Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 review: an RTX 3080 challenger for $599

A solid 1440p upgrade - but Cyberpunk 2077 RT Overdrive hints at something more.

Review by Richard Leadbetter Technology Editor, Digital Foundry

Published on April 12, 2023

Raw ray tracing performance is one thing, but the truth is that RT is usually used in combination with image reconstruction technology for a better balance of visual features and performance. This page seeks to show how these GPUs compare with both technologies in play, with the same (or very close) base resolutions engaged. It's not factoring in image quality - where Nvidia enjoys a noticeable advantage - and neither are we considering overall support, where DLSS enjoys wider uptake amongst game developers. Here, we're just looking at raw performance.

We're also adding in frame generation metrics for the cards that support it. DLSS 3 isn't going away and AMD's announcement of FSR3 is effectively an endorsement of the concept from the competition - something to be copied. What I will say, however, is that I do take issue with the concept of generated frames adding performance. They are extra frames, but they do not reduce input lag in the way that DLSS 2 does. Nvidia adds Reflex low-latency support to compensate, but you may still end up with a laggier result. For example, Dying Light 2 at 1440p resolution in DLSS quality mode has a base latency of 55ms, reducing to 45ms with Reflex engaged. However, DLSS frame generation takes overall latency to circa-65ms. Results will vary on different games, of course.

Once again, if you're jumping straight to this page without looking at prior results, we should stress that our benchmarking system offers a number of ways to get to the data you want, the presentation varying according to the device you're using. You'll get a basic overview of our findings on mobile, with metadata from the video capture of each GPU being translated into simple bar charts with average frame-rate and lowest one per cent measurements for easy comparisons.

On a desktop-class browser, you'll get the full-fat DF experience with embedded YouTube videos of each test scene and live performance metrics. Play the video, and you'll see exactly how each card handled the scene as it progresses. Below the real-time metrics is an interactive bar chart, which you can mouse over to see different measurements and click to switch between actual frame-rates and percentage differences. All the data here is derived from video captured directly from each GPU, ensuring an accurate replay of real performance.

Cyberpunk 2077

Based on RTX 4070 testing at 1440p resolution, you're still getting a decent image but a palpable performance boost with DLSS quality mode. Even on ultra ray tracing settings, you should be comfortably exceeding 60 frames per second. Frame generation is remarkable here in that you're getting fluidity that impresses on a high refresh rate display.

At this resolution at these reconstruction settings, the RTX 4070 is on level ground with the RTX 3080, but obviously it has the frame generation card to play, which sets it a class apart - from a visual perspective at least - with frame-rates rising by 67 percent. With the 6800 XT using FSR2 quality mode, there's a 45 percentage point increase to performance, with 2.4x boost to frame-rates if you factor in frame generation.

The gains vs the Turing cards are also huge - it's a 2.2x frame-rate multiplier against RTX 2070, rising to a 3.7x boost with frame generation active.

Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra RT, DLSS/FSR2 Quality

Dying Light 2

With both RTX 4070 and RTX 3080 operating with DLSS quality mode active, there's little to split them - the four percentage point lead for the RTX 3080 is par for the course really. Frame generation is an intriguing point of comparison, however, as fludity increases by 25 per cent when it's active on the RTX 4070 - but you're adding about 10ms to 20ms in latency depending on whether Reflex is on or off on the non-frame generation mode.

Even without frame generation, there's a 32 percentage point lead up against RTX 3070, rising to 33 percent vs the RX 6800 XT running with FSR2 quality mode. Frame-rate increases vs the RTX 20-series cards work out well too: a 2x multiplier vs the RTX 2070 Super, rising to a 2.3x increase vs RTX 2070... and that's not even factoring in frame-gen.

Dying Light 2, Ultra RT, DLSS/FSR2 Quality

Forza Horizon 5

Here in Forza Horizon 5, we're set-up at extreme settings with RT disabled, delivering a visual feature set in excess of Series X running in its 30fps quality mode - though DLSS quality mode isn't really a match for native rendering with 4x MSAA, particularly on elements like power lines. The fact we're running with no RT means we can actually use FSR2 to upscale on GTX 1070 - though the gains at 1080p and 1440p vs native resolution with 4x MSAA amount to a nigh-on pointless two frames per second.

Even so, the RTX 4070 still manages to power ahead of the RTX 3080 with its 10 percent performance advantage, while frame generation adds a further 27 points to the frame-rate, looking great on a 1440p high refresh rate display. Interestingly, however, frame-gen gains at 4K aren't worth bothering with.

Without frame-gen, the 4070 is an effective match on average against the RX 6800 XT, but it does have frame generation in its back pocket, remember. Even without DLSS 3 though, there's still a 2.2x boost to performance over RTX 2070, dropping back a touch to 1.8x up against the 2070 Super.

Forza Horizon 5, Extreme, DLSS/FSR2 Quality

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

We're returning to Miles Morales, where you may recall that in the pure RT test, the 4070 significantly outperformed the 3080 - and perhaps not surprisingly, the same thing happens with DLSS in play. At 1440p in quality mode, the 4070 is nigh-on 14 percent faster across the lengthy benchmark sequence I selected and it's 30 percentage points clear of the 6800 XT with FSR2 active.

The 3070 is toast as well - the 4070 is 44 percent faster. Again, looking back at Turing-class cards where users are likely to upgrade, it's a huge gain. You're looking at a 2.4 times performance multiplier moving from 2070 to 4070, which drops back a touch to 'just' to 1.8x to 1.9x the performance.