NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 SUPER Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 SUPER represent two distinct points in NVIDIA’s mobile and desktop GPU lineups, separated by a generational gap and a massive difference in physical scale and performance envelope. The data in the database shows that the RTX 5080 SUPER is the dominant part in raw compute, while the RTX 4070 Mobile holds a significant advantage in a very specific legacy DirectX benchmark scenario. This analysis compares the recorded metrics, architectural layouts, and specification differences to clarify where each GPU excels.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a stark contrast in performance profiles. The RTX 5080 SUPER, with an average benchmark score of 3075, is a high-end desktop part, while the RTX 4070 Mobile, with an average score of 27435, is a mobile solution. This difference in average scores is primarily due to the different benchmark suites used for each part. The RTX 5080 SUPER was tested with the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, scoring 3075 points. The RTX 4070 Mobile was evaluated across a suite of Passmark and Geekbench tests, yielding scores that are not directly comparable to the 3DMark result.

However, the database provides a clear picture of the RTX 4070 Mobile's performance. In Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 109197, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 108367. These scores place it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT with a score of 27425 (a 0% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 with a score of 27565 (a -0.5% delta), and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell with a score of 27135 (a 1.1% delta). This indicates that the RTX 4070 Mobile's compute performance is closely aligned with these desktop-class parts from previous and current generations.

In contrast, the RTX 5080 SUPER's single 3DMark result places it in the 19th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are lower-tier parts: the NVIDIA Quadro P1000 (score 3163, delta -2.8%), the Intel Arc Pro B60 (score 3182, delta -3.4%), the NVIDIA GeForce 820A (score 2983, delta 3.1%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M (score 2967, delta 3.6%). This suggests that the RTX 5080 SUPER's 3DMark Steel Nomad score, while a measure of its DX12 capability, does not align with its high-end positioning in the database, likely due to the specific workload of that test.

The RTX 4070 Mobile shows a clear strength in compute-heavy and legacy API tests. Its Passmark DirectX 11 score is 179, and its DirectX 9 score is 223, indicating robust performance in older APIs. Its Passmark G3D score of 19587 is substantial, and its GPU Compute score of 8399 shows strong parallel processing ability. The RTX 5080 SUPER, based on the recorded data, has no comparable scores in these tests, so the head-to-head comparison relies on the architectural and specification data to explain the performance gap.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 4070 Mobile wins in scenarios requiring a balance of compute and portability. Benchmark results indicate it is a capable performer in OpenCL and Vulkan workloads, with scores of 109197 and 108367, respectively. Its Passmark G2D score of 763 suggests solid 2D performance. The data shows it is positioned among much larger desktop GPUs like the RTX 3090 and RX 6700 XT in average score, which is remarkable for a mobile part with a 115 W TDP. It is the clear choice for a laptop where power draw is limited and space is constrained.

The RTX 5080 SUPER wins in raw, modern DX12 performance. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3075 is its only recorded benchmark, and it is a high-end desktop graphics card. With a TDP of 415 W and a dual-slot form factor, it is designed for a full-size desktop chassis. The specification data supports this: it has over twice the shading units (10752 vs 4608), more than double the texture mapping units (336 vs 144), and more than double the render output units (112 vs 48) compared to the RTX 4070 Mobile. This hardware advantage translates to higher frame rates in modern games, though the database does not include direct gaming benchmark comparisons between the two.

The use-case split is clear: the RTX 4070 Mobile is for high-performance laptops, and the RTX 5080 SUPER is for high-end desktop workstations. The RTX 4070 Mobile's average benchmark score of 27435 places it in the 73rd percentile, meaning it outperforms the majority of GPUs in the database. The RTX 5080 SUPER's percentile of 19 is misleading in this context, as it is based on a single test that does not reflect its full capabilities.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on different architectures and use different chips. The RTX 4070 Mobile uses the AD106 chip based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, part of the GeForce 40-series. The RTX 5080 SUPER uses the GB203 chip based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, part of the GeForce 50-series. Both are manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process node, but the die sizes and transistor counts differ significantly.

The RTX 4070 Mobile has 22,900 million transistors on a 188 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 121.8 million per mm². The RTX 5080 SUPER has 45,600 million transistors on a 378 mm² die, with a slightly lower transistor density of 120.6 million per mm². The RTX 5080 SUPER's die is exactly twice the size of the RTX 4070 Mobile's (378 mm² vs 188 mm²), and it contains nearly double the transistors. This larger chip provides the physical space for more cores.

