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

✅Costs $30,501 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 4125.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 1.1 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 220W instead of 300W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 267mm, a 25mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (22,172 vs 32,601).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: L40 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

L40

2022

Why buy it

✅+47% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
6112.4% HIGHER MSRP
$31,000 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.1 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($31,000 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌36.4% higher power demand at 300W vs 220W.
❌10.3% longer card at 267mm vs 242mm.

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

L40

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $30,501 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 4125.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 1.1 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 220W instead of 300W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 242mm instead of 267mm, a 25mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅+47% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (22,172 vs 32,601).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: L40 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
6112.4% HIGHER MSRP
$31,000 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.1 vs 44.4 G3D/$ ($31,000 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌36.4% higher power demand at 300W vs 220W.
❌10.3% longer card at 267mm vs 242mm.

Quick Answers

So, is L40 better than GeForce RTX 3070?

Yes. L40 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 47% higher PassMark G3D performance and 48 GB vs 8 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2022 instead of 2020, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

L40 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2020, 47.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 48 GB instead of 8 GB, and the stronger feature stack with no meaningful modern upscaling stack instead of DLSS Super Resolution. 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?

L40 is about 6112.4% more expensive on MSRP at $31,000 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and you are getting 47.0% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3070 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, L40 is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3070 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

Is GeForce RTX 3070 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3070 is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $499 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, L40 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

L40 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	L40
1080p
low	158 FPS	281 FPS
medium	140 FPS	252 FPS
high	123 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	251 FPS
medium	109 FPS	211 FPS
high	96 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	95 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	116 FPS
medium	67 FPS	97 FPS
high	52 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	57 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open L40

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	L40
1080p
low	470 FPS	525 FPS
medium	405 FPS	407 FPS
high	327 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	294 FPS	440 FPS
medium	246 FPS	351 FPS
high	213 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	215 FPS
4K
low	141 FPS	233 FPS
medium	120 FPS	183 FPS
high	105 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	134 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open L40

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	L40
1080p
low	885 FPS	999 FPS
medium	712 FPS	999 FPS
high	619 FPS	978 FPS
ultra	499 FPS	734 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	970 FPS
medium	557 FPS	880 FPS
high	473 FPS	734 FPS
ultra	374 FPS	550 FPS
4K
low	479 FPS	569 FPS
medium	388 FPS	493 FPS
high	330 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	249 FPS	367 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open L40

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3070	L40
1080p
low	600 FPS	492 FPS
medium	527 FPS	430 FPS
high	433 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	385 FPS	293 FPS
1440p
low	489 FPS	346 FPS
medium	433 FPS	311 FPS
high	339 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	297 FPS	208 FPS
4K
low	292 FPS	229 FPS
medium	270 FPS	197 FPS
high	238 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	200 FPS	119 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3070 Open L40

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3070 and L40

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.

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 3070 scores 22,172 versus the L40's 32,601 — the L40 leads by 47%. The GeForce RTX 3070 is built on Ampere while the L40 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 18,176 (L40). Raw compute: 20.31 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 90.52 TFLOPS (L40). Boost clocks: 1725 MHz vs 2490 MHz. Ray tracing: 46 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 142 (L40) with 184 Tensor cores vs 568.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	L40
G3D Mark Score	22,172	32,601+47%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	5888	18176+209%
Compute (TFLOPS)	20.31 TFLOPS	90.52 TFLOPS+346%
Boost Clock	1725 MHz	2490 MHz+44%
ROPs	96	192+100%
TMUs	184	568+209%
L1 Cache	5.8 MB	17.8 MB+207%
L2 Cache	4 MB	96 MB+2300%
Ray Tracing Cores	46	142+209%
Tensor Cores	184	568+209%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3070 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 3070	L40
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3070 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the L40 has 48 GB. The L40 offers 500% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 960 GB/s (L40) — a 114.3% advantage for the L40. Bus width: 256-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 96 MB (L40) — the L40 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	L40
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	48 GB+500%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	448 GB/s	960 GB/s+114%
Bus Width	256-bit	384-bit+50%
L2 Cache	4 MB	96 MB+2300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070) 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 3070	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: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3070) vs NVENC 8th Gen (L40). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs AV1,HEVC,H.264,VP9 (L40).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	L40
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	NVENC 8th Gen
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9	AV1,HEVC,H.264,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3070 draws 220W versus the L40's 300W — a 30.8% difference. The GeForce RTX 3070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 750W (L40). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 16-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3070	L40
TDP	220W-27%	300W
Recommended PSU	650W-13%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	16-pin
Length	242mm	267mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.8	108.7+8%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3070 launched at $499 MSRP, while the L40 launched at $31000. The GeForce RTX 3070 costs 98.4% less ($30501 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.4 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 1.1 (L40) — the GeForce RTX 3070 offers 3936.4% better value. The L40 is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2020).