The gap changes with resolution.
Graphics card differences grow with resolution, because higher resolutions load the GPU harder.
| Resolution | RTX 3080 | RTX 4070 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 84 | 85 | -1% |
| 1440p | 83 | 82 | +1% |
| 4K | 83 | 81 | +2% |
In a real build with a Ryzen 5 9600X.
Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.
RTX 4070 + Ryzen 5 9600X
0% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →| Game (1440p, paired with the Ryzen 5 9600X) | RTX 3080 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 328 fps | 326 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 284 fps | 282 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 139 fps | 138 fps |
| Elden Ring | 111 fps | 110 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 85 fps | 85 fps |
| Starfield | 86 fps | 85 fps |
Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.
So which should you buy?
Whichever is cheaper on the day. There is roughly 1% between them at 1440p, which you will not notice in a game.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the RTX 3080 versus the RTX 4070.
Is the RTX 3080 better than the RTX 4070?
They are close enough to call a tie. At 1440p the RTX 3080 scores 83 on our index against 82 for the RTX 4070 — a gap of about 1%, which is inside the margin where you would not feel a difference while gaming. Buy whichever is cheaper or easier to find.
Does the RTX 3080 or RTX 4070 bottleneck a Ryzen 5 9600X?
Paired with a Ryzen 5 9600X at 1440p, the RTX 3080 build comes out balanced, and the RTX 4070 build comes out 0% GPU-bound. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.
Is it worth upgrading from the RTX 4070 to the RTX 3080?
No. A 1% index gap will not be visible in games, and the money is better spent on the other side of the build — usually the GPU.
Which is better value, the RTX 3080 or the RTX 4070?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the RTX 4070 wins. The RTX 3080 lists at $699 for an index of 83, and the RTX 4070 at $599 for 82.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a GPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.