NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER vs NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation Comparison

The NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER are both Ada Lovelace parts, but they target very different workloads. The RTX 5880 is a workstation-class card with massive memory and compute resources, while the RTX 4070 SUPER is a consumer gaming card optimized for rasterization and driver-level gaming features. The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the RTX 5880 dominates in compute-heavy OpenCL, but the RTX 4070 SUPER wins the majority of DirectX and PassMark tests. This page breaks down exactly where each card excels, what the architecture differences imply, and which user should choose which.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic result in the head-to-head data is the Geekbench OpenCL score. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation posts 326,898, which is a massive 89.2% higher than the RTX 4070 SUPER's 172,795. This is a staggering lead, and it directly reflects the RTX 5880's doubled shading units, tensor cores, and memory bandwidth. In raw compute throughput, the RTX 5880's 69.27 TFLOPS FP32 output is nearly double the 35.48 TFLOPS of the RTX 4070 SUPER. This single test shows the workstation card is in a different league for general-purpose GPU compute.

However, the story flips completely in the PassMark suite. The RTX 4070 SUPER wins six of the eight head-to-head tests. In PassMark G3D, the consumer card scores 29,995 versus the RTX 5880's 25,096, a 16.3% advantage. The DirectX 12 test is even more lopsided: the RTX 4070 SUPER scores 110 against the RTX 5880's 70, a 36.4% deficit for the workstation card. The DirectX 11 test shows a similar pattern, with the RTX 4070 SUPER at 273 and the RTX 5880 at 228, a 16.5% gap. Even in DirectX 9, the RTX 4070 SUPER leads by 2.6%, scoring 344 versus 335.

The PassMark GPU Compute test also favors the RTX 4070 SUPER, with a score of 17,108 against the RTX 5880's 14,208, a 17% difference. This is surprising given the OpenCL result, but it suggests that PassMark's compute workload is more sensitive to driver optimizations for gaming GPUs rather than raw FP32 throughput. The 2D performance test is another clear win for the RTX 4070 SUPER: 1,184 versus 777, a 34.4% gap. The only tie is the DirectX 10 test, where both cards score exactly 167.

The wins are split at 2 for the RTX 5880 and 6 for the RTX 4070 SUPER. The RTX 5880's wins are the OpenCL benchmark and the DirectX 10 tie, but its average benchmark score of 45,972 is still higher than the RTX 4070 SUPER's 43,223. This is because the OpenCL score is so dominant that it pulls the average up. The RTX 5880 also holds a higher percentile rank at 85 versus the RTX 4070 SUPER's 83, meaning it outperforms a slightly larger fraction of all GPUs in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a clear picture of workload specialization. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the clear winner for compute-heavy applications that leverage OpenCL. Its 89.2% lead in Geekbench OpenCL is not a marginal advantage; it's a near-doubling of performance. This aligns with its 48 GB of GDDR6 memory and 864.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than 1.7 times the RTX 4070 SUPER's 504.2 GB/s. For scientific simulation, AI inference, or rendering tasks that use OpenCL, the RTX 5880 is the obvious choice. Its 14080 shading units and 440 tensor cores provide the parallel horsepower needed for these workloads.

Conversely, the RTX 4070 SUPER dominates in DirectX-based gaming and general 3D rendering that uses the DirectX pipeline. Its wins in DirectX 9, 11, and 12, along with PassMark G3D, show that it is better optimized for traditional graphics workloads. The 36.4% lead in DirectX 12 is particularly notable, as it suggests the RTX 4070 SUPER's driver stack and hardware are better suited for modern game engines. The PassMark G2D win (34.4% higher) also indicates better performance in 2D desktop and application workloads, which is a niche where the RTX 5880's workstation focus does not help.

The PassMark GPU Compute result is the most intriguing. Despite the RTX 5880's raw compute advantage, the RTX 4070 SUPER leads by 17%. This suggests that PassMark's compute test may not fully utilize the RTX 5880's memory bandwidth or tensor cores, or that the consumer card's drivers are more efficient for this specific workload. For users who rely on PassMark as a benchmark, the RTX 4070 SUPER appears to be the better performer overall, but this is a narrow view. The Geekbench OpenCL test is more representative of professional compute tasks, where the RTX 5880's massive memory pool and higher TFLOPS matter.

Architecture Differences

Both cards are built on TSMC's 5 nm process node, but the silicon is very different. The RTX 5880 uses the AD102 chip, which is the largest die in the Ada Lovelace lineup at 609 mm². This chip packs 76,300 million transistors, giving a transistor density of 125.3 million per mm². In contrast, the RTX 4070 SUPER uses the AD104 chip, a much smaller 294 mm² die with 35,800 million transistors and a density of 121.8 million per mm². The RTX 5880's die is more than twice the size, which explains its much higher compute and memory resources.

The memory configuration is a major differentiator. The RTX 5880 comes with 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus, delivering 864.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 4070 SUPER has 12 GB of GDDR6X on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s. The RTX 5880's memory is slower in effective clock speed (18 Gbps versus 21 Gbps), but the wider bus and larger capacity more than compensate for the bandwidth and capacity needs of professional workloads. The 4x memory capacity is critical for large datasets, high-resolution textures, or multi-model AI inference.

