Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 vs Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

Updated Nov 2026 · Scored by the Let’s Compare Data Engine · How we score

For most buyers the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the better pick — it scores 81/100 to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti's 66, leading on Core Specifications and Theoretical Performance. Choose the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti instead if you want to spend less.

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

Key takeaways

  • Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 leads Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti overall by 15 points (81 vs 66 out of 100).
  • Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 stands out on Theoretical Performance Performance (FP16): 82.575 TFLOPS (106% more), Theoretical Performance Performance (FP32): 82.6 TFLOPS (107% more), Core Specifications Lithography Process: 5 nm (38% less).
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 leads overall
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
81
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
66
Why it stands out
  • Theoretical Performance Performance (FP16): 82.575 TFLOPS (106% more)
  • Theoretical Performance Performance (FP32): 82.6 TFLOPS (107% more)
  • Core Specifications Lithography Process: 5 nm (38% less)

In-depth analysisAI

AI-generated from the cited sources — may be incomplete or inaccurate; verify important details before deciding · generated Nov 2026.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090

The GeForce RTX 4090 is the flagship graphics card in Nvidia's consumer GPU family, succeeding the GeForce RTX 30 series. It is based on Nvidia's Ada Lovelace architecture and features third-generation RT cores and fourth-generation Tensor Cores for hardware acceleration.

Best for High-end graphics tasks
Pros
  • Features a TSMC 4N process designed by Nvidia
  • Includes three-generation Ray Tracing Cores for accelerated ray tracing
  • Supports OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4, and DirectX Direct3D 12.0 Ultimate APIs
  • Features dual NVENC with 8K 10-bit 120FPS AV1 fixed function hardware encoding
Cons
  • No NVLink support
  • Double-precision performance is 1/64 of single-precision performance

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is a high-end desktop graphics card built on an 8nm manufacturing process, designed for extreme performance demands. Featuring 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and boost clock speeds reaching up to 1.86 GHz, it provides extensive video memory and high compute throughput. It targets extreme enthusiasts, digital creators, and machine learning practitioners who require massive graphical memory and performance.

Best for Heavy 3D rendering and content creation workflows requiring vast VRAM capacityBest for High-frame-rate 4K gaming enthusiasts
Pros
  • Large 24 GB GDDR6X VRAM capacity easily handles complex 3D scenes and heavy datasets
  • High memory bandwidth exceeding 1 TB/s for rapid data transfer
  • Strong compute performance rated at 40 TFLOPS for FP32 tasks
Cons
  • Substantial power consumption with a maximum power draw rated at 450 W

Value for Money

Which is the better deal for the price

Pre-filled with launch prices where known — enter today's price for an up-to-date check. Use the same currency for both.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

Performance

Higher benchmark score = faster

Nvidia GeForce RTX 409038,037
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti29,209

Benchmark score — a measured indicator of raw performance, not a guarantee of real-world speed.

Review Videos

Hand-picked expert reviews for each product

Detailed Specifications

The full spec sheet, side by side

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 vs Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti comparison

Based on our overall comparison score, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 rates higher at 92/100 versus 83/100 for Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti — a 9-point lead. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the stronger overall pick, though the right choice still depends on which specs matter most to you; the full spec table above breaks down every difference.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti are compared side by side above across every spec in the gpus category — including performance, features and design — each scored 0–100 so you can see exactly where one leads the other. Our overall scores are 92/100 for Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and 83/100 for Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti.
At launch, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 was the more affordable option ($1599) versus Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti ($1999). Weigh that against the overall scores (92/100 vs 83/100) and the value-for-money meter above to judge whether the higher-rated model justifies its price for your needs. Current retail prices vary — check the retailer.
If you want the higher-rated gpus option overall, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 (92/100) edges out Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti (83/100). But if Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is cheaper or stronger on the specific specs you care about, it can still be the better buy — use the spec table and strengths profile above to decide.

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