Nvidia’s RTX 4070 Super sits in the awkward middle ground between enthusiast and mainstream pricing while delivering performance that punches above its price class. I’ve spent three months testing this card across dozens of games, multiple resolution targets, and various settings configurations to understand where it excels and where it falls short. The 4070 Super represents what I consider the sweet spot for high-end gaming in 2025 if you’re targeting 1440p high refresh rate gameplay.
This review covers real-world gaming performance across modern demanding titles and competitive shooters, how the card handles ray tracing workloads, whether 4K gaming is realistic with this GPU, how it compares against direct competition from AMD and Nvidia’s own lineup, and whether the price premium over the standard 4070 justifies the performance gains. Every benchmark ran on identical test systems to isolate GPU performance from other variables.
Most reviews focus exclusively on synthetic benchmarks and cherry-picked games that favor particular architectures. I tested the 4070 Super in the games I actually play including titles that stress different aspects of GPU performance. Frame time consistency matters more than peak FPS numbers so I measured frame time variance alongside average frame rates.
The RTX 4070 Super launched as Nvidia’s response to AMD’s competitive pricing on the RX 7800 XT. It replaces the standard 4070 at a similar price point while offering meaningful performance improvements. Understanding what you gain over the base 4070 and how it stacks against AMD alternatives helps determine whether this card fits your specific needs and budget. Let me show you exactly what this GPU delivers in practice.
RTX 4070 Super Specifications and Architecture
The RTX 4070 Super uses Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace architecture which represents a significant leap in efficiency and ray tracing performance compared to previous Ampere-based cards. Understanding the underlying hardware helps contextualize benchmark results and explains why this card performs the way it does across different workloads.
NVIDIA Ada Lovelace Architecture Overview
Ada Lovelace introduces fourth-generation tensor cores for AI acceleration and third-generation ray tracing cores for improved RT performance. The architecture focuses on efficiency delivering more performance per watt than Ampere while maintaining reasonable power consumption. This efficiency lets the 4070 Super achieve high performance without requiring massive power supplies or exotic cooling solutions.
The AD104 GPU powering the 4070 Super is a cut-down version of the chip used in higher-tier cards. Nvidia disabled some cores to create product segmentation but left enough enabled that the 4070 Super performs significantly better than you’d expect from a xx70 tier card. The architecture’s efficiency means even this cut-down chip competes well against AMD’s full-fat offerings.
DLSS 3 frame generation is exclusive to RTX 40 series cards and provides the 4070 Super with a significant advantage over previous generation Nvidia cards and current AMD offerings. Frame generation can multiply frame rates in supported games though it introduces some latency. I tested extensively with and without frame generation to show real performance in both scenarios.
Process node improvements to TSMC’s 4N process enable higher clock speeds at lower voltages compared to Samsung’s 8nm used in RTX 30 series. The 4070 Super boosts to 2475MHz out of the box with plenty of headroom for overclocking. My sample hit 2700MHz stable which is common for this card based on community reports.
Cache hierarchy improvements reduce memory bandwidth requirements allowing the 4070 Super to perform well despite its 192-bit memory bus. The L2 cache increased dramatically compared to Ampere partially compensating for the narrower bus width. This architectural decision keeps costs down while maintaining competitive performance.
CUDA Cores and Memory Configuration
The RTX 4070 Super includes 7168 CUDA cores which represents a 21 percent increase over the standard RTX 4070’s 5888 cores. This substantial core count increase is the primary reason for the Super’s improved performance. More cores mean more parallel processing capability for rendering complex scenes.
Memory configuration uses 12GB of GDDR6X running at 21 Gbps across a 192-bit bus. The bus width is narrower than the RTX 4080’s 256-bit interface but the large L2 cache and efficient architecture prevent this from becoming a major bottleneck. Memory bandwidth totals 504 GB/s which proves sufficient for 1440p gaming and most 4K scenarios.
