BuildRanked · GPU compare
RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT
The most argued 1440p pairing of the Ada era: NVIDIA’s DLSS/RT stack and NVENC versus AMD’s 16 GB Navi 32 raster muscle — still relevant as street prices drift.
1440p upgrade
See how each card fits your budget
Dial budget and use case — we’ll balance GPU weight against CPU, RAM, and SSD picks.
At a glance
Spec comparison
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4070 Super | Radeon RX 7800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace (AD104) | RDNA 3 (Navi 32) |
| VRAM | 12 GB GDDR6X | 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 192-bit | 256-bit |
| TDP (board power, ref class) | ~220 W | ~263 W |
| Street price (est.) | ~$549–$599 | ~$479–$529 |
| Upscaling | DLSS 3 + frame gen | FSR 3 / FSR 2 in most titles |
| Ray tracing | Ada RT cores — strong gen | Capable; trails Ada in heavy RT |
Selected titles
Gaming benchmarks
| Game | Settings | RTX 4070 Super | RX 7800 XT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1440p RT Ultra | 78 FPS (DLSS Q) | 70 FPS (FSR Q) |
| Starfield | 1440p Ultra | 102 FPS | 108 FPS |
| Fortnite | 1440p Epic | 165 FPS | 172 FPS |
| Resident Evil 4 Remake | 1440p Max | 142 FPS | 138 FPS |
| Metro Exodus Enhanced | 1440p RT High | 95 FPS (DLSS) | 78 FPS (FSR) |
By resolution
1080p, 1440p, and 4K
1080p
Both GPUs are massively overkill for 1080p60. At esports refresh targets, you are often CPU-limited — pick by encoder needs and driver preference as much as raw frames.
1440p
The real contest: raster-heavy titles tilt AMD; RT ultra + DLSS quality modes tilt NVIDIA. If you play a mixed library, list your top five games and check whether they are RT-first or raster-first before you buy.
4K
Expect upscaling for comfortable high settings. The 4070 Super’s DLSS path is more mature in RT-heavy AAA; the 7800 XT’s 16 GB can ease texture pressure in select native scenarios — neither is a guilt-free native 4K card for every launch title.
Upscaling & frame gen
DLSS 3 vs FSR
DLSS 3 frame generation on Ada remains a practical uplift in supported single-player games, especially when base FPS is already in a playable band. Competitive players may still prefer it off — latency sensitivity is personal.
FSR coverage is broad and cross-vendor; quality varies by title implementation. If you do not use RT, FSR on either vendor can be “good enough” — but do not pay the NVIDIA premium solely for FSR.
RT performance
Ray tracing
Ada’s RT stack still wins in the hardest RT modes. If you never enable RT, the 7800 XT’s raster story is more compelling — if you live in Cyberpunk-style presets, lean NVIDIA.
12 GB vs 16 GB
VRAM and longevity
16 GB on the 7800 XT is the honest comfort pick for texture-heavy games and longer upgrade holds. 12 GB on the 4070 Super is workable at 1440p with sensible settings — but monitor VRAM in the specific titles you care about, especially with HD texture packs.
PSU fit
Power and thermals
Reference-class 7800 XT boards can draw more power than 4070 Super designs; efficiency favors NVIDIA in many perf-per-watt snapshots. Either card is fine on a quality 650–750 W PSU with a modern mid-tier CPU — verify 12VHPWR / adapter routing for NVIDIA AIBs.
Who should buy which
Best use cases
- Buy RTX 4070 Super if: RT + DLSS matter, you stream with NVENC, or CUDA apps are in your workflow.
- Buy RX 7800 XT if: raster FPS per dollar and VRAM headroom beat ecosystem features for your library — confirm live retailer pricing before checkout.
Summary
Winner by category
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pure raster @ 1440p | RX 7800 XT | Often trades wins; extra VRAM helps in texture-heavy titles — street pricing swings the value call. |
| Ray tracing + DLSS path | RTX 4070 Super | Clearer lead when RT ultra and DLSS frame gen are in play; broader DLSS-native coverage. |
| 1080p high refresh | Tie | Both are CPU-bound in many esports titles; pick by ecosystem and cooler noise, not raw FPS. |
| 4K (with upscaling) | Slight RTX 4070 Super | Neither is a native-4K monster; DLSS quality modes feel a bit more consistent in RT-heavy AAA. |
| Power efficiency | RTX 4070 Super | Lower typical board power than reference-class 7800 XT — partner cards vary. |
| VRAM longevity | RX 7800 XT | 16 GB is easier to justify for modded games and some future texture budgets at 1440p. |
Frequently asked questions
- Is 12 GB on the 4070 Super a deal-breaker?
- For most 2026 1440p gaming, no — especially with upscaling. If you run heavy texture packs or plan multi-year holds at high settings, lean 7800 XT and verify current retailer pricing.
- Which is better for streaming?
- NVENC on RTX is still the practical default for single-PC streaming simplicity; AMD’s encoder has improved but check your exact software stack.
- Should I buy used to split the difference?
- Both tiers have healthy used supply — inspect warranty, power connector type, and VRAM health claims carefully.
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Product pages: RTX 4070 Super on RankedGPU · RX 7800 XT on RankedGPU