NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 3090
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
NVIDIA
RTX 3090
Aggregate performance score
We've compared RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗RTX 4090 outperforms RTX 3090 by 29% based on our aggregate benchmark results.+29%
Scores are normalized on the Head to Head scale. Higher is better.GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 3090: key takeaway
The comparison of RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 shows a 29% advantage for RTX 4090 in gaming performance, while RTX 3090 may still be stronger in value for money. Use the sections below to check whether that lead comes from real FPS, specifications, efficiency, price or platform features.
SUMMARY PROFILE
Verified-metrics radar
Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.
NVIDIAPerformance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
8868
6565
7174
100100
COMPARISON RESULT
RTX 4090 is the best overall choice
RTX 4090 leads in combined game performance. RTX 3090 offers the better price per frame, while the final choice depends on the required features, memory, and games.
RTX 4090 leads in the combined performance index
RTX 3090 costs less
CATALOG POSITION
Full ranking →Graphics card ranking
Positions 2–7of 317
COMPARISON VERDICT
Which should you choose?
Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.
GeForce RTX 3090
180 likesHead to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.
GeForce RTX 3090
74/100 · Price $1499The choice is based on the price-to-performance index and launch price.
OVERALL SCORE
Overview
Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.
The Summary score section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
88Better
68
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
70Better
55
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
67Better
53
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
65
65
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
80Better
69
FULL COMPARISON
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
The Specifications section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
Device classDesktopDesktop
UpscalingDLSS 3DLSS 2
DisplayPortDisplayPort 1.4aDisplayPort 1.4a
HDMIHDMI 2.1HDMI 2.1
TFLOPS82.58Better35.58
DirectX12.212.2
Vulkan1.41.4
OpenGL4.64.6
Power consumption450 W350 WBetter
Memory typeGDDR6XGDDR6X
Power connector16 pin16 pin
Release date20222020
ArchitectureAda LovelaceAmpere
ThicknessTriple-slotTriple-slot
Compute APIOpenCL 3.0, CUDA 8.9OpenCL 3.0, CUDA 8.6
Launch price$1599$1499Better
Shader units / cores16384Better10496
Clock speed2235 - 2520 MHzBetter1395 - 1695 MHz
Base clock2235 MHzBetter1395 MHz
Boost clock2520 MHzBetter1695 MHz
VRAM24 GB GDDR6X24 GB GDDR6X
Memory frequency21 GHzBetter19,5 GHz
Memory bus384 bit384 bit
Memory bandwidth1008 GB/sBetter936 GB/s
InterfacePCIe 4x16PCIe 4x16
Power consumption450 W350 WBetter
Process node5 nmBetter8 nm
Recommended PSU850 W750 WBetter
Length304 mmBetter336 mm
Die size609 mm²Better628 mm²
Memory cacheL1 128 KB, L2 72 MBL1 128 KB, L2 6 MB
Transistor count76300 millionBetter28300 million
Max monitors44
Max resolution7680 × 43207680 × 4320
USB Type-CNoNo
GAME TEST BENCH
Gaming FPS
Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.
The Gaming FPS section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 across curated H2H Lab game presets. The useful signal is not only average FPS, but also how each device behaves at 1440p and 4K, how memory capacity and bus width affect heavy textures, and whether the game engine favors raster performance, ray tracing, or driver maturity.
RTX 4090RTX 3090
Verified H2HCommunity VerifiedEstimatedPredicted
Black Myth: Wukong
1080p High
45 FPSEstimated 66%
33 FPSEstimated 66%
1080p Ultra
38 FPSEstimated 66%
28 FPSEstimated 66%
1440p Ultra
29 FPSEstimated 66%
21 FPSEstimated 66%
4K Ultra
17 FPSEstimated 66%
12 FPSEstimated 66%
Black Myth: WukongRTX 409045 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309033 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409038 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309028 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409029 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309021 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409017 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309012 FPSEstimated 66%
Call of Duty: WarzoneRTX 409045 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309033 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409038 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309028 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409029 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309021 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409017 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309012 FPSEstimated 66%
Counter-Strike 2RTX 4090365 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090281 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 4090252 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090197 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 4090188 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090153 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 409095 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 309076 FPSEstimated 74%
Cyberpunk 2077RTX 4090230 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090181 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 4090205 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090156 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 4090142 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090111 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 409068 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 309051 FPSEstimated 74%
Forza Horizon 5RTX 4090284 FPSEstimated 80%RTX 3090229 FPSEstimated 80%RTX 4090194 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090148 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 4090172 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090138 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 4090131 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090112 FPSEstimated 74%
God of War RagnarökRTX 409045 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309033 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409038 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309028 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409029 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309021 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409017 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309012 FPSEstimated 66%
Hogwarts LegacyRTX 4090187 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090148 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 4090157 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090124 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 4090126 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 3090100 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 409074 FPSEstimated 74%RTX 309052 FPSEstimated 74%
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024RTX 409045 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309033 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409038 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309028 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409029 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309021 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409017 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309012 FPSEstimated 66%
Monster Hunter WildsRTX 409045 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309033 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409038 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309028 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409029 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309021 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409017 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309012 FPSEstimated 66%
StarfieldRTX 409045 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309033 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409038 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309028 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409029 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309021 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 409017 FPSEstimated 66%RTX 309012 FPSEstimated 66%
HEAD TO HEAD · CALCULATED INDEX
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
The Benchmarks section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100886826%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100897123%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100917717%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 1001001000%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 10065650%
These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.
