The RTX 4080 SUPER is the closer RTX 4090 substitute for 4K gaming, while the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is the more economical choice for high-refresh 1440p. In Tom’s Hardware’s aggregate hierarchy, the 4080 SUPER retains substantially more of the 4090’s 4K performance than the 4070 Ti SUPER. The lower-tier card still makes sense when your monitor is 1440p, your games respond well to upscaling, or your budget is nearer its historical launch price.
Those conclusions come from a specific benchmark suite, not a guarantee for every game or system. Current October 2026 street prices and stock were not verified, so use the launch prices below as historical reference points and compare the actual listings available where you live.
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At-a-glance comparison
The table uses Tom’s Hardware’s GPU Benchmarks Hierarchy 2026 results for a consistent, raster-oriented comparison. Its index combines average and minimum frame rates, weighting average performance more heavily. The RTX 4090 is the 100% reference in each resolution column.
| Consideration | RTX 4090 | RTX 4080 SUPER | RTX 4070 Ti SUPER |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1440p Ultra relative result | 100.0% (146.1 fps) | 91.0% (133.0 fps) | 83.5% (122.0 fps) |
| 4K Ultra relative result | 100.0% (114.5 fps) | 80.3% (91.9 fps) | 68.7% (78.6 fps) |
| Listed graphics memory | 24GB GDDR6X | 16GB GDDR6X | 16GB GDDR6X |
| Listed board power | 450W | 320W | 285W |
| Historical launch price | Not stated in the cited NVIDIA announcement passage | From $999 in January 2024 | $799 in January 2024 |
| NVIDIA’s stated target | Not addressed in the cited announcement passage | 4K gaming | High-frame-rate 1440p and up to 4K |
Board power is the graphics card’s listed specification, not the consumption of a complete PC. The launch prices are historical manufacturer figures; they are not current retail quotes, sale prices, or evidence of present-day availability.
#1 Best Overall
- Powered by NVIDIA DLSS3, ultra-efficient Ada Lovelace arch, and full ray tracing
- 4th Generation Tensor Cores: Up to 4x performance with DLSS 3 vs. brute-force rendering
- 3rd Generation RT Cores: Up to 2x ray tracing performance
- OC mode: 2640 MHz (OC mode)/ 2610 MHz (Default mode)
- Axial-tech fans scaled up for 23% more airflow
The frame-rate figures help put the percentages into context: in this aggregate, the 4080 SUPER averaged 22.6 fps below the 4090 at 4K Ultra, while the 4070 Ti SUPER averaged 35.9 fps below it. At 1440p Ultra, the differences were 13.1 fps and 24.1 fps, respectively. These are gaps between the hierarchy’s reported averages, not predictions for a particular game. Individual titles can land above or below them.
What the benchmark gap means
At 4K, the RTX 4080 SUPER is the nearer replacement
Tom’s Hardware’s 4K Ultra aggregate places the RTX 4080 SUPER noticeably closer to the RTX 4090 than the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER. The 4080 SUPER therefore gives up less performance when a 4090 is outside your budget, especially in demanding native-resolution games where GPU throughput is the limiting factor.
Put another way, the 4080 SUPER reached 80.3% of the 4090’s result in that 4K suite, compared with 68.7% for the 4070 Ti SUPER. The 4070 Ti SUPER is 11.6 percentage points lower relative to the 4090 in this comparison. That is not the same thing as saying it will be exactly 11.6% slower than the 4080 SUPER in every game: the percentages use the 4090 as their common reference, and the underlying results vary by title.
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The 4070 Ti SUPER remains capable of 4K, but its lower position in the same hierarchy means more frequent compromises: reducing demanding settings, enabling an upscaler, or accepting a lower frame rate. Whether that trade-off is acceptable depends on the games you play and the refresh rate you are trying to drive.
A 4K display does not automatically require the fastest possible card. If you are comfortable with a 60-fps target, selective settings adjustments, or upscaling in games that support it, the 4070 Ti SUPER may be enough for your use. If you want more native-resolution headroom, higher refresh rates, or fewer settings compromises, the 4080 SUPER’s higher aggregate result is the stronger starting point. Check tests from the games you actually play before treating any aggregate average as a buying guarantee.
