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 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅+215% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 20.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 37.3 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $229 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 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.
❌26.7% longer card at 304mm vs 240mm.

Radeon RX 480

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $370 less on MSRP ($229 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 150W instead of 200W, a 50W reduction.
✅Measures 240mm instead of 304mm, a 64mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (8,546 vs 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 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: 2016-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 37.3 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($229 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Radeon RX 480

2016

Why buy it

✅+215% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 20.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 37.3 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $229 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $370 less on MSRP ($229 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 150W instead of 200W, a 50W reduction.
✅Measures 240mm instead of 304mm, a 64mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌33.3% higher power demand at 200W vs 150W.
❌26.7% longer card at 304mm vs 240mm.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (8,546 vs 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 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: 2016-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 37.3 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($229 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4070 better than Radeon RX 480?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 26,919 vs 8,546 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4070 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while Radeon RX 480 is a 2016 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. 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 2016, 215.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 8 GB, and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of FSR upscaling. 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 161.6% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $229 MSRP, and you are getting 215.0% higher G3D Mark. Radeon RX 480 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Radeon RX 480 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Radeon RX 480 is 2016 hardware with 8 GB of VRAM, 8,546 in G3D Mark, and FSR upscaling. 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 RTX 4070 Benchmark Check

Radeon RX 480 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
1080p
low	183 FPS	134 FPS
medium	167 FPS	113 FPS
high	151 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	58 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	114 FPS
medium	124 FPS	96 FPS
high	110 FPS	72 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	42 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	39 FPS
medium	78 FPS	36 FPS
high	65 FPS	23 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	19 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon RX 480

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
1080p
low	544 FPS	156 FPS
medium	454 FPS	135 FPS
high	353 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	351 FPS	91 FPS
medium	288 FPS	71 FPS
high	235 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	44 FPS
4K
low	172 FPS	37 FPS
medium	144 FPS	29 FPS
high	125 FPS	23 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	18 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon RX 480

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
1080p
low	884 FPS	385 FPS
medium	713 FPS	308 FPS
high	643 FPS	256 FPS
ultra	569 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	684 FPS	288 FPS
medium	549 FPS	231 FPS
high	483 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	144 FPS
4K
low	467 FPS	192 FPS
medium	373 FPS	154 FPS
high	326 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	96 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon RX 480

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
1080p
low	751 FPS	290 FPS
medium	612 FPS	252 FPS
high	536 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	497 FPS	166 FPS
1440p
low	615 FPS	213 FPS
medium	500 FPS	190 FPS
high	433 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	395 FPS	118 FPS
4K
low	384 FPS	120 FPS
medium	324 FPS	98 FPS
high	301 FPS	80 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon RX 480

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4070 and Radeon RX 480

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.

Radeon RX 480

The Radeon RX 480 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 29 2016. It features the GCN 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1120 MHz to 1266 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,546 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4070 scores 26,919 versus the Radeon RX 480's 8,546 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 215%. The GeForce RTX 4070 is built on Ada Lovelace while the Radeon RX 480 uses GCN 4.0, both on 5 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 2,304 (Radeon RX 480). Raw compute: 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 5.834 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 480). Boost clocks: 2475 MHz vs 1266 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
G3D Mark Score	26,919+215%	8,546
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	GCN 4.0
Process Node	5 nm	14 nm
Shading Units	5888+156%	2304
Compute (TFLOPS)	29.15 TFLOPS+400%	5.834 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2475 MHz+95%	1266 MHz
ROPs	64+100%	32
TMUs	184+28%	144
L1 Cache	5.8 MB+936%	0.56 MB
L2 Cache	36 MB+1700%	2 MB

✨

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 Radeon RX 480 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 480 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4070 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 480 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 4070 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 256 GB/s (Radeon RX 480) — a 96.9% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 2 MB (Radeon RX 480) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	504 GB/s+97%	256 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	36 MB+1700%	2 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 12.0 (Radeon RX 480). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
DirectX	12.2+2%	12.0
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070) vs VCE 3.4 (Radeon RX 480). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs UVD 6.3. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (Radeon RX 480).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC (2x)	VCE 3.4
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	UVD 6.3
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4070 draws 200W versus the Radeon RX 480's 150W — a 28.6% difference. The Radeon RX 480 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 500W (Radeon RX 480). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 304mm vs 240mm, occupying 3 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon RX 480
TDP	200W	150W-25%
Recommended PSU	650W	500W-23%
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	304mm	240mm
Height	137mm	95mm
Slots	3	2-33%
Temp (Load)	80°C-6%	85°C
Perf/Watt	134.6+136%	57.0

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 480 launched at $229. The Radeon RX 480 costs 61.8% less ($370 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 37.3 (Radeon RX 480) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 20.4% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2016).