GPU Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile and NVIDIA RTX A4000 represent two distinct approaches to NVIDIA's GPU lineup: one is a high-end mobile gaming chip built on the latest architecture, the other a professional workstation card from the previous generation. The benchmark data shows a near-split decision, with the RTX A4000 winning 5 of 9 head-to-head tests and the RTX 4070 Mobile taking 4. However, the margins tell a more nuanced story, with each card dominating in completely different workloads. The RTX 4070 Mobile's average benchmark score of 27,435 places it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, while the RTX A4000's 26,683 average sits at the 72nd percentile. This makes the choice less about overall speed and more about which specific tasks matter most to you.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided victory belongs to the RTX A4000 in the Geekbench Vulkan test, where it scores 127,645 against the RTX 4070 Mobile's 108,367. That is a 15.1% lead for the workstation card, a significant gap that highlights its strength in modern graphics APIs. The RTX A4000 also wins the Passmark GPU Compute test with 9,760 points versus 8,399, a 13.9% advantage that points to its professional compute capabilities. In the Passmark G2D test, the A4000 is even more dominant: 1,024 versus 763, a 25.5% margin that reflects its superior 2D desktop performance. The A4000 also takes the DirectX 10 and DirectX 9 tests, winning 126 to 116 (7.9%) and 240 to 223 (7.1%) respectively.

The RTX 4070 Mobile fights back in the DirectX tests that matter most for modern gaming. It wins Passmark DirectX 12 with a score of 85 versus 72, a commanding 18.1% lead. In DirectX 11, it takes 179 versus 158, a 13.3% advantage. The Geekbench OpenCL test also goes to the mobile card, 109,197 versus 105,739, a slim 3.3% win. The closest contest is Passmark G3D, where the RTX 4070 Mobile edges out the A4000 by just 0.7% (19,587 versus 19,459). The overall score distribution shows the RTX 4070 Mobile is more consistent in modern gaming APIs, while the A4000 excels in compute and legacy workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which card has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile has the higher average benchmark score at 27,435, compared to the NVIDIA RTX A4000's 26,683. That difference of roughly 750 points places the mobile card in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, while the A4000 sits at the 72nd percentile.

Q: How do the two cards compare in DirectX 12 performance?

A: The RTX 4070 Mobile is clearly ahead in DirectX 12, scoring 85 in the Passmark DirectX 12 test versus the A4000's 72. This is an 18.1% advantage for the mobile card, making it the stronger choice for modern DirectX 12 titles.

Q: Is the RTX A4000 better for compute workloads?

A: Yes, the data indicates so. The A4000 wins the Passmark GPU Compute test with 9,760 points against 8,399 for the RTX 4070 Mobile, a 13.9% lead. It also wins Geekbench Vulkan by 15.1%, suggesting stronger general compute and low-level API performance.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The RTX A4000 has a 256-bit memory bus with 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the RTX 4070 Mobile uses a 128-bit bus with 256.0 GB/s. The A4000 also has double the memory capacity at 16 GB versus 8 GB.

Q: Which card is smaller in physical size?

A: The RTX 4070 Mobile is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no slot width and no power connectors, designed to be soldered onto a laptop motherboard. The RTX A4000 is a single-slot card measuring 241 mm in length and 112 mm in height, requiring a 6-pin power connector and a 300 W power supply.

Q: Are both cards still in production?

A: No. The RTX 4070 Mobile has a production status of "Active," while the RTX A4000 is listed as "End-of-life." The A4000 was released in April 2021, while the RTX 4070 Mobile came out in January 2023.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX A4000 is the clear winner for professional and compute-focused workloads. Its 13.9% lead in Passmark GPU Compute and 15.1% lead in Geekbench Vulkan make it the better choice for tasks that leverage raw compute throughput or low-level API access. The 25.5% advantage in Passmark G2D also suggests it handles 2D desktop environments and graphical user interfaces more responsively. With 16 GB of memory and 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, it has the capacity and throughput for larger datasets and textures. The A4000 also wins in legacy DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 tests, which could be relevant for older professional applications or compatibility testing.

