Key takeaways
- RTX 4070 + 125 W CPU: 200 + 125 + 150 = 475 W. A 550 W unit is enough.
- RTX 4080 Super + 125 W CPU: 320 + 125 + 150 = 595 W. Nvidia recommends a 750 W unit for this card, and that matches common practice.
- RTX 4080 Super + 200 W-class CPU: 320 + 200 + 150 = 670 W. Choose 850 W for comfortable headroom.
Moving from an RTX 4070 to an RTX 4080 Super is a genuine tier jump, roughly 45-55% more performance at 1440p and more at 4K, plus 16 GB of VRAM instead of 12 GB, so it is worth it if you game at 4K or at high-refresh 1440p with ray tracing. If you play at 1080p or are happy with your 4070 at 1440p, the upgrade costs too much in money, power and case space to justify.
Both cards are Ada Lovelace designs. The RTX 4070 launched in April 2023 at $599 as Nvidia’s efficient 1440p card. The RTX 4080 Super arrived in January 2024 at $999, replacing the original RTX 4080 at a lower price with slightly more hardware. Both are previous generation now that the RTX 50 series is on sale, which matters for both pricing and how you evaluate the upgrade.
Hardware Differences at a Glance
| Spec | RTX 4070 | RTX 4080 Super |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace |
| Release date | 12 April 2023 | 8 January 2024 |
| Launch MSRP | $599 | $999 |
| CUDA cores | 5888 | 10240 (+74%) |
| Boost clock | 2475 MHz | 2550 MHz |
| Process | 5 nm | 5 nm |
| TDP | 200 W | 320 W |
| Memory | 12 GB GDDR6X | 16 GB GDDR6X |
| Bus width | 192-bit | 256-bit |
| Bandwidth | 504.2 GB/s | 736.3 GB/s (+46%) |
| L2 cache | 36 MB | 64 MB |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| Power connector | 1x 16-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Length / width | 240 mm, 2-slot | 310 mm, 3-slot |
| Outputs | 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DP 1.4a | 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DP 1.4a |
The 4080 Super has about 74% more CUDA cores, 46% more bandwidth and nearly twice the L2 cache. Games do not scale perfectly with core count, so the real-world gain is smaller than that headline figure, but it is still a large step.
How Much Faster in Games
TechPowerUp’s review data provides a clean way to estimate the gap: it found the RTX 4070 Super about 15% faster than the RTX 4070, and the RTX 4080 about 30% faster than the 4070 Super at 1440p. The 4080 Super is only a few percent faster than the original 4080. Chaining those figures puts the 4080 Super roughly 45-55% ahead of the RTX 4070 at 1440p. At 4K, where the larger chip and wider memory bus work hardest, the gap typically grows to roughly 55-65%.
Translated into frame rates (approximate, and dependent on settings, CPU and game patches): a game running at 60 fps on a 4070 at 1440p would land around 87-93 fps on the 4080 Super. At 4K, a 4070 struggling at 40 fps would typically rise to the mid-60s, which is the difference between needing aggressive upscaling and having a comfortable 60 fps experience.
At 1080p the upgrade shrinks considerably because the CPU becomes the limit in many games, sometimes cutting the visible gain to 20-30% or less with a mid-range processor.
Ray Tracing and DLSS Behavior
Both cards support exactly the same features: DLSS super resolution including the DLSS 4 transformer model, DLSS frame generation and Reflex. Neither supports multi frame generation, which is exclusive to RTX 50 cards.
Where the 4080 Super pulls ahead is in how well it handles heavy ray tracing. Its larger chip lets it run path-traced games like Cyberpunk 2077’s Overdrive mode or Alan Wake 2 with full RT at 1440p using DLSS Quality or Balanced at fluid frame rates, while the 4070 usually needs DLSS Performance plus frame generation to get there. Frame generation also works best when the base frame rate is already around 50-60 fps or higher, which the 4080 Super reaches far more often.
16 GB vs 12 GB: Where It Shows
| Scenario | Typical VRAM need | RTX 4070 | RTX 4080 Super |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1440p high | about 9-12 GB | Fine | Comfortable |
| 1440p ultra + RT + frame gen | about 11-13 GB | Tight in some games | Comfortable |
| 4K high/ultra | about 12-16 GB | Often over budget | Generally fine |
| 4K + path tracing + frame gen | can exceed 14 GB | Not realistic | Workable in most games |
The extra 4 GB is a large part of why the 4080 Super is the stronger 4K card. It also helps with local AI models and high-resolution texture mods.