The 12GB VRAM capacity sits in an interesting position. It’s more than the 8GB found on the RTX 4060 Ti which struggles with modern games at max settings but less than the 16GB on the RTX 4080. I encountered VRAM limitations in exactly two scenarios during testing: 4K with maximum texture settings in heavily modded games, and using extreme ray tracing presets in Cyberpunk 2077.
For 1440p gaming the 12GB proves completely adequate. I maxed out texture settings in every game tested without hitting VRAM limits. The capacity provides comfortable headroom for future titles while keeping costs reasonable. Anyone claiming 12GB is insufficient for high-end gaming is either playing at 4K or hasn’t actually tested the card.
Clock speeds boost to 2475MHz base with actual gaming clocks often reaching 2550-2600MHz depending on temperature and power delivery. My card consistently held 2580MHz during extended gaming sessions which is slightly above Nvidia’s specifications. The boost algorithm is aggressive about maintaining high clocks as long as thermal and power headroom exists.
Power Consumption and Thermal Design
TDP rating sits at 220W which is remarkably efficient for the performance delivered. Actual gaming power draw measured at the wall with my Kill-A-Watt meter averaged 210-230W depending on the game. Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing pushed power consumption to 235W while less demanding titles like Valorant drew 180-190W.
This moderate power consumption means a quality 650W PSU suffices for most builds pairing the 4070 Super with mainstream CPUs. My test system uses a 750W unit which provides comfortable headroom for overclocking both CPU and GPU. You don’t need an 850W or larger PSU unless you’re running a high-end overclocked Intel processor alongside the GPU.
Partner cards vary in cooling solutions from dual-fan compact designs to massive triple-fan models with elaborate heatsinks. I tested the Founders Edition which uses Nvidia’s dual-axial flow-through cooler design. This cooler performs adequately keeping the GPU at 68-72C during gaming with fan speeds around 1400-1500 RPM.
Noise levels are reasonable with the Founders Edition remaining barely audible over ambient room noise during typical gaming. Fan speeds stay low enough that I don’t hear the card with my headset on. Stress testing pushes temperatures to 75-78C with fan speeds increasing to 1800 RPM which is noticeable but not bothersome.
Aftermarket cards from ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte often include better cooling solutions than the Founders Edition. These cards typically run 5-8C cooler and quieter at the cost of larger physical size and sometimes higher prices. The performance difference is minimal but improved acoustics might matter if you value quiet operation.
Thermal throttling never occurred during my testing even during extended stress test sessions. The card maintained boost clocks consistently without dropping speeds due to temperature limits. Nvidia’s thermal management is conservative ensuring the card stays well within safe operating ranges.
1440p Gaming Performance Benchmarks
The RTX 4070 Super targets 1440p high refresh rate gaming and excels at this resolution. I tested across a range of demanding modern titles and competitive shooters to show what performance you can realistically expect. All testing used maximum or ultra settings unless otherwise noted to stress the GPU appropriately.
AAA Titles Performance Analysis
Cyberpunk 2077 represents one of the most demanding current games especially with ray tracing enabled. At 1440p with RT Overdrive settings the 4070 Super averaged 45-52 fps which is playable but not smooth. Enabling DLSS Quality mode boosted performance to 75-85 fps which feels excellent. The game looks stunning with path tracing and DLSS mitigates the performance cost effectively.
Without ray tracing Cyberpunk runs at 95-110 fps on ultra settings at 1440p. This demonstrates the massive performance cost of RT Overdrive and why DLSS is essentially mandatory for ray tracing in this title. The 4070 Super handles the game well as long as you’re realistic about settings combinations.
Starfield at 1440p ultra settings averaged 68-78 fps in my testing across different areas and scenarios. The game is moderately demanding but well-optimized for modern GPUs. Frame times remained consistent without major stuttering or hitching. FSR upscaling pushed performance above 100 fps though I prefer native rendering in this title since it’s not particularly fast-paced.
