4070 vs 5070- 20% Faster, But Is It Worth Upgrading?
Is the 4070 vs 5070 upgrade worth it? According to independent reviews from Tech4Gamers and Deltias Gaming, the RTX 5070 is about 20 percent faster than the RTX 4070 at 1440p. That is a real gain, but not a huge one. If you already own an RTX 4070, you can usually wait. If you are buying now, the RTX 5070 is the better card.
We did not run game benchmarks ourselves. What we did run is our own bottleneck calculator, with two popular gaming CPUs, to show whether your processor can keep up with each card. In this 5070 vs 4070 guide, we put those calculator results next to the outside benchmark data and tell you where they differ.
4070 vs 5070– Quick Answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which card is faster? | RTX 5070, by about 20% at 1440p in the tests we checked |
| Same video memory? | Yes, both have 12GB |
| Which uses less power? | RTX 4070 (200W vs 250W) |
| Does the RTX 5070 need a faster CPU? | Not in our calculator check. The GPU was the limit with both CPUs |
| Should RTX 4070 owners upgrade? | Usually not |
| Better for a new build? | RTX 5070 |
4070 vs 5070 specs
| Spec | RTX 5070 | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Video memory | 12GB GDDR7 | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory speed (bandwidth) | 672 GB/s | 504 GB/s |
| CUDA cores | 6,144 | 5,888 |
| Power (TDP) | 250W | 200W |
| DLSS version | DLSS 4 | DLSS 3 |
Both cards have the same amount of video memory, so 12GB is not a reason to switch. The RTX 5070’s main hardware change is faster GDDR7 memory, which gives it more bandwidth.
RTX 5070 vs RTX 4070 performance at 1440p
We did not run these games ourselves. These numbers come from other testers.
Tech4Gamers tested 8 games at 1440p and found the RTX 5070 was 19.3% faster than the RTX 4070 (Tech4Gamers RTX 5070 vs RTX 4070). In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p, they measured 79 FPS on the RTX 5070 and 67 FPS on the RTX 4070.
Deltias Gaming tested 10 games at 1440p with High or Ultra settings and found the RTX 5070 delivered 20.7% more FPS on average.
| Source | Games tested | RTX 5070 advantage at 1440p |
|---|---|---|
| Tech4Gamers | 8 | 19.3% |
| Deltias Gaming | 10 | 20.7% |
One online estimate tool shows a smaller gap, around 14%, but it uses a model and not live benchmarks. A fair expectation is about 15 to 20 percent, and it changes from game to game.
In plain words: if your RTX 4070 gives you 60 FPS in a game, the RTX 5070 might give you about 70 to 72.
RTX 4070 vs RTX 5070 bottleneck results (esports, 1440p)
We tested both cards in our calculator with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the Ryzen 5 7600X. All four checks used the esports game type, 1440p, a 60 FPS target and 32GB of RAM. You can test your own pair with our free PC bottleneck calculator.
[Add screenshot here. Alt text: Ryzen 7 7800X3D + RTX 4070 bottleneck calculator result for esports at 1440p]
[Add screenshot here. Alt text: Ryzen 7 7800X3D + RTX 5070 bottleneck calculator result for esports at 1440p]
[Add screenshot here. Alt text: Ryzen 5 7600X + RTX 4070 bottleneck calculator result for esports at 1440p]
[Add screenshot here. Alt text: Ryzen 5 7600X + RTX 5070 bottleneck calculator result for esports at 1440p]
| CPU | GPU | Bottleneck | CPU use | GPU use | Estimated FPS | Calculator says |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | RTX 4070 | 48% | 55% | 95% | 72 | GPU is the limit |
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | RTX 5070 | 33% | 60% | 95% | 92 | GPU is the limit |
| Ryzen 5 7600X | RTX 4070 | 36% | 57% | 95% | 72 | GPU is the limit |
| Ryzen 5 7600X | RTX 5070 | 19% | 74% | 95% | 92 | GPU is the limit |
What these results mean
- The GPU is the busiest part every time. GPU use is 95% in all four checks. That is healthy. It means the card is doing the work, and neither CPU holds it back.
- The RTX 5070 lowers the bottleneck number. With the 7800X3D it falls from 48% to 33%. With the 7600X it falls from 36% to 19%. A faster graphics card sits closer to the CPU’s speed, so the two parts match better.
- A higher number with the 7800X3D does not mean it is worse. The 7800X3D is the stronger CPU, so the gap between the CPU and GPU looks bigger. Do not read it as a problem.
- Both CPUs give the same estimated FPS. It is 72 with the RTX 4070 and 92 with the RTX 5070, whichever CPU is used. In this estimate, the graphics card sets the speed, so the 7800X3D adds nothing extra at 1440p.
- The 5070 works the CPU harder. CPU use goes up with the RTX 5070 (55% to 60%, and 57% to 74%). The CPU is feeding more frames, which is expected.