Power Supply and Cooling Requirements
The 4080 Super’s 320 W TDP is 120 W higher than the 4070’s. Using GPU TDP + CPU + about 150 W headroom:
- RTX 4070 + 125 W CPU: 200 + 125 + 150 = 475 W. A 550 W unit is enough.
- RTX 4080 Super + 125 W CPU: 320 + 125 + 150 = 595 W. Nvidia recommends a 750 W unit for this card, and that matches common practice.
- RTX 4080 Super + 200 W-class CPU: 320 + 200 + 150 = 670 W. Choose 850 W for comfortable headroom.
Many RTX 4070 owners run 550-650 W power supplies, so this upgrade often means a new PSU too, adding roughly $90-$150 for a good ATX 3.x unit with a native 16-pin cable. Both cards use the 16-pin connector; on the 4080 Super, the adapter typically needs three 8-pin cables from an older PSU. Fully insert the connector and avoid bending the cable sharply near the plug.
The 120 W extra also means more heat. At three hours of gaming a day, it adds roughly 130 kWh per year in electricity, and the case needs good airflow to keep the larger cooler quiet.
Will It Fit Your Case?
This is the most commonly overlooked part of the upgrade. The reference 4070 is 240 mm long and two slots wide; the reference 4080 Super is 310 mm long and three slots thick. Many partner 4080 Super cards are 330-360 mm long and 3.5 slots or more, and they are heavy enough that a support bracket is a good idea. Measure GPU length clearance (including front fans and radiators), confirm you have enough vertical space below the PCIe slot, and check that the card will not block other expansion cards or M.2 heatsinks.
Upgrade Cost Per Extra Frame
Comparing launch MSRPs with the RTX 4070 indexed at 100 and the 4080 Super at about 150 at 1440p:
- RTX 4070: $599 / 100 = about $6.00 per point.
- RTX 4080 Super: $999 / 150 = about $6.65 per point.
Cost per frame is fairly close, which is unusual for a higher-tier card. The upgrade cost is what matters to current owners, though. Used RTX 4080 Super cards usually sell for roughly $750-$900, while a used RTX 4070 typically resells for about $400-$470. The net outlay is often $300-$500, plus a possible PSU, for about 50% more performance. That is significant money, so also compare it with current-generation alternatives: the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT offer 16 GB and performance in a similar range, often with lower power draw, and the RTX 5070 Ti adds multi frame generation.
Upgrade Decision by Resolution
| Resolution and goal | Upgrade? |
|---|---|
| 1080p, any refresh rate | No: CPU limits waste much of the gain |
| 1440p at 60-100 Hz, raster games | No: the 4070 already handles this well |
| 1440p at 144-240 Hz with ray tracing | Yes, if budget allows |
| 4K at 60 fps or higher | Yes: the 4080 Super is a true 4K card |
| Path tracing at 1440p or 4K | Yes: large practical difference |
| Small case or 550-650 W PSU | Only after confirming fit and upgrading the PSU |
Verdict
The RTX 4080 Super is a real upgrade over the RTX 4070, not a marginal one. It turns 4K from a compromise into a comfortable target, makes heavy ray tracing far more usable and removes the 12 GB memory concern. The costs are equally real: a much larger card, 120 W more power, a probable PSU upgrade, and a net outlay of several hundred dollars. For 4K and high-refresh ray-traced gaming, it pays off. For 1080p or standard 1440p play, keep the 4070, or compare against current RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT pricing before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much faster is the RTX 4080 Super than the RTX 4070?
Based on TechPowerUp’s review data, roughly 45-55% faster at 1440p and around 55-65% at 4K. The gap is smaller at 1080p, where the CPU often limits performance. Results vary by game and settings.
Do I need a new power supply to upgrade to an RTX 4080 Super?
Possibly. A quality 750 W unit is the usual recommendation with a typical gaming CPU, and 850 W with a high-power CPU. Many systems built around an RTX 4070 use 550-650 W units, which would need replacing.
Is the RTX 4080 Super too big for my case?
The reference card is 310 mm long and three slots thick, and many partner models are larger. Measure available GPU length and vertical slot space before buying. A support bracket is recommended for heavy cards.
Does the RTX 4080 Super support multi frame generation?
No. Multi frame generation is exclusive to RTX 50 cards. The 4080 Super supports DLSS frame generation and the DLSS 4 transformer upscaling model, the same as the RTX 4070.
Should I get an RTX 4080 Super or an RTX 5070 Ti instead?
Both offer 16 GB of VRAM and broadly similar performance. The RTX 5070 Ti is a current-generation card with lower power draw and multi frame generation. A used RTX 4080 Super makes sense mainly if it costs noticeably less.