The RTX 4070 Mobile is the winner for gaming and modern DirectX workloads. It leads by 18.1% in DirectX 12 and 13.3% in DirectX 11, which are the APIs used by virtually all contemporary games. Its 3.3% win in Geekbench OpenCL also shows it holds its own in general compute, though not at the A4000's level. The 0.7% margin in Passmark G3D, while small, still puts it ahead in overall 3D graphics performance. As a mobile chip with a 115 W TDP and no power connectors, it is designed for laptops where space and power efficiency are critical. The RTX 4070 Mobile's higher average benchmark score and 73rd percentile ranking indicate it is the more capable all-around performer in the tests that reflect modern usage.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ fundamentally in their memory configurations. The RTX A4000 offers 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 4070 Mobile has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s. This is a 2x difference in both capacity and bandwidth. The A4000 also has more shading units (6,144 versus 4,608), more TMUs (192 versus 144), and more ROPs (96 versus 48). It also has more RT cores (48 versus 36) and more tensor cores (192 versus 144). The A4000 has higher theoretical pixel rate (149.8 GPixel/s versus 81.36 GPixel/s) and texture rate (299.5 GTexel/s versus 244.1 GTexel/s), as well as higher FP32 performance (19.17 TFLOPS versus 15.62 TFLOPS).

The RTX 4070 Mobile has higher clock speeds, with a base clock of 1395 MHz and boost of 1695 MHz, compared to the A4000's 735 MHz base and 1560 MHz boost. It also has faster memory at 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective) versus 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The bus interface differs as well: the RTX 4070 Mobile uses PCIe 4.0 x8, while the A4000 uses PCIe 4.0 x16. The A4000 has four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, while the RTX 4070 Mobile's display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent." Power requirements are also different, with the A4000 at 140 W TDP, single-slot, and requiring a 6-pin connector, while the RTX 4070 Mobile is 115 W, IGP, and has no power connectors.

Architecture Differences

The RTX 4070 Mobile is built on the AD106 chip using the Ada Lovelace architecture, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It contains 22,900 million transistors on a 188 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 121.8 million per mm². The RTX A4000 uses the GA104 chip with the older Ampere architecture, manufactured on an 8 nm process by Samsung. It has 17,400 million transistors on a larger 392 mm² die, resulting in a much lower density of 44.4 million per mm². The RTX 4070 Mobile is part of the GeForce 40 Mobile generation, succeeding the GeForce 30 Mobile series. The A4000 belongs to the Workstation Ampere (Ax000) generation, succeeding Quadro Turing.

In terms of features, both cards support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, so API compatibility is identical. The RTX 4070 Mobile has more RT cores per shading unit ratio (36 out of 4,608) compared to the A4000 (48 out of 6,144), but the A4000 has more absolute cores. The RTX 4070 Mobile's newer architecture allows for higher clock speeds on a much smaller process node, which explains how it achieves competitive performance with fewer shading units and lower power consumption. The A4000's larger die and higher transistor count are offset by its older, less efficient 8 nm process. The RTX 4070 Mobile is the successor to GeForce 30 Mobile and has a successor in GeForce 50 Mobile, while the A4000's successor is Workstation Ada.

The Verdict

If your primary workload is gaming or applications built on DirectX 11 and 12, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile is the clear pick. Its 18.1% lead in DirectX 12 and 13.3% lead in DirectX 11 demonstrate it is better optimized for the APIs that dominate modern software. The higher average benchmark score and 73rd percentile ranking also give it the edge in overall performance. For a mobile platform, it delivers competitive performance at 115 W with no power connectors, making it the practical choice for laptops.

If your work involves compute-heavy tasks, Vulkan-based applications, or legacy DirectX 9/10 compatibility, the NVIDIA RTX A4000 is the better option. Its 13.9% lead in GPU compute and 15.1% lead in Vulkan show it excels in raw compute throughput. The 16 GB memory capacity and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth provide double the memory resources of the RTX 4070 Mobile, which is essential for large datasets and professional rendering workloads. The 25.5% advantage in 2D performance also makes it a better fit for desktop workstations.

The RTX A4000's single-slot design and 4x DisplayPort outputs make it a more flexible option for multi-display setups, though it requires a 300 W power supply and a 6-pin connector. The RTX 4070 Mobile is more energy-efficient and compact, but it is locked to a laptop form factor. Neither card has a launch MSRP listed, so pricing is not a factor in this analysis. The RTX A4000 is end-of-life, which may affect availability, while the RTX 4070 Mobile is still active. For most users building a new system today, the RTX 4070 Mobile's modern architecture and DirectX 12 dominance make it the more future-proof choice. For professionals with specific compute requirements, the A4000's memory capacity and compute performance are still compelling, but its age and lower overall benchmark score suggest it is best suited for legacy or specialized workflows.