Where Our Calculator and Real Tests Agree
| Point | Calculator | Real tests | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5070 is faster | 92 vs 72 FPS | About 19 to 21% faster | Agree |
| GPU is the busiest part at 1440p | 95% GPU use | Usually true in GPU-heavy games | Agree |
| Faster GPU matches strong CPUs better | Bottleneck number falls | Same idea in reviews | Agree |
Where they do not agree
| Point | Calculator | Real tests | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size of the gap | About 28% (92 vs 72) | About 19 to 21% | Calculator is too high |
| Esports FPS level | 72 and 92 FPS | Real esports FPS is usually much higher | Calculator is too low |
| Upgrade message | “Consider upgrading to a more powerful graphics card” | GPU at 95% is healthy | We disagree with this advice |
The calculator is an estimate that uses average scores for each part. It cannot see a specific game, scene or setting. In esports games, real FPS is often far above 72 or 92. In our Ryzen 5 7600 + RTX 4070 article, real esports tests of a close card showed much higher FPS than the calculator’s estimate. So use our numbers to compare the two cards against each other, not as an FPS promise.
The upgrade message: the calculator shows “consider upgrading to a more powerful graphics card” even with the RTX 5070. That is a general message. A GPU at 95% use means your card is working hard, not that you must upgrade.
Power use and heat
The RTX 5070 is rated at 250W and the RTX 4070 at 200W. The RTX 4070 is the more efficient card. If your power supply is small or your case is tight, check this before you buy. Look at NVIDIA’s power supply advice for each card.
DLSS 4 and frame generation
in comparison of 5070 vs 4070, the RTX 5070 supports DLSS 4, including Multi Frame Generation. The RTX 4070 supports DLSS 3. RTX 40 cards also get some of the newer DLSS 4 image quality upgrades, but Multi Frame Generation is only on RTX 50 cards.
Frame generation can raise your FPS number a lot, but it creates extra frames and does not give you more real speed. It works well in slow single-player games and less well in fast esports games, where small delays matter. Compare plain FPS first, and treat DLSS as a bonus.
Which CPU do you need for each card?
Both CPUs in our check were fine with both cards. The Ryzen 5 7600X showed the biggest change (36% to 19% bottleneck), so it pairs nicely with the RTX 5070.
Read our related guides:
Should you upgrade from the RTX 4070 to the RTX 5070?
| Your situation | What we suggest |
|---|---|
| You own an RTX 4070 and it runs your games well | Keep it. About 20% more FPS rarely changes how a game feels |
| You own an RTX 4070 and you are below 60 FPS in games you care about | The RTX 5070 can help. Check your own GPU use first |
| You own an RTX 4070 Super | Stay. TechRadar found the RTX 5070 only a little faster than the Super |
| You are building a new PC | The RTX 5070 is the better card to aim for |
| You have a small power supply | Check wattage first, since the RTX 5070 uses more power |
| You want Multi Frame Generation | Only the RTX 5070 supports it |
TechRadar’s comparison found the RTX 5070 is only a little faster than the RTX 4070 Super at 1440p, and in some games the Super is ahead (TechRadar RTX 5070 vs RTX 4070 Super).
How to decide, step by step
- Check your FPS. Play your main games with MSI Afterburner on. If you already hit your target, you do not need a new card.
- Check your GPU use. Near 95 to 100% means the graphics card is the limit and a new GPU can help. If it is low, your CPU is the limit, and a new GPU won’t help much.
- Check your power supply. The RTX 5070 is rated at 250W.
- Check your monitor. Both cards suit 1440p. At 4K, both need DLSS or lower settings.
Browse more PC part guides when you are ready to plan your build.
FAQs
Is the RTX 5070 better than the RTX 4070?
Yes. In the 1440p tests we checked, it was about 19 to 21 percent faster, with faster memory and DLSS 4 support.
Is the 4070 vs 5070 upgrade worth it?
For a new build, yes. For someone who already has an RTX 4070, usually not.
Does the RTX 5070 have more VRAM than the RTX 4070?
No. Both have 12GB, but the RTX 5070’s memory is faster.
Does the RTX 5070 use more power?
Yes. It is rated at 250W, while the RTX 4070 is rated at 200W.
Will my CPU bottleneck an RTX 5070?
In our esports check, the GPU was the limit with both the 7800X3D and the 7600X. Your result depends on your CPU and game, so test your pair with our bottleneck calculator.
Final Verdict
The RTX 5070 vs RTX 4070 result is clear. The RTX 5070 is the faster, newer card, and in the tests we checked it was about 20 percent ahead at 1440p. It adds DLSS 4 and faster memory, but it uses more power and has the same 12GB of video memory. Our calculator agreed that the RTX 5070 is faster and matches strong CPUs well, but it showed a bigger gap than real tests did. If you already own an RTX 4070, you can wait. If you are buying now, choose the RTX 5070 and make sure your CPU can keep up.
