NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database contains a complete benchmark suite for the RTX 5070 Mobile, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q entry has no benchmark scores listed. Consequently, direct numerical comparison relies entirely on the RTX 5070 Mobile's measured performance and its position relative to other GPUs in the database.

The RTX 5070 Mobile delivers an average benchmark score of 29,928 across all recorded tests. This places it at the 75th percentile among all GPUs in the database, a strong showing for a mobile part. Its nearest rivals in the database are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti with an average score of 29,945, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 with 30,433, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 with 30,095, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti with 29,783. The delta percentages show a tight cluster: the RTX 5070 Mobile sits 0.1% behind the RTX 3070 Ti, 0.5% ahead of the RTX 2080 Ti, 0.6% behind the RX 6800, and 1.7% behind the RX 6700.

Looking at individual workload results for the RTX 5070 Mobile, the OpenCL score of 122,238 and Vulkan score of 116,960 indicate strong compute and graphics API performance. In DirectX tests, the PassMark scores show 214 for DirectX 9, 192 for DirectX 11, 129 for DirectX 10, and 93 for DirectX 12. The GPU compute score of 8,279 and the 3D graphics score of 20,355 further characterize its capabilities. The 2D graphics score of 896 is comparatively modest, which is typical for a discrete mobile GPU.

Because the RTX 4070 Max-Q has no benchmark entries in the database, the head-to-head comparison is asymmetrical. The data confirms that the RTX 5070 Mobile is a functional, competitive part, but it cannot be directly measured against the RTX 4070 Max-Q using recorded scores. The RTX 5070 Mobile's percentile ranking of 75, versus the RTX 4070 Max-Q's percentile of 50, suggests that the newer part falls in a higher performance tier overall, but this is an inference from the percentile field rather than a direct benchmark comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different generations and architectures. The RTX 4070 Max-Q uses the AD106 chip based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, belonging to the GeForce 40 Mobile generation. The RTX 5070 Mobile uses the GB206 chip based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, belonging to the GeForce 50 Mobile generation. Both are manufactured by TSMC on the same 5 nm process node. The RTX 4070 Max-Q was released on 2023-01-02, while the RTX 5070 Mobile followed on 2025-04-14.

Transistor counts are similar but not identical. The RTX 4070 Max-Q packs 22,900 million transistors on a die size of 188 mm², yielding a transistor density of 121.8 million per mm². The RTX 5070 Mobile contains 21,900 million transistors on a 181 mm² die, with a density of 121.0 million per mm². The newer chip is slightly smaller and denser per unit area, though the total transistor count is lower.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The RTX 4070 Max-Q has a base clock of 735 MHz and a boost clock of 1230 MHz. The RTX 5070 Mobile runs at a base clock of 907 MHz and boosts to 1425 MHz. That is a higher base clock by 172 MHz and a higher boost clock by 195 MHz. Memory clocks also change: the RTX 4070 Max-Q uses 2000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective data rate, while the RTX 5070 Mobile uses 1500 MHz with 24 Gbps effective. Despite the lower memory clock, the effective bandwidth is much higher on the newer part.

Memory type is a major differentiator. The RTX 4070 Max-Q uses 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 5070 Mobile also has 8 GB, but it uses GDDR7 on the same 128-bit bus, delivering 384.0 GB/s. That is a 50% increase in memory bandwidth from the same bus width, enabled by the faster 24 Gbps memory modules.

The core configurations are identical in count. Both GPUs have 4,608 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, 48 raster output units, 36 ray tracing cores, and 144 tensor cores. The throughput rates differ due to clocks: the RTX 4070 Max-Q achieves 59.04 GPixel/s pixel rate and 177.1 GTexel/s texture rate, while the RTX 5070 Mobile reaches 68.40 GPixel/s and 205.2 GTexel/s. The FP32 and FP16 compute ratings are 11.34 TFLOPS for the older part and 13.13 TFLOPS for the newer one, a 15.8% increase in raw shader throughput.

Power and interface specifications also differ. The RTX 4070 Max-Q has a TDP of 35 W, while the RTX 5070 Mobile is rated at 50 W. Both are listed as IGP slot width with no power connectors, and both rely on portable device dependent display outputs. The bus interface changes from PCIe 4.0 x8 on the RTX 4070 Max-Q to PCIe 5.0 x16 on the RTX 5070 Mobile, doubling the available bandwidth to the host system.

API support is identical: both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The RTX 4070 Max-Q lists its predecessor as GeForce 30 Mobile and its successor as GeForce 50 Mobile. The RTX 5070 Mobile lists its predecessor as GeForce 40 Mobile and has no successor recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5070 Mobile wins on every measurable performance metric in the database. The compute throughput is higher, with FP32 at 13.13 TFLOPS versus 11.34 TFLOPS. The pixel rate is 68.40 GPixel/s versus 59.04 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 205.2 GTexel/s versus 177.1 GTexel/s. Memory bandwidth is 384.0 GB/s versus 256.0 GB/s, a decisive advantage for bandwidth-heavy workloads.