At 1440p, both alternatives are substantially closer
The hierarchy shows a narrower spread at 1440p Ultra than at 4K. The RTX 4080 SUPER is close enough to the 4090 for high-refresh 1440p to be a practical target, while the 4070 Ti SUPER is also a strong fit for that resolution. NVIDIA specifically positions the 4070 Ti SUPER for high-frame-rate 1440p and up to 4K, and Tom’s Hardware describes native 1440p as its optimal target.
In Tom’s Hardware’s 1440p aggregate, the 4080 SUPER scored 91.0% of the 4090 result and the 4070 Ti SUPER scored 83.5%. Their reported average frame rates were 133.0 fps, 122.0 fps, and 146.1 fps for the 4080 SUPER, 4070 Ti SUPER, and 4090, respectively. Those averages do not ensure that a card will sustain the same rate in every game, and average frame rate is not a complete measure of smoothness. Minimums, frame pacing, and CPU limits can all matter, particularly when chasing a high refresh rate.
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At lower resolutions, a fast CPU can become the bottleneck. Tom’s Hardware reports that the 4090’s lead over the alternatives is less than 2% at 1080p Ultra, compared with a 9% gap at 1440p and a 25% gap at 4K in its hierarchy. Those figures describe that test suite; a different processor, game engine, memory configuration, or driver can change the spacing.
Which card fits each resolution and refresh target?
Choose the RTX 4080 SUPER for uncompromised 4K ambitions
The RTX 4080 SUPER is the direct choice of the two when your priority is 4K. It has the stronger aggregate result, and its greater GPU resources provide more headroom for high-quality settings as games become more demanding. It is also the more sensible substitute if you specifically want performance that tracks the 4090 rather than merely reaching 4K output.
NVIDIA described the model as a 4K card and stated that it “powers fully ray-traced games in 4K resolution.” That is vendor positioning, not an independent guarantee of a particular frame rate. Native 4K ray tracing can still require careful settings, an upscaler, or frame generation depending on the title.
Think of “4K card” as a product-positioning shorthand, not a promise that every game will run at a chosen frame rate with every visual feature enabled. The hierarchy’s cited comparison table does not include ray-tracing or DLSS results, so its 4K numbers cannot answer how either card performs with a specific ray-tracing preset or reconstruction mode. For that decision, look for a review that matches the game, resolution, settings, and feature mode you intend to use.
Rank #2
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)/Clock Speed Powered by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER graphics processing unit (GPU) with a 2.55 GHz boost clock speed. * On-board Memory 16GB GDDR6X * Interface Compatibility PCI Express 4.0 and earlier PCI Express 3.0. Offers compatibility with a range of systems. * Technologies 10,240 NVIDIA CUDA Cores, 2.55 GHz Boost Clock, 3rd Gen Ray Tracing Cores, 4th Gen Tensor Cores, NVIDIA DLSS, GameReady and NVIDIA Studio Drivers, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, NVIDIA G-SYNC, NVIDIA GPU Boost, GDDR6X Graphics MemoryPCI Express Gen 4 * Microsoft Direct 12 Ultimate, Vulkan RT APIs
Choose the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER for high-refresh 1440p
The 4070 Ti SUPER is naturally matched to a 1440p monitor, especially at refresh rates where consistent frame delivery matters more than maximum 4K headroom. NVIDIA calls it ideal for “maxing out games at super-high frame rates at 1440p, and up to 4K.” Tom’s Hardware’s review likewise treats native 1440p as the card’s best target.
For a 1440p build, the card’s lower launch tier can leave more of the budget for a fast CPU, a high-refresh display, additional storage, or a quieter cooling solution. The value depends on the current local price, however; a historical $799 launch price cannot tell you whether a specific listing in October 2026 is attractive.
For a high-refresh monitor, ask whether your favorite games are GPU-limited or CPU-limited at your chosen settings. The aggregate hierarchy shows strong 1440p results for both alternatives, but competitive titles may reach a CPU ceiling before the graphics card is fully used. In that situation, spending more on the GPU may not proportionally improve frame rates. Conversely, visually demanding games with high settings can make the GPU difference more visible.
