GeForce RTX 3070 vs RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3070

2020Core: 1500 MHzBoost: 1725 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
NVIDIA

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

2023Core: 1110 MHzBoost: 1545 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 3070

Performance Spectrum - GPU

About G3D Mark

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

  • 12.1% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • Weaker long-term outlook: RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
  • 120% higher power demand at 220W vs 100W.

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

  • 50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
  • More future proof: Ada Lovelace on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
  • Draws 100W instead of 220W, a 120W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3070 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 44.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3070 better than RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU?
Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. GeForce RTX 3070 averages 12.1% more FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 22,172 vs 19,656 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce RTX 3070 is the overall package: you are getting DLSS Super Resolution.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2020, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 8 GB, the stronger feature stack with no meaningful modern upscaling stack instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 5nm process instead of 8nm. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?
GeForce RTX 3070 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3070 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $499 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 12.1% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 12.8% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is the newer 2023 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture, lower power draw (100W vs 220W), and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.
When does RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU make more sense than GeForce RTX 3070?
Yes. RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (100W vs 220W), future-proofing, and staying closer to an unclear MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3070. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3070 currently gives you 12.8% higher G3D Mark and 12.1% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
1080p
low158 FPS143 FPS
medium140 FPS124 FPS
high123 FPS109 FPS
ultra104 FPS77 FPS
1440p
low134 FPS114 FPS
medium109 FPS95 FPS
high96 FPS76 FPS
ultra86 FPS53 FPS
4K
low80 FPS51 FPS
medium67 FPS44 FPS
high52 FPS33 FPS
ultra45 FPS28 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
1080p
low470 FPS379 FPS
medium405 FPS327 FPS
high327 FPS265 FPS
ultra277 FPS230 FPS
1440p
low294 FPS282 FPS
medium246 FPS236 FPS
high213 FPS190 FPS
ultra179 FPS156 FPS
4K
low141 FPS132 FPS
medium120 FPS113 FPS
high105 FPS95 FPS
ultra83 FPS72 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
1080p
low885 FPS826 FPS
medium712 FPS680 FPS
high619 FPS590 FPS
ultra499 FPS442 FPS
1440p
low692 FPS628 FPS
medium557 FPS510 FPS
high473 FPS442 FPS
ultra374 FPS332 FPS
4K
low479 FPS406 FPS
medium388 FPS324 FPS
high330 FPS268 FPS
ultra249 FPS212 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
1080p
low600 FPS301 FPS
medium527 FPS260 FPS
high433 FPS217 FPS
ultra385 FPS190 FPS
1440p
low489 FPS239 FPS
medium433 FPS211 FPS
high339 FPS177 FPS
ultra297 FPS151 FPS
4K
low292 FPS142 FPS
medium270 FPS121 FPS
high238 FPS96 FPS
ultra200 FPS79 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3070 and RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 21 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1110 MHz to 1545 MHz. It has 5120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,656 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3070 scores 22,172 versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU's 19,656 — the GeForce RTX 3070 leads by 12.8%. The GeForce RTX 3070 is built on Ampere while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 5,120 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 20.31 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 15.82 TFLOPS (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1725 MHz vs 1545 MHz. Ray tracing: 46 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 40 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) with 184 Tensor cores vs 160.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score
22,172+13%
19,656
Architecture
Ampere
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
8 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
5888+15%
5120
Compute (TFLOPS)
20.31 TFLOPS+28%
15.82 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1725 MHz+12%
1545 MHz
ROPs
96+50%
64
TMUs
184+15%
160
L1 Cache
5.8 MB+16%
5 MB
L2 Cache
4 MB
48 MB+1100%
Ray Tracing Cores
46+15%
40
Tensor Cores
184+15%
160

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3070 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3070 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU has 12 GB. The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 432 GB/s (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — a 3.7% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3070. Bus width: 256-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 48 MB (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity
8 GB
12 GB+50%
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
448 GB/s+4%
432 GB/s
Bus Width
256-bit+33%
192-bit
L2 Cache
4 MB
48 MB+1100%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 12 Ultimate (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12 Ultimate
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 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Encoder
NVENC 7th gen
NVENC 8th gen
Decoder
NVDEC 5th gen
NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3070 draws 220W versus the RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU's 100W — a 75% difference. The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 3070) vs 150W (RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
TDP
220W
100W-55%
Recommended PSU
650W
150W-77%
Power Connector
8-pin
Mobile
Length
242mm
Height
112mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
75°C-6%
80°C
Perf/Watt
100.8
196.6+95%
💰

Value Analysis

The RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2020).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3070RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
MSRP
$499
Codename
GA104
AD104
Release
September 1 2020
March 21 2023
Ranking
#63
#81