NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER
Head-to-head comparison: specs, benchmarks, ray tracing, and value. Which is right for your build?
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
Still a beast in 2026. The RTX 4090 remains a genuine 4K monster, especially with DLSS 3 frame generation. It misses out on DLSS 4's multi-frame gen exclusive features, but raw rasterization is still elite. With prices fluctuating since the 5090 launch, it can occasionally be found at attractive discounts.
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER
A polished enthusiast card. The 4080 SUPER nudged closer to the 4090 in performance while keeping the $999 price point. With the 5080 now on the market, prices have dropped, making it a savvy buy on sale.
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| Spec | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $1,599 | $999 |
| VRAM | 24GB GDDR6X | 16GB GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 1008 GB/s | 736 GB/s |
| CUDA / Stream Cores | 16,384 | 10,240 |
| Boost Clock | 2520 MHz | 2550 MHz |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 128 | 80 |
| TDP | 450W | 320W |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 35,200 | 26,500 |
| Rasterization Score | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| Ray Tracing Score | 86/100 | 68/100 |
| Value Score | 70/100 | 75/100 |
The Verdict
Based on raw performance, ray tracing capability, and value, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 comes out ahead in this comparison. That said, the right pick depends on your budget, target resolution, and whether you care more about ray tracing, rasterization, or VRAM capacity. Both cards have their place — read the individual reviews for the full breakdown.