RTX 5070 vs RTX 4080 Super: Which GPU Should You Buy?

The RTX 5070 launched at a price that reframed the whole conversation around the 4080 Super. The older card has 16 GB of GDDR6X and a roughly 27% native-raster lead. The newer one has DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation and a TDP 70 watts lower. At current market prices, the math points hard in one direction for new builds. But there is a narrow case where the 4080 Super still earns its spot, and this article lays it out precisely.

We ran both cards through 8 games at 1440p to show you where each one wins and where the gap actually matters.

At a glance

Where each one wins

Benchmarks

The numbers tell a consistent story: the RTX 4080 Super leads by roughly 27% across the basket in native 1440p raster. That gap is real and it shows up in every game. What it does not account for is DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation.

The RTX 5070 supports DLSS 4 with up to 4x frame multiplication in supported titles. In Cyberpunk 2077 with DLSS 4 MFG enabled, the 5070 crosses well above the 4080 Super's native framerate. The 4080 Super is limited to DLSS 3, which uses a single generated frame per rendered frame (2x multiplier). The gap between DLSS 3 and DLSS 4 MFG is not subtle in titles that support it, and the list of DLSS 4 games continues to grow.

At 4K native, the 4080 Super's lead holds at roughly 25%. The RTX 5070 can deliver playable 4K framerates with DLSS 4 quality mode, but users who want native-resolution 4K performance without upscaling will find the 4080 Super's lead meaningful.

MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Ventus 3X OC

MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Ventus 3X OC - 12GB GDDR7 (28Gbps/192-bit), PCIe 5, Boost: 2542 MHz, HDMI 2.1b, DisplayPort 2.1b

Buy the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X OC on Amazon

Specs

What it does well

The RTX 5070 delivers around 80% of the 4080 Super's 1440p raster performance at a significantly lower price point, with two meaningful advantages the older card cannot match: DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation and a 70-watt TDP reduction.

DLSS 4 MFG changes the value calculation in supported titles. With 4x frame multiplication active, the 5070 posts framerates the 4080 Super simply cannot reach. Cyberpunk 2077 is the clearest example, but Alan Wake 2 and a growing list of newer titles support it natively. DLSS 4 is a Blackwell-exclusive feature tied to the new Tensor Core architecture. No firmware update will bring it to 40-series cards.

The 250W TDP matters beyond the electricity bill. SFF cases that struggle with 320W thermal output have much more comfortable headroom with the 5070. If you are running a 650W PSU from a previous build, the 5070 works without a PSU swap. The 4080 Super wants at least 750W and is more comfortable with 850W.

At 1440p, 12 GB of GDDR7 is not a constraint for any current game. The framebuffer debate is almost entirely theoretical below 4K for titles using standard texture settings.

What you give up

The 27% native-raster deficit is real and it shows up in the benchmarks. In games without DLSS 4 support, the 4080 Super genuinely outperforms the 5070 by that margin. If your library skews toward competitive titles that have not added DLSS 4 yet, you will feel the gap.

The 12 GB GDDR7 framebuffer is the most-discussed concern with the 5070. At 1440p with standard settings it does not matter today. At 4K with heavy texture mods, ray tracing cranked up, or modded PC games like Skyrim with high-resolution texture packs, 12 GB can become a ceiling faster than 16 GB. The 4080 Super's 16 GB GDDR6X pool has more headroom in those specific scenarios.

The Ventus 3X OC is a mid-tier AIB design. It does the job, runs quiet, and stays cool. It is not a flagship cooler, but it handles the 5070's 250W TDP without issue.

Who it's for

The RTX 5070 is the right card for builders starting fresh at 1440p who want a capable GPU at a reasonable price point. It also makes sense for people upgrading from a 30-series card who want solid generation-to-generation gains without paying a premium. And for anyone building in a tighter case or with an older 650W PSU, the 5070's 250W TDP removes the question entirely.

ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 Super OC (Renewed)

ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card (PCIe 4.0, 16GB GDDR6X, HDMI 2.1a, DisplayPort 1.4a) (Renewed)

$1,299.99$1,799.95

Buy the ASUS TUF RTX 4080 Super OC on Amazon

Specs

What it does well

The RTX 4080 Super remains a genuinely fast GPU. At 1440p native raster it leads the 5070 by roughly 27% across the benchmark basket, and that lead holds at 4K too. In titles without DLSS 4 support, that performance gap is straightforward and not papered over by frame generation.

The 16 GB GDDR6X framebuffer is the 4080 Super's strongest remaining argument. At 4K with high-resolution texture packs, ray tracing at maximum settings, or heavily modded games, 16 GB gives you buffer room the 5070's 12 GB pool does not provide. This is not a concern for most 1440p gaming, but it is real for 4K enthusiasts who push settings to their limits.

ASUS TUF build quality is solid. The card runs cool and quiet under load, the triple-fan cooler handles 320W without trouble, and the TUF line has a good reliability track record. The Amazon Renewed listing carries a 90-day guarantee and comes from Amazon's qualified supplier program.

What you give up

The 4080 Super is a discontinued card. NVIDIA has moved to the 50 series, and the new-retail supply has nearly dried up. Every new-retail listing on Amazon shows extremely limited stock at prices well above the card's original MSRP. The Renewed listing used here is the most realistic way to buy one today, and even at that price point the 5070 represents a sharper value for most use cases.

DLSS 3 is where the 4080 Super's future-proofing ends. There is no upgrade path to DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation on Ada Lovelace cards. In titles where MFG produces a meaningful framerate multiplier, the 5070 surpasses the 4080 Super outright. As the DLSS 4 game list expands, the 4080 Super's 27% native-raster lead becomes a shrinking advantage.

The 320W TDP requires a PSU with enough headroom. An 850W power supply is comfortable; a 750W unit can work but leaves a tighter margin depending on CPU and platform. SFF and ITX builders should confirm case airflow and PSU ratings before committing.

Who it's for

The 4080 Super still makes sense for a narrow set of buyers: 4K enthusiasts who want maximum native-raster performance in titles that do not yet support DLSS 4, users who find the card at a genuine deal price in the used market (not Amazon pricing, but local second-hand sales), and builders whose workloads specifically benefit from 16 GB of VRAM. Outside those cases, the current-generation alternative delivers meaningfully better value.

Which one should you buy?

If you are building a new 1440p gaming PC: Buy the RTX 5070. The performance gap at 1440p is around 27% in native raster, which sounds large but largely disappears in games with DLSS 4 support, where the 5070 surpasses the 4080 Super. The 5070 also costs significantly less, draws 70W fewer, and represents the current generation with a longer software support runway.

If you game at 4K and want native-resolution performance: The 4080 Super's lead at 4K native holds at roughly 25%. Its 16 GB GDDR6X buffer also helps in texture-heavy workloads. If you find it at a genuine bargain price in the local used market, the 4080 Super at 4K makes a case. At current Amazon Renewed pricing, the 5070 is still the better overall buy unless 4K native framerates are the top priority.

If you are upgrading from a 30-series card: The 5070 is the straightforward choice. Both cards are a meaningful jump from a 3070 or 3080, and the 5070 gives you that jump with DLSS 4, lower power draw, and current-generation driver support.

If you are upgrading from a 4070 Ti or 4080: Neither card is the right target. The performance gains are incremental enough that the 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 are better places to land a meaningful upgrade.

If power consumption or case space is a constraint: The 5070's 250W TDP wins cleanly. SFF builders, anyone on a 650W PSU, or anyone running a small case where 320W creates real airflow problems should not be debating this.

Bottom line

For new builds at 1440p, buy the MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Ventus 3X OC. It delivers the majority of the 4080 Super's raster output at significantly lower cost, adds DLSS 4 MFG the older card cannot access, and runs 70 watts more efficiently. If you game at 4K and want maximum native-resolution performance, the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 Super OC is still fast and its 16 GB buffer gives it an edge in demanding workloads. If you are upgrading from a 30-series card, the 5070 is the clear pick. The 4080 Super market is a clearance situation: stock is thin, prices are elevated, and the current-generation card wins on value for most builds.

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