NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent hierarchy between these two mobile GPUs. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile wins all nine head-to-head comparisons recorded in the database, while the RTX 5070 Mobile does not capture a single victory in any test category. This is not a close contest by any metric; the 4090 Mobile leads across every API generation, compute workload, and graphics test.

The largest gaps appear in compute-oriented tasks. The geekbench_opencl test shows the 4090 Mobile at 180831 versus 122238 for the 5070 Mobile, a delta of 47.9 percent. The passmark_gpu_compute test delivers an even wider margin at 49.1 percent, with scores of 12347 and 8279 respectively. These results indicate that the 4090 Mobile is substantially stronger in general-purpose GPU compute, which matters for workloads like rendering, simulation, and machine learning inference.

For traditional graphics workloads, the 4090 Mobile also maintains a commanding lead. The passmark_directx_11 test shows a 36.5 percent advantage (262 versus 192), while passmark_directx_10 yields a 34.1 percent edge (173 versus 129). The passmark_g3d score, which aggregates overall 3D performance, comes in at 27212 for the 4090 Mobile against 20355 for the 5070 Mobile, a 33.7 percent difference. Even the older DirectX 9 path, which often favors architectural efficiency, tilts heavily toward the 4090 Mobile at 44.9 percent (310 versus 214).

The 5070 Mobile does show relative strength in one narrow area: the passmark_directx_12 test shows only a 15.1 percent gap (107 versus 93), the smallest delta across all nine comparisons. This suggests that Blackwell's newer architecture narrows the distance when using modern low-level APIs, but it does not erase the 4090 Mobile's raw performance advantage. The 2D test (passmark_g2d) also produces a relatively modest gap of 9.8 percent (984 versus 896), indicating that desktop composition and basic 2D operations are less demanding on the newer GPU.

In summary, the 4090 Mobile is the outright winner in every scenario measured. The 5070 Mobile's best showing is the DirectX 12 result, where it trails by roughly 15 percent, but everywhere else the deficit ranges from 34 to 49 percent. There is no test category where the 5070 Mobile leads, and the data does not support any use case where it outperforms its predecessor-generation flagship.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: the RTX 4090 Mobile is the faster GPU in every benchmark recorded. Its average benchmark score of 43667 places it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs, while the RTX 5070 Mobile averages 29928 and sits in the 75th percentile. That is a 46 percent gap in average score, which aligns with the head-to-head deltas that range from 9.8 to 49.1 percent.

For users who prioritize raw graphics performance, the 4090 Mobile delivers. Its nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA RTX A6000, which scores 44075 (0.9 percent higher), and the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 at 43301 (0.8 percent lower). The 5070 Mobile, by contrast, sits alongside the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti (29945, 0.1 percent lower) and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 (30095, 0.6 percent higher). This places the 5070 Mobile in a performance class roughly equivalent to previous-generation desktop GPUs, not in the same tier as the 4090 Mobile.

The 5070 Mobile does have one clear advantage: power consumption. Its TDP is 50 W compared to 120 W for the 4090 Mobile. That difference does not appear as a benchmark score, but it has practical implications for laptop chassis design, battery life, and thermal management. The database records both as IGP slot width with no power connectors, meaning they are soldered mobile parts, but the 5070 Mobile draws less than half the power of the 4090 Mobile.

The verdict follows the numbers. The RTX 4090 Mobile is the choice for maximum performance, with wins in all nine head-to-head tests and a 33.7 percent lead in the passmark_g3d aggregate. The RTX 5070 Mobile is the choice for efficient operation, with a 50 W TDP that allows thinner, quieter laptops, but it cannot match the 4090 Mobile's frame rates or compute throughput. There is no benchmark where the 5070 Mobile wins, so the decision rests on whether the user needs the 4090 Mobile's performance or the 5070 Mobile's efficiency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The geekbench_opencl test provides the first major data point. The 4090 Mobile scores 180831, the 5070 Mobile scores 122238, and the delta is 47.9 percent. This is the second-largest margin in the entire comparison, and it sets the tone for compute-heavy applications. OpenCL performance matters for video encoding, scientific computing, and certain rendering engines, and the 4090 Mobile's advantage here is substantial.

The geekbench_vulkan test follows a similar pattern. The 4090 Mobile records 170774, while the 5070 Mobile records 116960, a 46 percent delta. Vulkan is the modern cross-platform graphics API used in many AAA games and emulators, and the 4090 Mobile's lead indicates it will produce higher frame rates in Vulkan-based titles.

The passmark_gpu_compute test shows the widest gap of all: 49.1 percent, with scores of 12347 and 8279. This test measures raw compute throughput across multiple workloads, and the 4090 Mobile's advantage reflects its larger shader count (9728 versus 4608) and higher FP32 throughput (32.98 TFLOPS versus 13.13 TFLOPS). The 4090 Mobile also has 304 TMUs against 144, and 112 ROPs against 48, which explains its dominance in fill-rate-limited scenarios.

The passmark_directx_9 test delivers a 44.9 percent delta (310 versus 214). This is notable because DirectX 9 is an older API that often stresses single-threaded CPU performance and legacy rendering paths. The 4090 Mobile still wins decisively, suggesting its raw hardware throughput overcomes any architectural advantages the Blackwell design might have in modern APIs.