Baldur’s Gate 3 ran exceptionally well hitting 90-120 fps at 1440p ultra depending on scene complexity. Turn-based games don’t require high frame rates but the smooth performance is appreciated. The game scales well across different hardware making the 4070 Super overkill for this title but that means zero performance concerns.
Alan Wake 2 with ray tracing at 1440p averaged 52-61 fps on high settings without upscaling. Enabling DLSS Quality boosted performance to 82-94 fps making the experience much smoother. This game is brutally demanding but the 4070 Super handles it reasonably well with appropriate settings.
Hogwarts Legacy at 1440p ultra with RT averaged 68-76 fps which feels smooth during exploration and combat. The game occasionally hitches during asset streaming but this affects all GPUs and appears to be an engine issue rather than GPU limitation. DLSS provides significant headroom if you want 100+ fps.
Competitive FPS Games Testing
Valorant at 1440p maxed settings easily exceeds 300 fps making the 4070 Super massive overkill for this title. I typically see 350-450 fps depending on the map and player count. Competitive players running low settings for maximum visibility will hit even higher frame rates. Any modern GPU handles Valorant comfortably but the 4070 Super future-proofs for any competitive title.
CS2 runs at 280-350 fps on maximum settings at 1440p. Competitive players using low settings for visibility will see 400+ fps easily. The Source 2 engine scales well and the 4070 Super provides more than enough performance for high refresh rate monitors. Frame times stay incredibly consistent which matters more than peak fps in competitive scenarios.
Apex Legends averaged 180-220 fps at 1440p maximum settings. The game is well-optimized and runs smoothly on the 4070 Super. Dropping to competitive settings pushes performance above 250 fps which is plenty for 240Hz displays. The card never struggles maintaining high frame rates even during chaotic firefights.
Fortnite in DirectX 12 mode with max settings at 1440p averaged 165-195 fps without DLSS. Enabling performance mode settings that competitive players prefer pushes frame rates to 280-320 fps. The game runs exceptionally well and looks great with the 4070 Super easily handling any settings combination.
Overwatch 2 exceeded 300 fps at 1440p epic settings making the 4070 Super far more than necessary for this title. Competitive settings push frame rates even higher though diminishing returns hit hard above 240 fps. The consistent frame times and high frame rates provide excellent competitive performance.
Ray Tracing Performance Evaluation
Ray tracing performance shows where the 4070 Super’s improved RT cores shine compared to previous generation cards and AMD alternatives. RT cores dedicated to ray tracing calculations handle these workloads efficiently without tanking overall performance as badly as older architectures.
Control with ray tracing at 1440p high settings averaged 72-84 fps which is completely playable. The ray traced reflections and lighting dramatically improve visual quality making the performance cost worthwhile. DLSS Quality pushes performance above 100 fps if you want higher frame rates.
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition with RT Global Illumination averaged 65-76 fps at 1440p extreme settings. This game showcases ray tracing beautifully and the 4070 Super handles it well. The visual improvement from RT lighting is substantial making this one of the better implementations I’ve tested.
Spider-Man Remastered with RT reflections at 1440p very high settings ran at 78-88 fps. The performance hit from ray tracing is moderate and the visual improvement is noticeable in reflective surfaces throughout the city. DLSS provides additional headroom if needed though native performance is already smooth.
Portal RTX represents an extreme ray tracing showcase being fully path traced. At 1440p the 4070 Super averaged 35-45 fps without DLSS which is borderline unplayable. DLSS Performance mode is mandatory pushing frame rates to 65-80 fps. This demonstrates the limits of current ray tracing performance even on capable cards.
The pattern is clear: the 4070 Super handles ray tracing well in most titles especially with DLSS enabled. Fully path traced games still challenge the card but hybrid ray tracing implementations work excellently. The improved RT cores over RTX 30 series cards make ray tracing a realistic option rather than a slideshow.