RTX 2070 vs RTX 3070: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Sooner or later, owners of the RTX 2070 end up asking the same thing: is its direct successor, the RTX 3070, a real step forward? Look at the scorecard and the RTX 3070 stands out, ahead in 1 of 3 areas. The gpu & performance numbers explain a lot of that.
At a glance
- GPU & Performance RTX 3070 wins
- Memory Tie
- Power & Thermals RTX 2070 wins
- Price Tie
- GPU & Performance0.5
- Memory3.1
- Power & Thermals7.7
- GPU & Performance5.6
- Memory3.1
- Power & Thermals3.4
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The RTX 3070 has 171% more theoretical FP32 compute
For fp32 compute, the RTX 3070 leads by a wide margin: 20.3 TFLOPS versus 7.5 TFLOPS. The RTX 3070 has more theoretical compute, which often, but not always, translates into higher frame rates.
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The RTX 3070 has 156% more shader units
This is a headline difference. With 5,888 to the RTX 2070’s 2,304, the RTX 3070 has a lead that’s easy to see on paper and in practice. The RTX 3070’s extra shaders give it more raw muscle, although comparisons across different architectures aren’t one-to-one.
-
The RTX 2070 has 45 W lower board power
Put simply, the RTX 2070 is far ahead here: 175 W compared with 220 W. Lower board power means less heat, quieter cooling and a smaller impact on your electricity bill.
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The RTX 3070 has 28% more ray tracing units
The RTX 3070’s 46 leaves the RTX 2070’s 36 well behind, so if this spec matters to you, the choice is easy. More ray tracing units help keep frame rates up when ray-traced lighting, shadows and reflections are switched on.
-
The RTX 2070 has a smaller 550 W PSU requirement
Not a close call. The RTX 2070 lists 550 W and the RTX 3070 lists 650 W. That’s a substantial gap. Recommendations include a safety margin for the rest of the system, so they’re a guide rather than a hard limit.
Design & Size
- RTX 2070 9.02 in × 2 slots
- RTX 3070 9.53 in × 2 slots
In overall size, the RTX 3070 is ahead, which is good news only if a bigger card is what you want.
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | RTX 2070 | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | 9.02 in | 9.53 in |
| Slot width | 2 slots | 2 slots |
| Display outputs | N/A (not specified) | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
GPU & Performance
RTX 3070 leads
When it comes to gpu & performance, the RTX 3070 is comfortably ahead. The RTX 3070 makes its case with 171% more theoretical FP32 compute. FP32 compute is a theoretical peak that combines shader count and clock speed, a quick way to size up raw power. That makes the RTX 3070 the natural choice for buyers focused on gpu & performance.
FP32 compute
RTX 2070: 7.5 TFLOPS RTX 3070: 20.3 TFLOPS Architectures use their compute differently, so treat the gap as a guide and look at game benchmarks for the details.
Shader units
RTX 2070: 2,304 RTX 3070: 5,888 Treat shader count as a strong hint about performance tier, then check benchmarks for the games you actually play.
Memory
Too close to call
If memory matters most to you, this section won’t make the decision for you: they’re level. If memory was going to be your tiebreaker, you’ll need a different one.
Features
Here the spec sheet speaks in model names and types. Compare the RTX 2070 and the RTX 3070 row by row in the table below.
Power & Thermals
RTX 2070 leads
The RTX 2070 wins the power & thermals section decisively. The RTX 2070 delivers 45 W lower board power. The RTX 2070 draws less power, which makes it easier to cool in compact cases. The power & thermals verdict goes to the RTX 2070.
Total board power
RTX 2070: 175 W RTX 3070: 220 W Higher board power often comes with higher performance, so the RTX 3070’s appetite may be part of the price of its speed.
Recommended PSU
RTX 2070: 550 W RTX 3070: 650 W The recommended power supply tells you whether your current PSU can handle the card without an upgrade.
Full Specifications
GPU & Performance
| Spec | RTX 2070 | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| GPU die | TU106 | GA104 |
| Process | TSMC 12nm FFN | Samsung 8N |
| Shader units | 2,304 | 5,888 (winner) Most shader units |
| Ray tracing units | 36 | 46 (winner) |
| Base clock | 1,410 MHz | 1,500 MHz (winner) |
| Boost clock | 1,620 MHz Lowest boost clock | 1,725 MHz (winner) |
| FP32 computeTheoretical peak; AMD counts dual-issue, so compare within a brand only | 7.5 TFLOPS Least compute in class | 20.3 TFLOPS (winner) |
Memory
| Spec | RTX 2070 | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 448 GB/s |
Features
| Spec | RTX 2070 | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling | DLSS Super Resolution | DLSS Super Resolution |
| Frame generation | No DLSS Frame Generation | No DLSS Frame Generation |
| PCIe interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
Power & Thermals
| Spec | RTX 2070 | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Total board power | 175 W (winner) | 220 W |
| Recommended PSU | 550 W (winner) | 650 W |
| Power connector | 1x 8-pin | 1x 12-pin |
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | RTX 2070 | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | 9.02 in | 9.53 in |
| Slot width | 2 slots | 2 slots |
| Display outputs | N/A (not specified) | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
Price
| Spec | RTX 2070 | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price (MSRP) | $499 | $499 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
At launch, the RTX 2070 and the RTX 3070 cost the same.
These are US launch prices, recorded October 2020; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the RTX 2070 if…
- you care about your power bill and a quieter case (175 W vs 220 W)
- you want to keep your current power supply (550 W vs 650 W recommended PSU)
- you don’t need what the newer model adds
Choose the RTX 3070 if…
- you want more theoretical compute (20.3 TFLOPS vs 7.5 TFLOPS)
- you want more raw GPU hardware (5,888 vs 2,304 shader units)
- you want more dedicated ray tracing hardware (46 vs 36)
- you want the higher boost clock (1,725 MHz vs 1,620 MHz)
- you want the changes the RTX 3070 brings over its predecessor
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the RTX 2070 or the RTX 3070?
We’d point most buyers to the RTX 3070. The main exception is if you bought the RTX 2070 recently.
Should I upgrade from the RTX 2070 to the RTX 3070?
For most owners, it’s a meaningful step. The RTX 3070 brings 171% more theoretical FP32 compute, 156% more shader units and 28% more ray tracing units over the RTX 2070.
Which is larger, the RTX 2070 or the RTX 3070?
Going by the official dimensions, the RTX 3070 is the larger one: 9.53 in against the RTX 2070’s 9.02 in.
Which is faster, the RTX 2070 or the RTX 3070?
The RTX 3070 should be the quicker of the two, with 171% more theoretical FP32 compute and 156% more shader units on its side.
Executive Summary
If you have the RTX 2070 and you’re eyeing the RTX 3070, this is my short version. If I had to name one reason, it’s that the RTX 3070 brings 171% more theoretical FP32 compute. Beyond that, 28% more ray tracing units gives the RTX 3070 another edge. Fairness check: the RTX 2070 does come with 45 W lower board power.
If your days lean on power & thermals, I’d pick the RTX 2070; if they lean on gpu & performance, the RTX 3070.
My pick: the RTX 3070, though if your RTX 2070 still does the job, keep it a while longer.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.