The passmark_directx_11 test shows a 36.5 percent delta (262 versus 192). DirectX 11 remains widely used in esports titles and older games, and the 4090 Mobile's 112 ROPs give it a significant edge in pixel throughput. The pixel rate for the 4090 Mobile is 189.8 GPixel/s, compared to 68.40 GPixel/s for the 5070 Mobile, a difference that directly impacts resolution scaling and multi-sample anti-aliasing performance.

The passmark_directx_10 test shows a 34.1 percent delta (173 versus 129). This API is less common today, but the result reinforces the overall trend. The passmark_g3d test, which aggregates multiple DirectX tests into a single 3D score, shows the 4090 Mobile at 27212 versus 20355, a 33.7 percent delta. This is likely the most representative single metric for overall gaming performance.

The passmark_directx_12 test produces the smallest margin at 15.1 percent (107 versus 93). DirectX 12 is the most modern API in the test suite, and the 5070 Mobile's Blackwell architecture with its 36 RT cores and 144 tensor cores manages to close the gap somewhat. However, the 4090 Mobile still wins, and the 15 percent delta remains significant in frame-rate terms.

The passmark_g2d test, which measures 2D graphics performance, shows a 9.8 percent delta (984 versus 896). This is the closest result in the entire comparison, but it is also the least relevant to gaming or compute workloads. The 4090 Mobile wins every test, and the deltas range from 9.8 percent to 49.1 percent.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 4090 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 43667, while the RTX 5070 Mobile averages 29928. The 4090 Mobile sits in the 84th percentile of all GPUs, and the 5070 Mobile sits in the 75th percentile.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two GPUs?

A: The largest delta is in the passmark_gpu_compute test, where the RTX 4090 Mobile scores 12347 against 8279 for the RTX 5070 Mobile, a 49.1 percent advantage.

Q: What is the smallest performance gap between the two GPUs?

A: The smallest delta is in the passmark_g2d test, where the RTX 4090 Mobile scores 984 and the RTX 5070 Mobile scores 896, a 9.8 percent difference. The passmark_directx_12 test is the second-smallest at 15.1 percent.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in memory capacity and bandwidth?

A: The RTX 4090 Mobile has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth. The RTX 5070 Mobile has 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus with 384.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the power consumption figures for each GPU?

A: The RTX 4090 Mobile has a TDP of 120 W, and the RTX 5070 Mobile has a TDP of 50 W. Both are listed as IGP slot width with no power connectors.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units and tensor cores?

A: The RTX 4090 Mobile has 9728 shading units and 304 tensor cores. The RTX 5070 Mobile has 4608 shading units and 144 tensor cores. The 4090 Mobile also has 76 RT cores against 36 for the 5070 Mobile.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is substantial, and it explains the benchmark results. The RTX 4090 Mobile uses the AD103 chip built on Ada Lovelace architecture, while the RTX 5070 Mobile uses the GB206 chip built on Blackwell 2.0 architecture. Both are manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process, and their transistor densities are nearly identical at 121.1 million transistors per square millimeter for the 4090 Mobile and 121.0 million for the 5070 Mobile.

The die sizes differ sharply. The 4090 Mobile's AD103 die measures 379 mm² and contains 45,900 million transistors. The 5070 Mobile's GB206 die measures 181 mm² and contains 21,900 million transistors. That is a 2.1x difference in die area and a 2.1x difference in transistor count, which directly translates into the 4090 Mobile's higher core counts: 9728 shading units versus 4608, 304 TMUs versus 144, and 112 ROPs versus 48.

Clock speeds also favor the 4090 Mobile. Its base clock is 1335 MHz with a boost of 1695 MHz, while the 5070 Mobile runs at a base of 907 MHz and a boost of 1425 MHz. The 4090 Mobile's higher clocks and larger core count combine to produce 32.98 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, compared to 13.13 TFLOPS for the 5070 Mobile. The FP16 figures match the FP32 numbers at a 1:1 ratio for both GPUs.

Memory architecture is another major differentiator. The 4090 Mobile uses 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, achieving 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The 5070 Mobile uses 8 GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus, achieving 384.0 GB/s. The GDDR7 type is newer and runs at a higher effective speed (24 Gbps versus 18 Gbps), but the narrower bus limits total bandwidth. The 4090 Mobile's pixel rate of 189.8 GPixel/s and texture rate of 515.3 GTexel/s dwarf the 5070 Mobile's 68.40 GPixel/s and 205.2 GTexel/s.

The bus interface also differs: the 4090 Mobile uses PCIe 4.0 x16, while the 5070 Mobile uses PCIe 5.0 x16. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The 4090 Mobile released on 2023-01-02, and the 5070 Mobile released on 2025-04-14. The 4090 Mobile's predecessor is the GeForce 30 Mobile and its successor is the GeForce 50 Mobile, which is the series the 5070 Mobile belongs to.

The power envelope is the most significant architectural trade-off. The 4090 Mobile draws 120 W, more than double the 5070 Mobile's 50 W. This allows the 4090 Mobile to feed its larger die and higher clocks, but it also constrains the laptops that can house it. The 5070 Mobile's lower TDP enables smaller, more portable designs without external power connectors, but the benchmark data confirms that this efficiency comes at a steep performance cost. The 4090 Mobile wins all nine head-to-head tests, and the architecture differences fully account for that outcome.