The architecture generation is a key differentiator. The RTX 4070 Mobile is from the GeForce 40 Mobile generation, while the RTX 5080 SUPER is from the GeForce 50 generation. The RTX 4070 Mobile's predecessor is the GeForce 30 Mobile, and its successor is the GeForce 50 Mobile. The RTX 5080 SUPER has no predecessor or successor listed in the database, indicating it is a standalone high-end part. The RTX 5080 SUPER's Blackwell 2.0 architecture is the newer design, which likely includes optimizations not present in Ada Lovelace, although the database does not specify these changes.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the two GPUs are extensive and define their respective roles. The RTX 4070 Mobile has 4608 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The RTX 5080 SUPER has 10752 shading units, 336 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. This represents a 2.3x increase in shading units, a 2.3x increase in TMUs, and a 2.3x increase in ROPs. The RTX 5080 SUPER also has 84 RT cores and 336 tensor cores, compared to 36 RT cores and 144 tensor cores on the RTX 4070 Mobile.

Memory specifications show a large gap. The RTX 4070 Mobile uses 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The RTX 5080 SUPER uses 24 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 1.02 TB/s. The RTX 5080 SUPER has three times the memory capacity, double the bus width, and four times the memory bandwidth. The effective memory clock is 16 Gbps for the RTX 4070 Mobile and 32 Gbps for the RTX 5080 SUPER.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The RTX 4070 Mobile has a base clock of 1395 MHz and a boost clock of 1695 MHz. The RTX 5080 SUPER has a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2617 MHz. These higher clocks, combined with more cores, result in much higher fill rates and compute throughput. The pixel rate for the RTX 5080 SUPER is 293.1 GPixel/s versus 81.36 GPixel/s for the RTX 4070 Mobile. The texture rate is 879.3 GTexel/s versus 244.1 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is 56.28 TFLOPS versus 15.62 TFLOPS.

Power and physical specifications also differ. The RTX 4070 Mobile has a TDP of 115 W and is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connectors, designed for portable devices. The RTX 5080 SUPER has a TDP of 415 W and is a dual-slot card with a single 16-pin power connector. It measures 304 mm in length, 137 mm in height, and 40 mm in width. The bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8 for the RTX 4070 Mobile and PCIe 5.0 x16 for the RTX 5080 SUPER. The RTX 4070 Mobile's display outputs are portable device dependent, while the RTX 5080 SUPER has 1x HDMI 2.1b and 3x DisplayPort 2.1b outputs.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The RTX 5080 SUPER. It delivers 56.28 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, compared to 15.62 TFLOPS for the RTX 4070 Mobile.

Q: How does memory capacity compare?

A: The RTX 5080 SUPER has 24 GB of GDDR7 memory, while the RTX 4070 Mobile has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. The RTX 5080 SUPER also has a wider 256-bit bus and higher 1.02 TB/s bandwidth versus 256.0 GB/s.

Q: Are they on the same process node?

A: Yes, both GPUs are manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process node. However, the RTX 5080 SUPER's die is larger at 378 mm² compared to 188 mm² for the RTX 4070 Mobile.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The RTX 5080 SUPER has a TDP of 415 W and requires a dual-slot form factor with a 16-pin connector. The RTX 4070 Mobile has a TDP of 115 W and is an IGP with no power connectors.

Q: Which GPU is better for a laptop?

A: The RTX 4070 Mobile is designed for portable devices, with a 115 W TDP and IGP form factor. The RTX 5080 SUPER's 415 W TDP and dual-slot design make it unsuitable for laptops.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for the RTX 4070 Mobile in the database?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (27425, 0% delta), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (27565, -0.5% delta), NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell (27135, 1.1% delta), and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 (27839, -1.5% delta) are its closest matches by average score.

The Verdict

The database confirms that the RTX 5080 SUPER is the superior performer in every measurable specification. Its core counts, memory bandwidth, clock speeds, and theoretical compute rates all exceed those of the RTX 4070 Mobile by substantial margins. For any workload requiring maximum FP32 throughput, high memory capacity, or advanced DX12 features, the RTX 5080 SUPER is the definitive choice. Its 56.28 TFLOPS of compute and 1.02 TB/s of bandwidth are in a different class entirely.

The RTX 4070 Mobile, however, serves a completely different purpose. Its performance, as measured by its average benchmark score of 27435, is impressive for a mobile part, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs and near the level of the RTX 3090 in the database. It offers a high level of compute capability in a 115 W package, making it ideal for high-performance laptops where power and space are at a premium. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 109197 and Vulkan score of 108367 indicate strong general-purpose compute.

The RTX 5080 SUPER's launch MSRP is 999 USD, and it is designed for the desktop market. The RTX 4070 Mobile has no launch MSRP listed, reflecting its status as a mobile component. The choice between these two is not about which is better, but about which is appropriate for the intended system. For a desktop workstation or high-end gaming PC, the RTX 5080 SUPER is the correct part. For a mobile workstation or gaming laptop, the RTX 4070 Mobile is the only viable option from these two. The data shows no overlap in their target use cases.