At 1080p, check the rest of the system before paying for a faster GPU
If you play at 1080p, the hierarchy’s small separation between these GPUs illustrates how quickly CPU limits can dominate. A 4090-class card may not deliver a proportional benefit unless your games are unusually GPU-heavy, you use very high visual settings, or you plan to move to a higher-resolution display. Examine CPU performance, game-engine behavior, and the monitor’s refresh rate before selecting the most expensive option.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThat does not mean a faster GPU is never useful at 1080p. It means the expected gain is workload-dependent, and the hierarchy’s less-than-2% gap at that resolution is a warning against assuming the 4K ranking applies equally everywhere. If you plan to keep a 1080p screen, compare tests at 1080p and the settings you actually use rather than extrapolating from 4K scores.
Raster performance is not the whole story
What Tom’s Hardware’s hierarchy includes
The cited hierarchy is useful because all three cards appear in the same publisher’s aggregate. Tom’s Hardware tested 15 established games plus three newer bonus titles at 1080p medium and Ultra, 1440p Ultra, and 4K Ultra. The results are primarily native-resolution figures, with selected DirectX ray-tracing tests and separate power measurements in the underlying review work.
Its aggregate is designed to make a broad comparison across the test set, rather than to predict one user’s exact experience. The index weights average frame rate more heavily than minimum frame rate, so a card’s score should not be read as a measure of every aspect of responsiveness. Game selection, resolution, visual preset, and the balance between average and minimum results all shape the outcome.
What the hierarchy excludes
The comparison table explicitly excludes ray tracing and DLSS results. Do not treat its percentages as a complete prediction for a game that relies heavily on ray tracing, DLSS Super Resolution, or frame generation. Those features can alter both the practical frame rate and the perceived smoothness, and their benefits vary by game implementation.
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Also distinguish rendered frame rate from displayed frame rate when a test uses frame generation. An upscaled or generated result may improve the experience for some players, but it is not directly interchangeable with a native-rendered average. To compare two cards fairly for your needs, use like-for-like settings and identify whether the result is native, upscaled, or frame-generated.
Memory and board power affect the build around the GPU
Memory capacity
The RTX 4090 carries 24GB of GDDR6X, while both alternatives are listed with 16GB. Sixteen gigabytes is ample for many 1440p workloads and remains usable for 4K, but the 4090 offers a larger buffer for exceptionally high-resolution textures, heavy ray-tracing workloads, modded games, and future titles. Memory capacity alone does not determine frame rate; it determines how much data the card can keep resident before a workload must stream or reduce settings.
Rank #3
- Powered by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (16GB) graphics processing unit (GPU) with a 2.51 GHz boost clock speed
- PCI Express 4.0 and earlier PCI Express 3.0. Offers compatibility with a range of systems
- 9,728 NVIDIA CUDA Cores, 2.51 GHz Boost Clock, Dedicated Ray Tracing Cores
- Microsoft DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan RT APIs
The 16GB capacity shared by the 4080 SUPER and 4070 Ti SUPER means memory amount alone does not decide between them. Their performance gap in the hierarchy reflects the complete GPU configuration and test results, not a difference in listed capacity. If you use unusually large texture packs or mods, check memory use in those exact workloads; the larger 4090 capacity may be useful, but capacity by itself does not guarantee a higher frame rate.
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NVIDIA lists a 256-bit memory bus for the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER. Bus width is one part of the memory subsystem and should not be used as a standalone performance ranking. The hierarchy’s measured results already incorporate the complete GPU design, memory speed, cache, drivers, and test platform.
Power, cooling, and case planning
The listed board-power figures are 450W for the RTX 4090, 320W for the RTX 4080 SUPER, and 285W for the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER. The step down from the 4090 to either alternative can simplify cooler sizing, case airflow, and power-supply planning, but you still need to follow the exact board partner’s connector and supply recommendations.
By the listed figures, the 4080 SUPER is 130W below the 4090 and the 4070 Ti SUPER is 165W below it; the difference between the two alternatives is 35W. Those arithmetic differences describe listed board-power specifications, not a guarantee of how much less electricity your complete system will draw in a game. Actual usage changes with workload and the specific card implementation.
