 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	57 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4090 D Open L40

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
1080p
low	841 FPS	525 FPS
medium	657 FPS	407 FPS
high	516 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	449 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	673 FPS	440 FPS
medium	548 FPS	351 FPS
high	443 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	215 FPS
4K
low	375 FPS	233 FPS
medium	314 FPS	183 FPS
high	286 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	240 FPS	134 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4090 D Open L40

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
1080p
low	944 FPS	999 FPS
medium	772 FPS	999 FPS
high	699 FPS	978 FPS
ultra	604 FPS	734 FPS
1440p
low	731 FPS	970 FPS
medium	598 FPS	880 FPS
high	529 FPS	734 FPS
ultra	452 FPS	550 FPS
4K
low	506 FPS	569 FPS
medium	419 FPS	493 FPS
high	377 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	317 FPS	367 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4090 D Open L40

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
1080p
low	999 FPS	492 FPS
medium	971 FPS	430 FPS
high	855 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	691 FPS	293 FPS
1440p
low	830 FPS	346 FPS
medium	728 FPS	311 FPS
high	641 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	518 FPS	208 FPS
4K
low	606 FPS	229 FPS
medium	538 FPS	197 FPS
high	461 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	346 FPS	119 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4090 D Open L40

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4090 D and L40

GeForce RTX 4090 D

The GeForce RTX 4090 D is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 28 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2280 MHz to 2520 MHz. It has 14592 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 425W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 114 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 30,725 points. Launch price was $1,599.

L40

The L40 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 13 2022. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 735 MHz to 2490 MHz. It has 18176 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 142 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 32,601 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4090 D scores 30,725 versus the L40's 32,601 — the L40 leads by 6.1%. The GeForce RTX 4090 D is built on Ada Lovelace while the L40 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 5 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 14,592 (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs 18,176 (L40). Raw compute: 73.54 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs 90.52 TFLOPS (L40). Boost clocks: 2520 MHz vs 2490 MHz. Ray tracing: 114 RT cores (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs 142 (L40) with 456 Tensor cores vs 568.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
G3D Mark Score	30,725	32,601+6%
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	5 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	14592	18176+25%
Compute (TFLOPS)	73.54 TFLOPS	90.52 TFLOPS+23%
Boost Clock	2520 MHz+1%	2490 MHz
ROPs	176	192+9%
TMUs	456	568+25%
L1 Cache	14.3 MB	17.8 MB+24%
L2 Cache	72 MB	96 MB+33%
Ray Tracing Cores	114	142+25%
Tensor Cores	456	568+25%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090 D 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 L40 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4090 D gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The L40 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4090 D comes with 24 GB of VRAM, while the L40 has 48 GB. The L40 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 1008 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs 960 GB/s (L40) — a 5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090 D. Bus width: 384-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 72 MB (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs 96 MB (L40) — the L40 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
VRAM Capacity	24 GB	48 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	1008 GB/s+5%	960 GB/s
Bus Width	384-bit	384-bit
L2 Cache	72 MB	96 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs 12.2 (L40). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 2x NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs NVENC 8th Gen (L40). Decoder: NVDEC (5th Gen) vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs AV1,HEVC,H.264,VP9 (L40).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
Encoder	2x NVENC (8th Gen)	NVENC 8th Gen
Decoder	NVDEC (5th Gen)	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9	AV1,HEVC,H.264,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4090 D draws 425W versus the L40's 300W — a 34.5% difference. The L40 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 850W (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs 750W (L40). Power connectors: 16-pin vs 16-pin. Card length: 304mm vs 267mm, occupying 3 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 78°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090 D	L40
TDP	425W	300W-29%
Recommended PSU	850W	750W-12%
Power Connector	16-pin	16-pin
Length	304mm	267mm
Height	137mm	111mm
Slots	3	2-33%
Temp (Load)	78°C-3%	80°C
Perf/Watt	72.3	108.7+50%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4090 D launched at $1599 MSRP, while the L40 launched at $31000. The GeForce RTX 4090 D costs 94.8% less ($29401 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 19.2 (GeForce RTX 4090 D) vs 1.1 (L40) — the GeForce RTX 4090 D offers 1645.5% better value. The GeForce RTX 4090 D is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2022).