RTX 4070 Ti vs RTX 3090: Which is Faster at 4k?

RTX 4070 Ti vs RTX 3090: Which is Faster at 4k?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Power Scaling Comparison: 4070 TI vs 3090
   • Power Efficiency of the 4070 TI
   • Power Consumption of the 3090
   • Power Limit Testing
   • Efficiency Comparison
3. Resolution Scaling Comparison: 4070 TI vs 3090
   • Performance at 1080p
   • Performance at 1440p
   • Performance at 4K
4. GPU Utilization
   • GPU Utilization at Different Resolutions
   • CPU Bottleneck at 1440p
5. Resolution Scaling Benchmark
   • Unigine Valley Benchmark
   • Unigine Heaven Benchmark
6. Comparing Performance at Comparable Power
   • Overclocking the 3090
   • Power Consumption Comparison
7. Memory Bus Comparison: 4070 TI vs 3090
   • Bandwidth Difference
   • Performance Impact
8. Future Performance and Bandwidth
9. Conclusion

The Performance and Efficiency of the 4070 TI: A Comparison with the 3090

The 4070 TI, known for its impressive performance and efficiency, is a GPU that has garnered a lot of Attention. In this article, we will compare its capabilities directly with the popular 3090 model, examining various aspects such as power scaling, resolution scaling, GPU utilization, and memory bus. Through benchmarking and analysis, we aim to uncover key insights about the 4070 TI that have yet to be widely discussed.

Power Scaling Comparison: 4070 TI vs 3090

To begin, we Delve into the power scaling of these two GPUs. The 4070 TI showcases remarkable power efficiency, allowing for a minimal drop in performance even when the power limit is lowered. This is in stark contrast to the 3090, which is known to be a power-hungry GPU that consumes a significant amount of wattage, especially when overclocked. A detailed power scaling test conducted on both GPUs reveals the clear AdVantage of the 4070 TI when it comes to efficiency. Its power consumption is substantially lower, despite achieving similar frame rates as the 3090. This Speaks to the impressive efficiency achieved by the 4070 TI during performance testing.

Resolution Scaling Comparison: 4070 TI vs 3090

Moving on, we explore how these GPUs perform when it comes to resolution scaling. Evaluating multiple benchmark results, we observe a consistent trend across various games and resolutions. At 1080p, the 4070 TI slightly outperforms the 3090 in GPU-intensive games such as Red Dead 2, Elden Ring, and Cyberpunk. However, the performance gap narrows as we move to 1440p, with the 4070 TI falling just below the 3090 in overall average performance across 25 games. Finally, at 4K resolution, the 4070 TI performs slightly better than the 3090, confirming the widespread belief that the 4070 TI is more suitable for high-refresh rate 1440p gaming rather than 4K gaming. Notably, newer games like Hogwarts Legacy also exhibit a similar pattern.

GPU Utilization

Examining GPU utilization during benchmark tests, a surprising revelation comes to light. At 1440p resolution, both the 3090 and the 4070 TI experience GPU utilization of only 58%. This is unexpected, considering the powerful Ryzen 9 5950X CPU used in the testing process, which is known for its efficiency. The fact that the 4070 TI is CPU bottlenecked by a popular Zen 3 CPU at its native resolution of 1440p raises intriguing questions about the GPU's performance potential with different CPU configurations.

Resolution Scaling Benchmark

To gain further insights into performance scaling, a resolution scaling benchmark is conducted using popular GPU-intensive benchmarks such as Unigine Valley and Unigine Heaven. These tests demonstrate the excellent performance scaling of both the 3090 and the 4070 TI as resolutions change. Notably, GPU utilization remains consistently high, even at lower resolutions like 1080p and 540p.

Comparing Performance at Comparable Power

Considering power-limited scenarios, the article compares the performance of the 3090 and the 4070 TI under comparable power conditions. By increasing the power limit of the 3090, modest performance gains are achieved. However, these improvements come at the cost of significantly higher power consumption. Furthermore, even when power consumption is adjusted to match that of the 4070 TI, the 3090 still maintains a performance advantage, further highlighting the significance of its superior memory bus.

Memory Bus Comparison: 4070 TI vs 3090

The memory bus is a crucial component that determines the bandwidth and overall performance of a GPU. Here, we analyze the 192-bit memory bus of the 4070 TI and compare it to the 3090's massive 384-bit bus. The bandwidth of the 3090 is almost double that of the 4070 TI, allowing the former to achieve higher performance levels. With the 4070 TI's limited bandwidth of 504 gigabytes per Second compared to the 3090's impressive 936 gigabytes per second, it becomes evident that the 4070 TI's performance at 4K will inevitably face limitations.

Future Performance and Bandwidth

Taking into account the trajectory of game development and demands for more GPU-intensive games, it is essential to consider how the 4070 TI's performance might evolve over time. Looking back at the 3070 and its comparison to the 2080 TI in 2020, we see that the 2080 TI gained a significant advantage over the 3070 in just one year. Considering the narrower memory bus of the 4070 TI and its lower bandwidth compared to the 3090, the performance drop-off over time at 4K resolutions may be more pronounced. Furthermore, if newer games exceed the 12-gigabyte VRAM capacity of the 4070 TI, performance may suffer, resulting in stuttering and decreased overall gameplay experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the 4070 TI may appear faster than the 3090 in certain scenarios, its limited 192-bit memory bus ensures that it will not compete well at 4K resolutions, especially when compared to the superior bandwidth and performance of the 3090. NVIDIA has strategically designed the 4070 TI to cater to high-refresh rate 1440p gaming, imposing a clear distinction between the two GPUs. For gamers seeking 4K performance, investing in the 3090 or considering other alternatives may be more suitable. Nevertheless, the 4070 TI demonstrates commendable efficiency and remains an excellent choice for small form factor builds, especially when available at discounted prices.

Please note that the information provided in this article is Based on extensive testing and analysis. Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and should not be considered as definitive facts.