GamersNexus recorded a 266W power observation for the 4070 Ti SUPER during a 1440p Starfield test. That is a measurement from one review workload, not the same thing as the 285W listed board-power specification. A game-specific power reading can help illustrate behavior in that test, but it should not replace the specification or be treated as a universal consumption figure.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Do not size a power supply from board power alone. Add the CPU’s package power, drives, fans, pumps, USB loads, and transient headroom. Check the specific card’s dimensions, radiator or front-fan clearance, connector arrangement, and included adapter before ordering. Two cards using the same GPU name can have different heatsink lengths and thicknesses.
Price: use launch figures only as historical context
NVIDIA’s January 2024 announcement listed the RTX 4080 SUPER from $999 and the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER at $799. These are launch prices, not current market averages. The cited material does not establish October 2026 street prices, stock levels, regional taxes, used-card pricing, or retailer coverage.
The difference between those launch prices was $200, but that historical gap cannot tell you whether the same gap exists in current listings. For a purchase decision, record the complete local cost: the card, shipping, tax, any required power-supply upgrade, and the value of the monitor you intend to drive. Then compare that total with the performance tier you need. A 4080 SUPER is not automatically better value if its local price approaches a 4090, and a 4070 Ti SUPER is not automatically a bargain if a 4080 SUPER is only slightly more expensive in your market.
Compare like with like when shopping: the precise GPU model, cooler, warranty, condition, and seller terms can differ even among cards built around the same GPU. Do not assume a particular retailer has stock or that a headline price includes delivery and tax. If considering used inventory, account for the warranty and return terms as well as price.
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Game and setting selection
Aggregate rankings smooth together many games, but your library may not resemble the test set. Competitive games at 1440p can be CPU-limited, while visually intensive single-player games at 4K can expose the larger GPU gap. Presets also matter: Ultra settings may use much more memory and bandwidth than High, and one game’s “Ultra” is not equivalent to another’s.
Drivers and test platforms
Tom’s Hardware identified NVIDIA preview driver 551.22 for its RTX 4080 SUPER testing and noted that some cards were retested after driver-related benchmark changes. Results can move when a driver, game patch, BIOS setting, or operating-system update changes the workload. CPU model, memory speed, resizable-bar support, cooling, and background tasks also affect measured frame rates.
Rank #4
- Powered by NVIDIA DLSS 3, ultra-efficient Ada Lovelace arch, and full ray tracing
- 4th Generation Tensor Cores: Up to 4X performance with DLSS 3 vs. brute-force rendering
- 3rd Generation RT Cores: Up to 2X ray tracing performance
- WINDFORCE Cooling system
- Metal backplate
That context is useful when two reviews appear to disagree. Check whether they tested the same game version, graphics preset, resolution, driver, and rendering mode before comparing the numbers. Small differences between results from separate test systems may reflect methodology as well as the graphics cards. Prefer a same-review, same-test comparison when your goal is to establish the relative gap between these three models.
A game-specific example
GamersNexus measured the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER at an average of 172 fps at 1440p in one test and reported a 7.8% lead over the original RTX 4070 Ti in that comparison. In a separate 1440p Starfield power observation, it recorded 266W for the 4070 Ti SUPER. These are individual review results, not universal specifications or guarantees. They demonstrate why a single game can show a different uplift and power behavior from an aggregate hierarchy.
The 172-fps result is not an expected average for every 1440p game, and the 7.8% uplift applies to that test’s comparison with the original 4070 Ti. Use it as an example of title-specific variation, not as a replacement for the broader hierarchy or a claim that the SUPER card is always that much faster.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical decision framework
- Set the resolution first. For native 4K with high settings, start with the RTX 4080 SUPER; for high-refresh 1440p, start with the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER; for 1080p, investigate CPU limits before stepping up to either card.
- Define the frame-rate target. A 60Hz 4K display, a 144Hz 1440p display, and a 240Hz esports monitor demand different balances. Do not pay for 4K-class headroom that your display cannot reveal.