The RTX 5070 Mobile also uses newer GDDR7 memory, which provides higher effective data rates at a lower memory clock. This translates to better sustained memory performance in scenarios that stress bandwidth, such as high-resolution textures or compute tasks.

The RTX 4070 Max-Q wins only in power efficiency and thermal envelope. Its TDP of 35 W is 15 W lower than the RTX 5070 Mobile's 50 W. For thin-and-light laptops where battery life and cooling are constrained, the lower power draw is a tangible benefit. The RTX 4070 Max-Q also has a slightly higher transistor count at 22,900 million versus 21,900 million, though the newer chip makes better use of its transistors per unit area.

The RTX 5070 Mobile wins on PCIe interface, using PCIe 5.0 x16 versus the RTX 4070 Max-Q's PCIe 4.0 x8. This matters for data transfer rates between the GPU and CPU, particularly in scenarios with large dataset movement or when using resizable BAR.

The RTX 5070 Mobile also holds a higher percentile ranking at 75 versus 50, indicating that it outperforms a larger share of the GPU database. The average benchmark score of 29,928 for the RTX 5070 Mobile, with no comparable score for the RTX 4070 Max-Q, further supports the newer part's dominance in measured workloads.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the database records, the RTX 5070 Mobile is the superior performer in every measured category. It delivers 15.8% higher FP32 compute, 50% higher memory bandwidth, and higher pixel and texture rates. Its boost clock is 195 MHz higher, and it uses a faster PCIe interface. The RTX 5070 Mobile sits at the 75th percentile of all GPUs, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q sits at the 50th percentile.

The only advantage of the RTX 4070 Max-Q is its lower TDP of 35 W versus 50 W. For users who prioritize maximum battery life and minimal heat in an ultraportable chassis, the RTX 4070 Max-Q offers a viable path. However, for any workload that depends on raw graphics or compute performance, the RTX 5070 Mobile is the clear choice from the data.

The RTX 5070 Mobile's nearest rivals in the database, the RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 2080 Ti, are both within 0.5% of its average score. This indicates that the RTX 5070 Mobile performs at the level of previous-generation desktop flagship GPUs, which is notable for a mobile part. The RTX 4070 Max-Q has no benchmark scores to compare, so its actual performance cannot be validated against these numbers.

The release dates are also informative. The RTX 5070 Mobile launched more than two years after the RTX 4070 Max-Q, and the architectural leap from Ada Lovelace to Blackwell 2.0 brings tangible improvements in bandwidth and clock speeds. The identical core counts suggest that the performance gap comes from memory technology, clock speeds, and power delivery, not from a larger chip.

For a buyer choosing between these two, the RTX 5070 Mobile is the performance pick. The RTX 4070 Max-Q remains relevant only in power-constrained designs where its 35 W TDP is a hard requirement. The database does not record any benchmark scores for the RTX 4070 Max-Q, so any claim of its real-world performance would be speculative.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The RTX 5070 Mobile achieves 13.13 TFLOPS, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q delivers 11.34 TFLOPS.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The RTX 5070 Mobile provides 384.0 GB/s using GDDR7, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q provides 256.0 GB/s using GDDR6, a 128 GB/s advantage.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The RTX 4070 Max-Q has a TDP of 35 W, and the RTX 5070 Mobile has a TDP of 50 W.

Q: Are the core configurations identical?

A: Yes, both have 4,608 shading units, 144 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 36 RT cores, and 144 tensor cores.

Q: What is the RTX 5070 Mobile's average benchmark score?

A: The recorded average benchmark score is 29,928, placing it at the 75th percentile.

Q: Which GPU uses a newer memory type?

A: The RTX 5070 Mobile uses GDDR7, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q uses GDDR6.

Specification Differences

| Specification | RTX 4070 Max-Q | RTX 5070 Mobile |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Blackwell 2.0 |

| Chip | AD106 | GB206 |

| Generation | GeForce 40 Mobile | GeForce 50 Mobile |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 5 nm |

| Transistors | 22,900 million | 21,900 million |

| Die Size | 188 mm² | 181 mm² |

| Base Clock | 735 MHz | 907 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1230 MHz | 1425 MHz |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR7 |

| Memory Clock | 2000 MHz, 16 Gbps effective | 1500 MHz, 24 Gbps effective |

| Memory Bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 384.0 GB/s |

| FP32 Compute | 11.34 TFLOPS | 13.13 TFLOPS |

| Pixel Rate | 59.04 GPixel/s | 68.40 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 177.1 GTexel/s | 205.2 GTexel/s |

| TDP | 35 W | 50 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |

| Release Date | 2023-01-02 | 2025-04-14 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 50 | 75 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 0 (no entries) | 29,928 |

The data confirms that the RTX 5070 Mobile is the faster, more capable part across every recorded metric, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q offers a lower power envelope for constrained laptop designs.