HEAD TO HEAD · CALCULATED INDEX
H2H AI workload indices
Estimated workload profiles based on available performance and memory data.
The Detailed comparison section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 100938213%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100938114%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100917717%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100958610%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100927816%
These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.
Graphics APIs, SDKs and upscaling
The Graphics APIs, SDKs and upscaling section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
DirectX12.212.2
Vulkan1.41.4
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingDLSS 3DLSS 2
Compute APIOpenCL 3.0, CUDA 8.9OpenCL 3.0, CUDA 8.6
Architecture and release
The Architecture and release section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
ArchitectureAda LovelaceAmpere
Process node5 nmBetter8 nm
Release date20222020
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
The Core layout and clocks section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
Transistor count76300 millionBetter28300 million
Die size609 mm²Better628 mm²
Shader units / cores16384Better10496
Base clock2235 MHzBetter1395 MHz
Boost clock2520 MHzBetter1695 MHz
Board size, power and compatibility
The Form factor and compatibility section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
InterfacePCIe 4x16PCIe 4x16
Length304 mmBetter336 mm
ThicknessTriple-slotTriple-slot
Recommended PSU850 W750 WBetter
Power connector16 pin16 pin
Display outputs and limits
The Display outputs section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
HDMIHDMI 2.1HDMI 2.1
DisplayPortDisplayPort 1.4aDisplayPort 1.4a
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors44
Max resolution7680 × 43207680 × 4320
Memory and compute throughput
The VRAM capacity and bandwidth section compares RTX 4090 and RTX 3090 with normalized H2H data, turning specifications, tests and value signals into practical buying context.
VRAM24 GB GDDR6X24 GB GDDR6X
Memory typeGDDR6XGDDR6X
Memory bus384 bit384 bit
TFLOPS82.58Better35.58
HEAD TO HEAD · DISCOVER
6Other comparisons
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AI EXPLAIN · HEAD TO HEAD
Explain this comparison
Beyond percentages: causes, relevant specifications, and practical impact behind every chart.
What AI will explain
Overall score, radar, FPS, synthetic tests, specifications, efficiency, and value.
REAL CONFIGURATIONS
Owner experiences
Real builds, results, and community feedback.
♢Moderator reviewed☆Helpful to the community🏅Expert badges
Frequently asked comparison questions
Short recommendations based on performance, memory, power consumption, and intended use.
01Which is better for gaming: RTX 4090 or RTX 3090?+
RTX 4090 has the higher overall gaming score, while RTX 3090 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.
02Which is better for streaming?+
RTX 4090 is the stronger streaming choice thanks to performance, hardware encoding, and application support. Check AV1, H.264, and HEVC support before buying.
03Which is better for Blender?+
RTX 4090 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.
04Which is better for video editing?+
RTX 4090 offers more overall performance, while RTX 4090 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.
05Which is better for neural networks and AI?+
RTX 4090 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.
06Which is better for 1080p?+
RTX 3090 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.
07Which is better for 1440p?+
RTX 4090 leads in combined 1440p performance. RTX 4090 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.
08Which is better for 4K?+
RTX 4090 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.
09Which is better for a quiet PC?+
RTX 3090 is easier to use in a quiet build because of its lower estimated power and thermal load. Actual noise depends on the specific cooler.
10Which is better without replacing the power supply?+
RTX 3090 is the safer candidate because its stated power consumption is lower. Verify PSU wattage, age, and power connectors.
11Is it worth upgrading from the previous generation?+
Consider upgrading to RTX 4090 if your current device no longer delivers the required FPS, memory capacity, or feature support. A gain below 15–20% is usually worth waiting for a price cut.