NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super Founders Edition Review
The best video card under $600?
Today we put the video card to the test NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super Founders Edition, a part of “refresh” de NVIDIA with the new series RTX 40 Super. After previous releases that were not so well received, such as RTX 4060 and especially the RTX 4060 Ti, We will explore whether the new cards NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super revive the expectations of gamers in the video card market with a price range between US$ 500 y US$ 600 American dollars.
It is essential to highlight that, with this launch, GeForce RTX 4070 price drops to $549, and we will also be reviewing that model at the end of the evaluation.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super has been provided as a sample (non-returnable) by NVIDIA, however this condition will not affect my opinion of the product.
Table of Contents
Introduction, technical section/specifications
Like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, the RTX 4070 Super makes use of the new Ada Lovelace architecture and features all the technologies present in the RTX 40 cards, including DLSS Frame Generation and generational improvements in Ray Tracing and Tensor Cores.
The GeForce RTX 4070 Super features improved specifications compared to its counterpart, the RTX 4070, offering 7168 CUDA cores (+21.73%). The card is based on the AD104-350 GPU, and this version sees a 20W increase in TGP, totaling 220W. Like other models in the family, the RTX 4070 Super uses the 12VHPWR connector, and the Founders Edition version includes an adapter from this connector to two 8-pin PCIe.
NVIDIA recommends a power supply of at least 650W and, in the case of using a native 12VHPWR cable, it is suggested that it have a minimum capacity of 300W.
The memory configuration remains unchanged, with 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM, a 192-bit memory bus, and a memory clock speed of 21 Gbps, resulting in a total of 504 GB/s of bandwidth.
For those in countries where Founders Editions are not found, AIB (Add-In Board) partner models will also be available.
Reminder about DLSS 3 Frame Generation
To understand DLSS 3, prior knowledge of DLSS Super Resolution (DLSS 2) is essential. DLSS Super Resolution uses an artificial intelligence model, specifically a convolutional autoencoder, to build a current high-resolution frame based on a current low-resolution frame and a previous high-resolution frame, pixel by pixel.
The AI model was trained to predict a 16K ultra-high-resolution reference image, improving through neural network training using the difference between the predicted and reference image.
After repeating this process numerous times, the network can produce high-quality images. DLSS 3 ushers in a new era where artificial intelligence creates entirely new frames instead of pixels, using four components: an optical flow accelerator, game engine motion vectors, a convolutional autoencoder AI frame generator, and a pipeline. super low latency high speed reflex.
DLSS 3 Frame Generation is a technology that uses the power of the Optical Flow Accelerator to provide the neural network with the direction and speed of the pixels from one frame to the next. This enables the generation of entirely new frames without conventional graphics processing, resulting in up to a 4x performance boost in GPU-limited cases (according to NVIDIA) without sacrificing quality.
Additionally, DLSS 3 FG can benefit both GPU- and CPU-limited games, including games with large worlds and physics-based gameplay. By allowing Ada GPUs to render at a much higher frame rate, DLSS 3 provides significant improvements in game performance.
Specifications Table - Summary
xanxogaming |
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|---|---|---|
| RTX 4070 SUPER | RTX 4070 | |
| Board & SKU | PG141 SKU 335 | PG141 SKU 344 |
| GPU | AD104-350 | AD104-250 |
| CUDA Cores | 7168 | 5888 |
| Conference proceedings | 12GB G6X | 12GB G6X |
| Memory bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Base Frequency | 1980 MHz | 1920 MHz |
| Boost frequency | 2475 MHz | 2475 MHz |
| Memory clock | 21 Gbps | 21 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 504 GB / s | 504 GB / s |
| PCIe | 4.0 x16 | 4.0 x16 |
| TGP | 220w | 200w |
| power connector | 1x 12VHPWR / Adapter to 2 x PCIe 8 pin | 1x 12VHPWR/8-pin |
| recommended font | 650w | 600w |
| Exits | -3x DisplayPort - 1x HDMI | -3x DisplayPort - 1x HDMI |
| Sales availability | 17/1/2024 | 13/4/2023 |
| MSRP | $599 | 549 (new MSRP) |
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super Founders Edition - Photos and unboxing
Synthetic and gaming benchmarks (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
With the launch and announcement of new generation video cards, we have to update our test bench. The best processor that we have in our hands to carry out the necessary tests is the processor Intel Core i9-13900K.
