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.

L40S

2022

Why buy it

✅2300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 2 GB).

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
275.2% HIGHER MSRP
$7,500 MSRPvs$1,999 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.7 vs 10.3 G3D/$ ($7,500 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
❌328.6% higher power demand at 300W vs 70W.

RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $5,501 less on MSRP ($1,999 MSRP vs $7,500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 287.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 10.3 vs 2.7 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $7,500 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 70W instead of 300W, a 230W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

L40S

2022

RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

2023

Why buy it

✅2300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 2 GB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $5,501 less on MSRP ($1,999 MSRP vs $7,500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 287.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 10.3 vs 2.7 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $7,500 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 70W instead of 300W, a 230W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
275.2% HIGHER MSRP
$7,500 MSRPvs$1,999 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.7 vs 10.3 G3D/$ ($7,500 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
❌328.6% higher power demand at 300W vs 70W.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

Quick Answers

So, is RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation better than L40S?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 20,023 vs 20,669 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, plus much lower power draw (70W vs 300W).

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

RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation 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?

RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation can still make sense if you find it at the right price, especially around $1,999 MSRP. RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is still the smarter buy for most people, though, because the raw performance is close while the overall package is cleaner. RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is about $5,501 cheaper on MSRP at $1,999 MSRP versus $7,500 MSRP, and you are getting 3.2% higher G3D Mark. Moving to $1,999 MSRP gets you newer hardware, lower power draw (70W vs 300W), and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation.

Is L40S still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. L40S is still a strong gaming card in 2026: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. Price is really the swing factor here. If you find it at or below $7,500 MSRP, it remains a very sensible buy. RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is still the safer recommendation for most fresh builds because it offers a cleaner overall package with newer hardware and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation.

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.

L40S Benchmark Check

RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
1080p
low	287 FPS	102 FPS
medium	256 FPS	87 FPS
high	216 FPS	70 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	48 FPS
1440p
low	256 FPS	81 FPS
medium	214 FPS	68 FPS
high	158 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	33 FPS
4K
low	117 FPS	33 FPS
medium	98 FPS	30 FPS
high	68 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	59 FPS	20 FPS

Open L40S Open RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
1080p
low	784 FPS	268 FPS
medium	629 FPS	213 FPS
high	478 FPS	171 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	148 FPS
1440p
low	646 FPS	198 FPS
medium	528 FPS	151 FPS
high	411 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	332 FPS	100 FPS
4K
low	338 FPS	91 FPS
medium	273 FPS	72 FPS
high	240 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	48 FPS

Open L40S Open RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
1080p
low	901 FPS	465 FPS
medium	721 FPS	404 FPS
high	601 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	451 FPS	288 FPS
1440p
low	676 FPS	339 FPS
medium	541 FPS	295 FPS
high	451 FPS	256 FPS
ultra	338 FPS	208 FPS
4K
low	451 FPS	229 FPS
medium	360 FPS	192 FPS
high	300 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	113 FPS

Open L40S Open RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
1080p
low	483 FPS	166 FPS
medium	422 FPS	136 FPS
high	376 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	288 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	345 FPS	121 FPS
medium	312 FPS	102 FPS
high	274 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	224 FPS	73 FPS
medium	193 FPS	61 FPS
high	153 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	37 FPS

Open L40S Open RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of L40S and RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

L40S

The L40S is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 13 2022. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1110 MHz to 2520 MHz. It has 18176 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 142 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,023 points.

RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 21 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 720 MHz to 1560 MHz. It has 6144 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 70W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 48 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,669 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The L40S scores 20,023 and the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation reaches 20,669 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The L40S is built on Ada Lovelace while the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation uses Ada Lovelace, both on a 5 nm process. Shader units: 18,176 (L40S) vs 6,144 (RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation). Raw compute: 91.61 TFLOPS (L40S) vs 19.17 TFLOPS (RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation). Boost clocks: 2520 MHz vs 1560 MHz. Ray tracing: 142 RT cores (L40S) vs 48 (RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation) with 568 Tensor cores vs 192.

Feature	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
G3D Mark Score	20,023	20,669+3%
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	5 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	18176+196%	6144
Compute (TFLOPS)	91.61 TFLOPS+378%	19.17 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2520 MHz+62%	1560 MHz
ROPs	192+200%	64
TMUs	568+196%	192
L1 Cache	17.8 MB+197%	6 MB
L2 Cache	48 MB	48 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	142+196%	48
Tensor Cores	568+196%	192

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation 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 L40S lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The L40S relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
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	Standard	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The L40S comes with 48 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation has 2 GB. The L40S offers 2300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 960 GB/s (L40S) vs 280 GB/s (RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation) — a 242.9% advantage for the L40S. Bus width: 384-bit vs 160-bit.

Feature	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
VRAM Capacity	48 GB+2300%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6 ECC
Memory Bandwidth	960 GB/s+243%	280 GB/s
Bus Width	384-bit+140%	160-bit
L2 Cache	48 MB	48 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (L40S) vs 12.2 (RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
DirectX	12.2	12.2
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 8th Gen (L40S) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,AV1 (L40S) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation).

Feature	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
Encoder	NVENC 8th Gen	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265,AV1	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The L40S draws 300W versus the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation's 70W — a 124.3% difference. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 800W (L40S) vs 750W (RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation). Power connectors: 16-pin vs 1x 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 80°C.

Feature	L40S	RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation
TDP	300W	70W-77%
Recommended PSU	800W	750W-6%
Power Connector	16-pin	1x 8-pin
Length	267mm	267mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	85°C	80°C-6%
Perf/Watt	66.7	295.3+343%

💰

Value Analysis

The L40S launched at $7500 MSRP, while the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation launched at $1999. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation costs 73.3% less ($5501 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 2.7 (L40S) vs 10.3 (RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation) — the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation offers 281.5% better value. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2022).