- List your must-have features. Decide whether native raster performance, ray tracing, DLSS, frame generation, or a large texture-mod budget matters most. The cited hierarchy does not answer the ray-tracing or DLSS question by itself.
- Check memory needs. The alternatives provide 16GB, while the 4090 provides 24GB. Consider your texture packs, mods, creative applications, and expected ownership period.
- Validate the whole build. Confirm power-supply capacity, connectors, case clearance, airflow, CPU balance, and monitor interface before comparing prices.
- Compare current local totals. Use the actual price and warranty available to you. Treat the January 2024 launch prices only as historical reference points.
- Read game-specific evidence for unusual workloads. If you mainly play one title, prioritize tests using that game, your resolution, and the settings you intend to run.
Buying checklist
- Confirm the exact GPU model and cooler dimensions, not just the GPU family name.
- Check whether the card includes the required power adapter and whether your power supply has the correct native connector.
- Verify that the case supports the card’s length, height, and slot thickness with front fans or radiators installed.
- Match the card to the monitor’s resolution, refresh rate, adaptive-sync support, and available display inputs.
- Decide in advance whether DLSS or another upscaler is acceptable for your preferred games.
- Check return and warranty terms, especially for clearance or used inventory.
- Compare complete delivered cost rather than headline price alone.
Verdict
Among these two alternatives, the RTX 4080 SUPER is the better RTX 4090 replacement for 4K because it sits materially closer in Tom’s Hardware’s aggregate results and carries the vendor’s 4K positioning. The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is the more rational choice for high-frame-rate 1440p and can reach 4K with appropriate settings or upscaling, but it gives up more 4K performance and has less memory headroom. Choose between them using your actual resolution, refresh target, feature priorities, build power budget, and current local price—not the historical launch prices alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the RTX 4080 SUPER close to the RTX 4090?
It is the closer of these two alternatives, but it is not equal to the 4090. In Tom’s Hardware’s GPU Benchmarks Hierarchy 2026, the 4080 SUPER reached 80.3% of the 4090’s 4K Ultra result (91.9 fps versus 114.5 fps) and 91.0% at 1440p Ultra (133.0 fps versus 146.1 fps). Those figures are aggregate results from one test suite.
Is the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER good enough for 4K?
It can be used for 4K, but expect more compromises than with the 4080 SUPER. Tom’s Hardware’s hierarchy recorded 78.6 fps for the 4070 Ti SUPER at 4K Ultra, 68.7% of the 4090’s result. Your experience depends on the game, settings, and frame-rate target; lowering demanding settings or using an upscaler may help when native performance is not enough.
Which is better for 1440p gaming?
Both are strong 1440p options in Tom’s Hardware’s aggregate: the 4080 SUPER scored 133.0 fps and the 4070 Ti SUPER 122.0 fps at 1440p Ultra. The 4070 Ti SUPER is the more natural fit if its current local price is lower and you do not need as much 4K headroom. The 4080 SUPER offers higher results and more margin for demanding settings or a future move to 4K.
How much performance do I give up by choosing the cheaper card?
In the cited hierarchy, the 4070 Ti SUPER scored 68.7% of the 4090 at 4K Ultra and 83.5% at 1440p Ultra; the 4080 SUPER scored 80.3% and 91.0%, respectively. These percentages use the 4090 as the reference and are not a promise of the same gap in every game. Compare tests of your own games and settings for a more useful estimate.
Are the $999 and $799 prices current?
No. NVIDIA listed those as launch prices in its January 2024 announcement: from $999 for the RTX 4080 SUPER and $799 for the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER. They are historical figures, not current street prices or evidence of present availability. Check local listings and compare the full delivered cost.
Does the benchmark comparison include ray tracing and DLSS?
The cited hierarchy comparison table excludes ray-tracing and DLSS results. Tom’s Hardware’s underlying review work included selected DirectX ray-tracing tests, but the aggregate figures here should not be treated as a ray-tracing or upscaling ranking. For those features, compare game-specific results with matching settings and modes.
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The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The RTX 4080 SUPER is the closer RTX 4090 alternative for 4K; the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a more natural high-refresh 1440p pick. Compare game-specific performance, current local prices, power requirements, and the settings you actually plan to use.
Quick Recap
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