Also, we have updated to Windows 11, with the option VBS (Virtualization-Based Security) disabled.
CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K (Power Limiters Disabled) (https://amzn.to/3X53WQS)
Board: Z790 AORUS ELITE AX (BIOS F10) (https://amzn.to/3ClPWde)
RAM: G.Skill Flare X5 Series (AMD Expo) 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5 6000 CL36-36-96 (https://amzn.to/3Z8g45y) (https://amzn.to/3HeZhpJ)
T.video (what we are testing): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super Founders Edition
Operating system: Windows 11 Home Edition 23H2 – VBS OFF
Liquid refrigeration: Lian Li Galahad 360 (https://amzn.to/3jMvNXO)
SSD: Addlink S70 1TB + TeamGroup MP34 4TB SSD (https://amzn.to/3PuIAvX)
Driver: NVIDIA Driver
Power supply: NZXT C1200 (https://amzn.to/4aVcbXJ)
A statistic reminder...
Before detailing our configuration system, let's refresh a little what they are AVG FPS y 1% LOW.
AVG FPS (Average FPS): As the name says, it is the average number of frames per second within a specific sequence. It is the most used measure, but it does not detail the whole story, since there are FPS drops.
1%LOW: Within an entire frames per second dataset, the 1% LOW is the value equal to the lowest 1% within the frames dataset (of the specific sequence ordered ascending). In simpler terms, it is the frame where you see the FPS drop that exists within a specific sequence.
3DMark Time Spy Extreme
3DMark Speed Way
Vray Benchmark 6 (CUDA) - GPU
Vray Benchmark 6 (RTX)
Blender
OctaneBench
Gaming – Rasterization
All tests are done at the highest quality available, unless otherwise specified.
Let's see the first title, The Plague Tale: Requiem.
A Plague Tale: Requiem (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: Proprietary
Assassin's Creed: Origins (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: AnvilNext 2.0
Borderlands 3 (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: Frostbite 3
Monitor (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: Northlight Engine
Death Stranding (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: Decima
F1 2022 (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: EGO “Boost” Engine 4.0
God of War (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: Proprietary
Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: Proprietary
Shadow of the Tomb Raider DX 12 (1080, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: Foundation
Shadow of War (1080, 1440p, 2160p)
Game engine: LithTech Jupiter EX
Strange Brigade DX12 + Async (1080p, 1440p, 2160p)
Game Engine: Asura
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super Founders Edition - Consumption, temperatures, noise
Before we dive into the final analysis, we will explore other crucial aspects apart from performance such as GPU power consumption. In relation to temperature and noise measurements, these figures apply specifically to the version RTX 4070 Super Founders Edition. These last two metrics will be particularly useful for those who have purchase access to a Founders Edition, providing information on whether the dissipation design is adequate, that is, whether it offers low temperatures and noise levels.
Consumption - Highly efficient
We will use the performance evaluation tool Furmark, which is capable of reaching a resolution of 3840x2160p, and we will put it to the test for a period of 15 minutes (o 30 minutes for those using a liquid cooling solution).
In this way, we can effectively determine the maximum temperatures of the video card and establish the noise level generated under these specific conditions. When playing, it is important to keep in mind that consumption can increase by 100 to 150 additional watts, since the processor is also stressed during gaming.
The generational changes highlight the greater efficiency of the RTX 4070 Super compared to one of its predecessors, the RTX 2080 Super. At the same time, it offers superior performance. This way, those who own a 2080 Super can use the same power supply if they decide to upgrade to an RTX 4070 Super.
Maximum temperature
The dissipation design of the Founders Edition falls short of perfection, but it cannot be considered bad either. Generally speaking, it is acceptable, with a delta above the ambient temperature of 46.4 degrees Celsius. This result places it almost at the bottom of the table, but does not reach worrying levels, as observed in the dissipation design of the RTX 2080 Super Founders Edition and EVGA RTX 2060 XC Gaming.
For those looking for lower temperatures, NVIDIA's AIB partners will offer models with improved dissipation solutions, albeit at a higher price.
