RTX 5070 vs RTX 4090: Ray Tracing Performance Compared 2026

Quick Answer

The RTX 5070 and RTX 4090 are separated by two full GPU generations, and in ray tracing workloads the RTX 4090 still holds a significant lead at 4K resolution. However, the RTX 5070 narrows that gap considerably at 1440p thanks to DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation and improved RT cores. For most South African gamers who game at 1440p, the RTX 5070 delivers excellent ray traced performance at a far more accessible price point.

Ray Tracing Architecture: What Changed Between Ada and Blackwell

NVIDIA's RTX 4090 was built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with 3rd-generation RT cores and 24 GB of GDDR6X. It remains one of the most powerful consumer graphics cards ever produced for ray tracing-heavy rendering.

The RTX 5070 arrives on the Blackwell architecture with 4th-generation RT cores. These cores handle bounding volume hierarchy (BVH) traversal more efficiently and add support for improved ray-sorted shading techniques. In rasterisation, the performance per watt improvement is substantial. In ray tracing specifically, the per-core improvement is meaningful but the RTX 5070's lower CUDA core count compared to the 4090 means raw RT throughput still favours the older flagship at demanding resolutions.

The key differentiator at the software level is DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (MFG). Blackwell-exclusive MFG can generate up to three AI frames for each rendered frame, dramatically boosting perceived frame rates in supported titles. The RTX 4090 supports DLSS 3 Frame Generation but not the Blackwell-specific multi-frame variant.

1440p Ray Tracing: Where the RTX 5070 Competes

At 2560 x 1440 resolution with ray tracing enabled at high or ultra settings in demanding titles:

• The RTX 5070 with DLSS 4 Quality mode and MFG enabled produces frame rates that far exceed what the RTX 4090 achieves with DLSS 3 FG at the same resolution
• In native resolution without upscaling, the RTX 4090 still leads, but the margin shrinks at 1440p compared to 4K
• Titles with full path tracing (Cyberpunk 2077 Overdrive, Alan Wake 2 full RT) show the RTX 4090's VRAM and raw compute advantage most clearly

For South African gamers playing at 1440p on a 144 Hz to 240 Hz monitor, the RTX 5070 with DLSS 4 Quality + MFG gives a buttery experience in most ray traced games. The RTX 4090's native RT lead only becomes decisive if you game at 4K without upscaling.

4K Ray Tracing: The RTX 4090 Defends Its Crown

At 3840 x 2160 with ray tracing maxed out and no upscaling, the RTX 4090 leads clearly. Its 24 GB VRAM is a genuine advantage in 4K textures combined with RT scene complexity, while the RTX 5070 has 12 GB -- enough for most gaming scenarios but occasionally tight at 4K with RT on and high-resolution texture packs.

With DLSS 4 Quality mode engaged, the RTX 5070 closes the perceptible gap significantly. Image quality at DLSS 4 Quality is very close to native at 4K, and the frame rate uplift means real-world smoothness can match or exceed the RTX 4090 in many titles. But purists who insist on native 4K without upscaling will find the RTX 4090 still the stronger card.

South African Pricing and Value Verdict

In the SA market, the RTX 4090 still commands a premium price, typically well above R25,000 and often approaching R30,000 or more for remaining stock. The RTX 5070 arrives at a considerably lower price point, making it far more accessible for the typical South African enthusiast.

For loadshedding-conscious buyers, note that the RTX 5070's lower TDP (around 250 W) compared to the RTX 4090 (450 W) means smaller, cheaper UPS capacity needed to ride out Stage 2 cuts. This is a real practical advantage in a South African context where running a 450 W GPU through a UPS adds cost and bulk.

Compatibility and Future-Proofing

The RTX 5070 requires a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for full bandwidth (though it is backward-compatible with PCIe 4.0) and uses a 16-pin power connector. Ensure your PSU has a native 16-pin cable or a quality adapter. A 750 W to 850 W PSU is appropriate for an RTX 5070 system. The RTX 4090 demands a 850 W minimum with a 1000 W PSU recommended for high-end CPU pairings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the RTX 5070 better than the RTX 4090 for ray tracing?

In most practical gaming scenarios at 1440p with DLSS 4 enabled, the RTX 5070 delivers comparable or better frame rates. At native 4K without upscaling, the RTX 4090 still leads raw RT performance.

Does the RTX 5070 support full path tracing?

Yes. Blackwell GPUs support path tracing in titles that implement it. Performance in full path tracing at 4K without upscaling is lower than the RTX 4090, but DLSS 4 Quality mode recovers much of the gap.

Which card makes more sense for a South African gamer?

At South African price points, the RTX 5070 offers better value unless you specifically game at 4K native without upscaling. The lower power draw is also a practical advantage given loadshedding and UPS costs.

Will the RTX 4090 support DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation?

No. Multi Frame Generation in DLSS 4 is exclusive to Blackwell (RTX 50-series) GPUs. Ada Lovelace cards including the RTX 4090 are limited to DLSS 3 Frame Generation (one generated frame per rendered frame).