The compute resources are also starkly different. The RTX 5880 has 14,080 shading units, 440 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, along with 110 RT cores and 440 tensor cores. The RTX 4070 SUPER is roughly half of that: 7,168 shading units, 224 TMUs, 80 ROPs, 56 RT cores, and 224 tensor cores. The RTX 5880's pixel rate is 433.0 GPixel/s versus 198.0 GPixel/s for the RTX 4070 SUPER, and its texture rate is 1,082.4 GTexel/s versus 554.4 GTexel/s. In every compute metric, the RTX 5880 is about double the RTX 4070 SUPER. The clock speeds are similar (boost clocks of 2460 MHz versus 2475 MHz), but the RTX 5880's base clock is much lower at 975 MHz versus 1980 MHz, indicating a power-conscious design for sustained workstation loads.

The power and physical specifications differ too. The RTX 5880 has a TDP of 285 W and requires a 600 W power supply, while the RTX 4070 SUPER has a 220 W TDP and a 550 W suggested PSU. Both are dual-slot cards with a 16-pin power connector and PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, and they share the same length (267 mm) and height (112 mm). The RTX 4070 SUPER has a width of 42 mm, while the RTX 5880's width is not listed. Display outputs differ: the RTX 5880 has 4x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the RTX 4070 SUPER has 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a.

FAQ

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5880 Ada Generation has an average benchmark score of 45,972, which is 6.4% higher than the RTX 4070 SUPER's 43,223. However, the RTX 4070 SUPER wins more individual head-to-head tests.

Q: Why does the RTX 5880 win OpenCL but lose DirectX tests?

A: The RTX 5880's 89.2% lead in Geekbench OpenCL reflects its 69.27 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 48 GB memory, which are ideal for compute. The RTX 4070 SUPER wins DirectX tests by up to 36.4% (DirectX 12) due to better driver optimization for graphics pipelines.

Q: Is the RTX 5880's larger memory capacity a practical advantage?

A: Yes. The RTX 5880 has 48 GB of GDDR6 versus 12 GB of GDDR6X on the RTX 4070 SUPER. This 4x capacity difference allows the RTX 5880 to handle much larger datasets without spilling to system memory.

Q: Which card is better for gaming?

A: The data shows the RTX 4070 SUPER wins PassMark G3D by 16.3% and DirectX 11 by 16.5%, indicating it is faster for gaming workloads. The RTX 5880's lower DirectX scores suggest it is not optimized for consumer games.

Q: What is the process node and die size difference?

A: Both use TSMC's 5 nm process, but the RTX 5880's AD102 chip is 609 mm² with 76,300 million transistors, while the RTX 4070 SUPER's AD104 is 294 mm² with 35,800 million transistors. The RTX 5880's die is more than twice as large.

Q: Are there any ties in the benchmarks?

A: Yes, the PassMark DirectX 10 test results in a tie, with both cards scoring exactly 167. This is the only head-to-head test without a clear winner.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER |

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

| Chip | AD102 | AD104 |

| Transistors | 76,300 million | 35,800 million |

| Die Size | 609 mm² | 294 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 125.3M / mm² | 121.8M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 975 MHz | 1980 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2460 MHz | 2475 MHz |

| Memory Size | 48 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6X |

| Memory Bus Width | 384 bit | 192 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 864.0 GB/s | 504.2 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 14080 | 7168 |

| TMUs | 440 | 224 |

| ROPs | 176 | 80 |

| RT Cores | 110 | 56 |

| Tensor Cores | 440 | 224 |

| Pixel Rate | 433.0 GPixel/s | 198.0 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 1,082.4 GTexel/s | 554.4 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 69.27 TFLOPS | 35.48 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 69.27 TFLOPS (1:1) | 35.48 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 285 W | 220 W |

| Suggested PSU | 600 W | 550 W |

| Display Outputs | 4x DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| Width | Not listed | 42 mm |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2024-01-04 | 2024-01-16 |

| Predecessor | Workstation Ampere | GeForce 30 |

| Successor | Blackwell PRO W | GeForce 50 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | 599 USD |

The Verdict

The data is clear: the NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the choice for compute-heavy professional workloads. Its 89.2% lead in OpenCL, 48 GB memory capacity, and 69.27 TFLOPS FP32 performance make it a specialized tool for AI, scientific computing, and large-scale rendering. The 285 W TDP and 600 W PSU requirement are acceptable for a workstation, and its active production status suggests ongoing support. Users who need to process massive datasets or run parallel compute tasks should pick this card.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the better choice for gaming and general 3D graphics. It wins six of eight head-to-head tests, including a 36.4% lead in DirectX 12 and a 16.3% lead in PassMark G3D. Its lower TDP of 220 W and smaller die size make it more efficient for consumer workloads. The 12 GB GDDR6X memory is sufficient for most games, and its end-of-life status does not diminish its current performance. For anyone building a gaming PC or a workstation focused on DirectX-based applications, the RTX 4070 SUPER is the data-backed winner.

The verdict is not about which card is "better" overall, but which is better for a specific use case. The RTX 5880's average benchmark score of 45,972 is higher, but that is skewed by the OpenCL result. The RTX 4070 SUPER's 43,223 average is more balanced across DirectX and compute tests. The RTX 5880 holds a 2-percentile advantage over all GPUs (85 versus 83), but that is a marginal difference. Choose the RTX 5880 for raw compute power and memory capacity; choose the RTX 4070 SUPER for DirectX performance and gaming efficiency.