Noise - Extremely quiet
The noise level produced by the Founders Edition on Furmark it is noticeably low and will be virtually unnoticeable to most users. This is one of the highlights of the Founders Edition, apart from its attractive appearance that will surely captivate most.
Relative performance – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super
When analyzing the relative performance of the GeForce RTX 4070 Super en 1080p, This is placed prominently in this resolution, slightly surpassing the GeForce RTX 3080 and at a cost $100 less. Based on testing at this resolution, the RTX 4070 Super offers 11.29% better performance than its smaller counterpart, the RTX 4070, which has seen a $50 price reduction.
The situation improves even more for the RTX 4070 Super in 1440p resolution, where there are fewer games that generate limited FPS and the demand on GPUs is more demanding. The advantage increases to 14% higher performance compared to the RTX 4070, and all this at a cost of 9.10% more. At this resolution, the GeForce RTX 4070 Super still outperforms the 3080 Ti.
The most suitable resolution for this new video card is undoubtedly 1440p.
This graph strongly illustrates the current difference between the RTX 4090 and any other GPU. Returning to the analysis, we observe that the RTX 3080 Ti surpasses the RTX 4070 Super, a result that does not surprise us. We don't consider the RTX 4070 Super to be the most suitable card for this resolution, especially in modern games, and the user will probably have to make some adjustments if they want to play with so many pixels, unless the game features DLSS 3 Frame Generation, something that previous generations do not have.
Cost per FPS
One of the users' favorite indicators is the cost per FPS, a metric that we calculate based on the MSRP price, although it can vary depending on market prices. An example of this is the RTX 4090, which is in short supply and priced above MSRP. We will focus on the 1440p resolution as we believe, and the numbers support, that it is best suited for the RTX 4070 Super.
Considering that there was no SUPER series within the RTX 30, the closest to the RTX 4070 Super would be the GeForce RTX 3070. The RTX 4070 Super improves its value by 16.11%, taking into account the price difference between both products. This calculation does not include the additional features of the RTX 4070 Super, such as AV1 encoding, DLSS 3 Frame Generation, and more, giving it additional added value.
1080p
1440p
2160p
The GeForce RTX 4070 Super is not "snake oil"
The SUPER series marks its return with the first card, the RTX 4070 Super, providing better value to gamers in the US$500-600 (MSRP USA) price segment. In the process, the GeForce RTX 4070 lowers its price (now US$549), significantly improving its appeal as an offering.
The RTX 4070 Super offers better value than its non-Super counterpart, but if resources are limited, the RTX 4070 is still a viable option. With older cards disappearing from stock, this leaves the new RTX 40 and the used video card market as main options.
In terms of content creation, if they are not enough for an RTX 4070 Super, there is a difference, but it is not abysmal. The next card a pro should consider is the next one in the SUPER series to come out, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super, which will come with more VRAM (16GB).
Compared to the RTX 20 series, the new SUPER series simply offers almost double the performance and improves its efficiency, not to mention the exclusive features such as DLSS 3 Frame Generation and AV1 encoding present in the GeForce RTX 40 cards.
While this release improves the outlook for the RTX 40 in the $500-$600 price range, we expect there to also be improvements in the market for the RTX 4060 and especially the RTX 4060 Ti (both versions). The gap between a 4060 Ti and a 4070/4070 Super is considerable, and a Super refresh with more VRAM would be very welcome, although there is no news or rumors about it at the moment.
In summary, we can recommend the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super for the gamer and content creator whose budget is between US$ 500 and 600 US dollars (before taxes, MSRP USA), as it offers excellent performance and value for 1440p.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super - Review
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Performance
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Temperatures
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Noise
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Consumption
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Price
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Price
Overall
Summary
The Super series makes a significant return to the price market of $500-600 American dollars with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super. Offers solid performance for the price, along with the series' other distinctive features RTX 40, , the DLSS 3 Frame Generation and more.
Pros
-Good performance for 1440p.
-Leader in the US$ 500-600 price segment.
-Good performance for the price.
-It only requires a 650w power source (quite efficient).
-DLSS 3 Frame Generation, AV1 encoding.
Cons
-Dissipation of the Founders Edition model is not bad, but it is not excellent either. Users will have to aim for AIB models in case they want lower temperatures.
