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 3070

2020

Why buy it

✅+150.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation (2023).
❌
178.8% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$179 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 44.4 vs 49.4 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 220W vs 110W.
❌34.4% longer card at 242mm vs 180mm.

Radeon RX 5500

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $320 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 11.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 49.4 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($179 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation (2023).
✅Draws 110W instead of 220W, a 110W reduction.
✅Measures 180mm instead of 242mm, a 62mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (8,837 vs 22,172).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

Radeon RX 5500

2019

Why buy it

✅+150.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $320 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 11.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 49.4 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($179 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation (2023).
✅Draws 110W instead of 220W, a 110W reduction.
✅Measures 180mm instead of 242mm, a 62mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation (2023).
❌
178.8% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$179 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 44.4 vs 49.4 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 220W vs 110W.
❌34.4% longer card at 242mm vs 180mm.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (8,837 vs 22,172).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3070 better than Radeon RX 5500?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 22,172 vs 8,837 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3070 is a 2020 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Radeon RX 5500 is a 2019 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling + limited Frame Generation. 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 3070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 generation instead of 2019, 150.9% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 4 GB, and the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR upscaling + limited Frame Generation. 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 3070 is about 178.8% more expensive on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $179 MSRP, and you are getting 150.9% higher G3D Mark. Radeon RX 5500 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 3070 is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, Radeon RX 5500 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

Is Radeon RX 5500 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. Radeon RX 5500 is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $179 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 3070 earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

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 3070 Benchmark Check

Radeon RX 5500 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
1080p
low	158 FPS	106 FPS
medium	140 FPS	92 FPS
high	123 FPS	76 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	45 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	94 FPS
medium	109 FPS	81 FPS
high	96 FPS	61 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	35 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	32 FPS
medium	67 FPS	29 FPS
high	52 FPS	20 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	17 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open Radeon RX 5500

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
1080p
low	470 FPS	113 FPS
medium	405 FPS	79 FPS
high	327 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	37 FPS
1440p
low	294 FPS	76 FPS
medium	246 FPS	47 FPS
high	213 FPS	34 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	25 FPS
4K
low	141 FPS	36 FPS
medium	120 FPS	24 FPS
high	105 FPS	19 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	14 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open Radeon RX 5500

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
1080p
low	885 FPS	349 FPS
medium	712 FPS	304 FPS
high	619 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	499 FPS	198 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	285 FPS
medium	557 FPS	239 FPS
high	473 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	374 FPS	149 FPS
4K
low	479 FPS	176 FPS
medium	388 FPS	151 FPS
high	330 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	249 FPS	74 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open Radeon RX 5500

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
1080p
low	600 FPS	170 FPS
medium	527 FPS	140 FPS
high	433 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	385 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	489 FPS	121 FPS
medium	433 FPS	100 FPS
high	339 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	297 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	292 FPS	69 FPS
medium	270 FPS	56 FPS
high	238 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	200 FPS	34 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open Radeon RX 5500

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3070 and Radeon RX 5500

GeForce RTX 3070

The GeForce RTX 3070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1725 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,172 points. Launch price was $499.

Radeon RX 5500

The Radeon RX 5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 7 2019. It features the RDNA 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1845 MHz. It has 1408 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 110W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,837 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3070 scores 22,172 versus the Radeon RX 5500's 8,837 — the GeForce RTX 3070 leads by 150.9%. The GeForce RTX 3070 is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 5500 uses RDNA 1.0, both on 8 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 1,408 (Radeon RX 5500). Raw compute: 20.31 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 5.196 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 5500). Boost clocks: 1725 MHz vs 1845 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
G3D Mark Score	22,172+151%	8,837
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 1.0
Process Node	8 nm	7 nm
Shading Units	5888+318%	1408
Compute (TFLOPS)	20.31 TFLOPS+291%	5.196 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1725 MHz	1845 MHz+7%
ROPs	96+200%	32
TMUs	184+109%	88

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 5500 is support for FSR 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 RTX 3070 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 3070 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 5500 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3070 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 5500 has 4 GB. The GeForce RTX 3070 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 224 GB/s (Radeon RX 5500) — a 100% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3070. Bus width: 256-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
VRAM Capacity	8 GB+100%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	448 GB/s+100%	224 GB/s
Bus Width	256-bit+100%	128-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 12.1 (Radeon RX 5500). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.1
Vulkan	1.4+17%	1.2
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3070) vs VCN 2.0 (Radeon RX 5500). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs VCN 2.0. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Radeon RX 5500).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	VCN 2.0
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	VCN 2.0
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3070 draws 220W versus the Radeon RX 5500's 110W — a 66.7% difference. The Radeon RX 5500 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 450W (Radeon RX 5500). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 180mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	Radeon RX 5500
TDP	220W	110W-50%
Recommended PSU	650W	450W-31%
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	180mm
Height	112mm	110mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	75°C
Perf/Watt	100.8+26%	80.3

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3070 launched at $499 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 5500 launched at $179. The Radeon RX 5500 costs 64.1% less ($320 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.4 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 49.4 (Radeon RX 5500) — the Radeon RX 5500 offers 11.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 3070 is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2019).