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

✅Costs $30,401 less on MSRP ($599 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 4173.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 1.1 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 200W instead of 300W, a 100W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (26,919 vs 32,601).
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

L40

2022

Why buy it

✅+21.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 12 GB).
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
5075.3% HIGHER MSRP
$31,000 MSRPvs$599 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.1 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($31,000 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
❌50% higher power demand at 300W vs 200W.

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

L40

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $30,401 less on MSRP ($599 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 4173.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 1.1 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $31,000 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 200W instead of 300W, a 100W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+21.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 12 GB).
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (26,919 vs 32,601).
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
5075.3% HIGHER MSRP
$31,000 MSRPvs$599 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.1 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($31,000 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
❌50% higher power demand at 300W vs 200W.

Quick Answers

So, is L40 better than GeForce RTX 4070?

Yes. L40 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 21.1% higher PassMark G3D performance and 48 GB vs 12 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2022 instead of 2023, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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 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?

L40 is about 5075.3% more expensive on MSRP at $31,000 MSRP versus $599 MSRP, and you are getting 21.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 4070 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 4070 still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

When does GeForce RTX 4070 make more sense than L40?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is excellent for 1080p, very strong for 1440p, and still capable at 4K with sensible settings or upscaling. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (200W vs 300W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $599 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of L40. The trade-off is that L40 currently gives you 21.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 4070 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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

L40 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
1080p
low	183 FPS	281 FPS
medium	167 FPS	252 FPS
high	151 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	251 FPS
medium	124 FPS	211 FPS
high	110 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	95 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	116 FPS
medium	78 FPS	97 FPS
high	65 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	57 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open L40

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
1080p
low	544 FPS	525 FPS
medium	454 FPS	407 FPS
high	353 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	351 FPS	440 FPS
medium	288 FPS	351 FPS
high	235 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	215 FPS
4K
low	172 FPS	233 FPS
medium	144 FPS	183 FPS
high	125 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	134 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open L40

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
1080p
low	884 FPS	999 FPS
medium	713 FPS	999 FPS
high	643 FPS	978 FPS
ultra	569 FPS	734 FPS
1440p
low	684 FPS	970 FPS
medium	549 FPS	880 FPS
high	483 FPS	734 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	550 FPS
4K
low	467 FPS	569 FPS
medium	373 FPS	493 FPS
high	326 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	367 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open L40

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
1080p
low	751 FPS	492 FPS
medium	612 FPS	430 FPS
high	536 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	497 FPS	293 FPS
1440p
low	615 FPS	346 FPS
medium	500 FPS	311 FPS
high	433 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	395 FPS	208 FPS
4K
low	384 FPS	229 FPS
medium	324 FPS	197 FPS
high	301 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	119 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open L40

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4070 and L40

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.

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 4070 scores 26,919 versus the L40's 32,601 — the L40 leads by 21.1%. The GeForce RTX 4070 is built on Ada Lovelace while the L40 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 5 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 18,176 (L40). Raw compute: 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 90.52 TFLOPS (L40). Boost clocks: 2475 MHz vs 2490 MHz. Ray tracing: 46 RT cores (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 142 (L40) with 184 Tensor cores vs 568.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
G3D Mark Score	26,919	32,601+21%
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	5 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	5888	18176+209%
Compute (TFLOPS)	29.15 TFLOPS	90.52 TFLOPS+211%
Boost Clock	2475 MHz	2490 MHz
ROPs	64	192+200%
TMUs	184	568+209%
L1 Cache	5.8 MB	17.8 MB+207%
L2 Cache	36 MB	96 MB+167%
Ray Tracing Cores	46	142+209%
Tensor Cores	184	568+209%

✨

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 L40 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 L40 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4070 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the L40 has 48 GB. The L40 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 960 GB/s (L40) — a 90.5% advantage for the L40. Bus width: 192-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 96 MB (L40) — the L40 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	48 GB+300%
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	504 GB/s	960 GB/s+90%
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
L2 Cache	36 MB	96 MB+167%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 12.2 (L40). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
DirectX	12.2	12.2
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 NVENC 8th Gen (L40). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs AV1,HEVC,H.264,VP9 (L40).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC (2x)	NVENC 8th Gen
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1	AV1,HEVC,H.264,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4070 draws 200W versus the L40's 300W — a 40% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 750W (L40). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 16-pin. Card length: 304mm vs 267mm, occupying 3 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	L40
TDP	200W-33%	300W
Recommended PSU	650W-13%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	16-pin
Length	304mm	267mm
Height	137mm	111mm
Slots	3	2-33%
Temp (Load)	80°C	80°C
Perf/Watt	134.6+24%	108.7

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599 MSRP, while the L40 launched at $31000. The GeForce RTX 4070 costs 98.1% less ($30401 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 1.1 (L40) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 3981.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2022).