RTX 4070 vs RTX 4070 Super: Full Comparison (2026)
RTX 4070 vs RTX 4070 Super: Specs Comparison
The RTX 4070 Super is not just a mild refresh — it uses the full AD104 GPU die that was previously reserved for the RTX 4070 Ti, with more CUDA cores, higher base and boost clocks, and a wider 192-bit memory bus. The result is a 15–20% performance advantage over the base RTX 4070 at the same 220W TDP.
- RTX 4070: 5888 CUDA cores, 12GB GDDR6X 192-bit, 200W TDP, $549 MSRP.
- RTX 4070 Super: 7168 CUDA cores, 12GB GDDR6X 192-bit, 220W TDP, $599 MSRP.
- CUDA core advantage: RTX 4070 Super has 21.7% more CUDA cores.
- Memory: identical — 12GB GDDR6X on a 192-bit bus for both cards.
- Both support DLSS 3 Frame Generation and NVIDIA Reflex.
- Power difference: only 20W more for the Super — negligible impact on electricity costs.
The 12GB VRAM on both cards is adequate for 1440p gaming in 2026 but can run short in 4K ultra textures. If 4K is your primary target, the RTX 4080 Super with 16GB is a better long-term investment.
Gaming Performance: RTX 4070 vs RTX 4070 Super
In real-world gaming benchmarks at 1440p ultra settings, the RTX 4070 Super consistently delivers 15–20% more FPS than the base RTX 4070. At 1080p, the gap narrows because CPU limitations become more prominent. At 4K, the GPU is always the bottleneck and the gap widens slightly due to the Super's higher compute throughput.
The performance gap is most pronounced in graphically demanding titles: Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing, Alan Wake 2, and Hogwarts Legacy at 4K. In less demanding esports titles, both cards deliver well above 144 FPS at 1440p and the difference is less meaningful.
- Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p ultra, RT Medium): RTX 4070 ~72 FPS vs RTX 4070 Super ~86 FPS (+19%).
- Hogwarts Legacy (1440p ultra): RTX 4070 ~78 FPS vs RTX 4070 Super ~91 FPS (+17%).
- Call of Duty Warzone (1440p high): RTX 4070 ~145 FPS vs RTX 4070 Super ~168 FPS (+16%).
- Valorant (1080p high): Both exceed 240 FPS — CPU becomes the bottleneck.
- Alan Wake 2 (1440p high, no RT): RTX 4070 ~68 FPS vs RTX 4070 Super ~80 FPS (+18%).
- CS2 (1080p high): Both exceed 250 FPS — no meaningful gaming difference here.
Bottleneck Analysis: Which CPU Do You Need?
The RTX 4070 Super's higher performance ceiling means it requires a stronger CPU to avoid bottlenecking at 1080p. With a base RTX 4070, an i5-13600K creates under 5% CPU bottleneck at 1440p. With the RTX 4070 Super, you will see 8–12% CPU bottleneck at 1440p with the same i5-13600K — still acceptable, but more noticeable in CPU-heavy games.
For the RTX 4070 Super, the ideal CPU pairings are Ryzen 7 7800X3D or i5-13600K at 1440p. At 4K, virtually any modern CPU works — the GPU is always the bottleneck at 4K resolution.
- RTX 4070 + i5-12600K: Under 8% bottleneck at 1440p — solid pairing.
- RTX 4070 Super + i5-12600K: 12–15% CPU bottleneck at 1440p — acceptable but not ideal.
- RTX 4070 Super + i5-13600K: Under 7% bottleneck at 1440p — recommended pairing.
- RTX 4070 Super + Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Under 4% bottleneck — best 1440p + 1080p 144Hz combo.
- Use our bottleneck calculator to check your specific CPU against both cards.
- Check our RTX 4070 Super + i7-13700K analysis for detailed resolution breakdown.
If you are pairing the RTX 4070 Super with an older CPU like Ryzen 5 3600 or i7-9700K, the CPU bottleneck at 1080p will offset much of the Super's advantage. Upgrade CPU and GPU together or stick with the base RTX 4070.
Price vs Performance: Is the RTX 4070 Super Worth the Premium?
At MSRP, the RTX 4070 Super costs $599 vs $549 for the base RTX 4070 — a $50 or 9% price premium for a 15–20% performance advantage. This is exceptional value: you are getting roughly 2x the performance gain per dollar spent on the upgrade. In the GPU market, a 15% performance improvement for 9% more cost is rare.
In the used market in 2026, RTX 4070 cards trade for $350–400 while RTX 4070 Super cards sell for $420–470 — a similar relative gap. The Super continues to offer better value unless budget constraints are severe.
- MSRP gap: $50 (9% more expensive) for 15–20% more performance.
- Price-to-performance: RTX 4070 Super wins clearly at MSRP.
- Used market: similar relative gap — Super still better value.
- Power cost difference: ~20W more = less than $5/year in electricity at 8 hours/day.
- DLSS 3 and ray tracing performance: both cards perform identically per architecture — the Super just runs at higher FPS.
- Use our GPU comparison tool to compare both cards side-by-side with full spec breakdown.
RTX 4070 vs RTX 4070 Super: Which Should You Buy in 2026?
The answer is clear for most buyers: get the RTX 4070 Super unless you find the base RTX 4070 significantly discounted. The 15–20% performance advantage for a 9% price premium makes the Super objectively better value at MSRP. At 1440p — the primary resolution for both cards — the Super consistently delivers 10–20 more FPS across demanding titles.
Buy the base RTX 4070 only if: you find it at $450 or less new, or $320 or less used. At those prices, the value equation shifts in favour of the base model. For a new build at MSRP in 2026, the RTX 4070 Super is the correct choice for anyone targeting 1440p gaming.
- Buy RTX 4070 Super if: gaming at 1440p, buying at or near MSRP, pairing with i5-13600K or better.
- Buy RTX 4070 if: found at significant discount ($450 new / $320 used), on a tight budget, or primarily playing esports at 1080p.
- Consider RTX 4070 Ti Super instead if: targeting 1440p 144Hz ultra in all titles or 4K gaming.
- Use our RTX 4070 bottleneck analysis and RTX 4070 Super bottleneck analysis for your CPU.
- Check our FPS calculator to estimate real-world FPS for both cards.
Conclusion
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