The GPU Radar

NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super vs NVIDIA RTX 5090

Launch MSRPs, release cycles and deals windows as of November 9, 2026.

The NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super (RTX 4000) and NVIDIA RTX 5090 (RTX 5000) come from different NVIDIA generations, released 12 months apart. The RTX 4070 Super has since been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5070. The RTX 4070 Super is classed High-end and the RTX 5090 Enthusiast. Against the RTX 4070 Super, the RTX 5090 costs $1,400 more at launch MSRP ($1,999 vs $599, 234% more), has 20 GB more VRAM (32 GB vs 12 GB) and draws 355W more at rated TDP (575W vs 220W).

Generation comparison: The NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super is superseded but at current street prices may deliver strong value. Compare clearance pricing against the NVIDIA RTX 5090's launch MSRP to decide.
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super
Buy/Wait:Superseded

This GPU is no longer the current generation. It has been replaced by the NVIDIA RTX 5070.

Superseded by RTX 5070

Best for: 1440p gamers who find a well-priced used unit and can accept 12GB VRAM without DLSS 4.

Full details →
NVIDIA RTX 5090
Buy/Wait:Caution

Mid-cycle — next generation may be on the horizon

Best for: Content creators, AI researchers, and enthusiast gamers who want the absolute fastest GPU regardless of price or power consumption.

Full details →
NVIDIA RTX 4070 SuperNVIDIA RTX 5090
TierHigh-endEnthusiast
GenerationRTX 4000RTX 5000
VRAM12 GB32 GB
Memory TypeGDDR6XGDDR7
TDP220W575W
UpscalingDLSS3DLSS4
Ray Tracing✅✅
Launch MSRP$599$1999
Editor score8.2/109.4/10
ReleasedJan 17, 2024Jan 30, 2025
Cycle length~415 days~850 days
Cycle adviceSupersededCaution
Deals adviceClearanceCaution
SuccessorRTX 5070—

Why buy each?

NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super

Used market value

New units sell well above MSRP and used units run around $670 as of October 2026 — above the $599 launch price. Delivers ~75% of RTX 5070 performance; only worth it used below $500.

220W TDP

Efficient power draw works with modest PSUs.

Mature drivers

Over 2 years of stability optimizations ensure excellent game compatibility.

NVIDIA RTX 5090

32GB GDDR7 — future-proofed VRAM

Double the VRAM of the RTX 5080 ensures headroom for 8K textures, AI model training, and multi-monitor setups.

DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation

Generates multiple frames per rendered frame, dramatically boosting perceived frame rates in supported games.

Blackwell architecture

New shader cores, enhanced RT cores, and Tensor cores deliver the largest generational leap NVIDIA has shipped.

Timing: When to Buy

Released Jan 17, 2024, the RTX 4070 Super has been on the market for 2 years 9 months. It has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5070, which launched Mar 6, 2025, so it's no longer a current-generation buy — new stock is clearance, and the rest of the market is second-hand.

Released Jan 30, 2025, the RTX 5090 has been on the market for 21 months. The next model on our radar: the RTX 6090, expected 2028 (rumoured) — roughly 418 days out if that date holds. That puts the RTX 5090 about 61% of the way through its current cycle, which our model rates Caution.

On timing, the RTX 5090 is the only current-generation option of the two (Caution), while the RTX 4070 Super is a clearance or used purchase.

Deals & Pricing

At launch MSRP the RTX 4070 Super is $1,400 cheaper than the RTX 5090 ($599 vs $1,999, 70% less). Per gigabyte of VRAM that's $49.9 for the RTX 4070 Super and $62.5 for the RTX 5090 — the RTX 4070 Super gives more memory for the money. Launch MSRP is only a reference point for a superseded card; its real price is whatever clearance or used stock sells for today.

RTX 4070 Super (deals window to Jun 30, 2027, rated Wait): New retail — no longer in production; remaining new units cost well above the $599 MSRP. Do not buy new.

RTX 5090 (deals window to Dec 5, 2026, rated Caution): Black Friday / Cyber Monday 2026 — usually the best annual GPU deals, but analysts do not expect memory supply to normalise before late 2027, so discounts are unlikely to reach the $1,999 MSRP. Only buy at or near MSRP.

Next on the deals calendar: for the RTX 5090, New Year clearance 2027, from Jan 2, 2027 to Jan 20, 2027.

Who Should Choose Each

Choose the NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super if…

  • you want lower power draw — 220W vs 575W rated TDP
  • you find one on clearance or second-hand for clearly less than the RTX 5090 costs

Choose the NVIDIA RTX 5090 if…

  • you want more VRAM — 32 GB vs 12 GB
  • you want newer GDDR7 memory rather than GDDR6X
  • you want DLSS4 rather than DLSS3
  • you want our higher-rated card of the two — 9.4 vs 8.2 editor score
  • you're buying right now — it rates Caution vs Superseded on our buy/wait signal
  • you want the newer card — it launched 12 months later
  • you want the higher-tier card — Enthusiast rather than High-end

Our Take

Our pick: NVIDIA RTX 5090

Our pick is the RTX 5090: it's the current-generation card here, while the RTX 4070 Super has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5070, and it also has 20 GB more VRAM (32 GB vs 12 GB) and carries a higher editor score (9.4 vs 8.2).

Go for the RTX 4070 Super instead if you want lower power draw: 220W vs 575W rated TDP, or if you find one on clearance or second-hand for clearly less than the RTX 5090 costs.

Buy/Wait and deals ratings come from release-cycle and pricing data, not benchmarks. How we rate →

Quick Winner by Buyer Type

Tight budget
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super
$599 vs $1,999 launch MSRP
VRAM-hungry workloads
NVIDIA RTX 5090
32 GB vs 12 GB
Lower power / smaller PSU
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super
220W vs 575W TDP
Buying right now
NVIDIA RTX 5090
Caution vs Superseded
Best overall rating
NVIDIA RTX 5090
9.4 vs 8.2 editor score
Newest hardware
NVIDIA RTX 5090
Released Jan 30, 2025 vs Jan 17, 2024

The Gaps That Matter

Price
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super
70% cheaper at launch
$599 vs $1,999 ($1,400 difference)
VRAM
NVIDIA RTX 5090
167% more memory
32 GB vs 12 GB (+20 GB)
Power draw
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super
62% lower rated TDP
220W vs 575W (−355W)
VRAM per dollar
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super
20% less per GB
$49.9 vs $62.5 per GB at launch MSRP
Memory type
NVIDIA RTX 5090
Newer GDDR7
GDDR7 vs GDDR6X
Upscaling
NVIDIA RTX 5090
Newer DLSS4
DLSS4 vs DLSS3
Editor score
NVIDIA RTX 5090
+1.2 points
9.4 vs 8.2 out of 10
Age
NVIDIA RTX 5090
12 months newer
Jan 30, 2025 vs Jan 17, 2024