NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is a GeForce 30-series GPU built around the GA104 chip and Ampere architecture. Samsung fabricates the 8 nm die, which contains 17,400 million transistors across 392 mm². The card packs 5888 shading units, 184 texture units, 96 ROPs, 46 RT cores, and 184 tensor cores. Clock speeds are 1500 MHz base and 1725 MHz boost. It uses a dual-slot cooler, a 1x 12-pin power connector, and a suggested 550 W PSU. The PCIe 4.0 x16 interface connects it to the platform. Physical dimensions are 242 mm (9.5 inches) in length and 112 mm (4.4 inches) in height. The launch MSRP is 499 USD.

Memory Subsystem

The RTX 3070 uses 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. The memory clock is 1750 MHz, which yields 14 Gbps effective data rate and 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Those figures define how much data can move between the frame buffer and the GPU cores per second. The card also lists a pixel rate of 165.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 317.4 GTexel/s.

For high-resolution workloads, the combination of 8 GB capacity and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is the relevant constraint. The frame buffer must hold geometry, textures, render targets, and other scene data for a single frame; when that working set approaches or exceeds 8 GB, capacity becomes the limiting factor. The 256-bit interface determines how quickly that data can be refilled. The benchmark database does not include resolution-specific frame rate results, but the memory subsystem data points to a card that is built around high-throughput rendering rather than extreme frame-buffer size. Workloads that fit within 8 GB and can keep the 448.0 GB/s pipe busy will be served directly by these specifications.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The RTX 3070 includes 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores. These hardware blocks support the ray-traced and tensor-based workloads associated with the Ampere architecture. On the API side, the card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Display output is provided by 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. The GPU connects to the system through PCIe 4.0 x16.

In compute terms, FP32 and FP16 are both rated at 20.31 TFLOPS, with the pack noting a 1:1 ratio. This means the same throughput is available for single-precision and half-precision workloads. The DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) listing indicates support for modern DX12 feature levels, while Vulkan 1.4 support offers an alternative low-level graphics and compute path. The RT core and tensor core counts, together with the API list, position the RTX 3070 as a card that foregrounds hardware-accelerated ray tracing, tensor operations, and current-generation API features.

Benchmark Performance

The database records an average benchmark score of 28238 for the RTX 3070. That places it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the card scores 3162. Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan results are 123479 and 120664, respectively. PassMark G3D is 22214, with GPU Compute at 11195. The older DirectX tests return 247 for PassMark DirectX 9, 182 for DirectX 11, 150 for DirectX 10, and 85 for DirectX 12. The PassMark G2D score is 1001.

Nearest-rival data places four GPUs near that 28238 average. The AMD FirePro S7150 has an average score of 28409, corresponding to a delta of -0.6%. That means the RTX 3070 trails the FirePro S7150 by 0.6%. The AMD Radeon R9 M295X averages 28541, with a delta of -1.1%; the RTX 3070 is 1.1% lower. On the other side, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT averages 27985, giving a +0.9% delta, so the RTX 3070 is 0.9% ahead. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti averages 27956, with a +1.0% delta, making the RTX 3070 1.0% higher.

These deltas are small. The entire nearest-rival group sits within 1.1 percentage points of the RTX 3070's average score. Aggregate performance between this card and its four closest database neighbors is effectively a near-tie. The RTX 3070 does not dominate any rival by a decisive margin, nor does any rival outclass it by a large one. The 72nd percentile ranking places it above most of the database, but the nearestRivals table shows that a small shift in workload or scoring methodology could reorder this cluster.

Who Should Consider It

The RTX 3070 is appropriate for users who want a card in the 72nd percentile of database GPUs and whose workloads align with its feature set. The 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores make it a candidate for applications that use those hardware paths. The DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4 support mean it can run modern API workloads without relying on compatibility layers. The 220 W TDP and 550 W suggested PSU define the power envelope.

For high-resolution use, the 8 GB frame buffer and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth should be weighed against the memory footprint of the target workload. The card's 165.6 GPixel/s pixel rate and 317.4 GTexel/s texture rate provide throughput ceilings for fill-limited scenes. The production status is end-of-life, so availability is a factor. Users considering this card should also account for its dual-slot footprint, 242 mm length, and 112 mm height. The benchmark data does not specify which resolution or quality settings were used, so the practical recommendation is to match the GPU's capacity and feature set to the specific application requirements.

How It Compares

AMD FirePro S7150: The FirePro S7150 leads the RTX 3070 by 0.6%, with an average score of 28409 versus 28238. The margin is nearly negligible in aggregate terms. The RTX 3070 distinguishes itself through its Ampere architecture, RT cores, and tensor cores, while the FirePro S7150 does not carry those features in the listed data.

AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT: The RX 6600 XT is the closest rival below the RTX 3070. It averages 27985, and the RTX 3070 is 0.9% higher. The delta of +0.9% is the smallest positive margin in this rival group, making the two cards effectively equivalent in average score.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti: The GTX 980 Ti sits 1.0% below the RTX 3070, with an average score of 27956. The RTX 3070's 28238 average gives it a narrow edge. The delta is exactly 1%, so the GTX 980 Ti is within rounding distance of a tie.

AMD Radeon R9 M295X: The R9 M295X is the strongest rival in the group, averaging 28541. The RTX 3070 trails by 1.1%, the largest gap in either direction among the four nearest rivals. Even so, the margin remains small, and the RTX 3070 retains its RT core, tensor core, and newer API support advantages.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory configuration of the RTX 3070?

A: It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a 1750 MHz memory clock, 14 Gbps effective data rate, and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does the RTX 3070 support DirectX 12 Ultimate?

A: Yes. The listed API support includes DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: How many RT cores and tensor cores does it have?

A: The RTX 3070 has 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores.

Q: How does the RTX 3070's average score compare to the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT?

A: The RTX 3070 averages 28238, while the RX 6600 XT averages 27985. The RTX 3070 is 0.9% higher.

Q: What is the production status of the RTX 3070?

A: The database lists the production status as end-of-life.

Q: What power supply is suggested for the RTX 3070?

A: The suggested PSU is 550 W, and the card uses a 1x 12-pin power connector.