The RTX 4090 is about 29% faster than the RTX 4080 in games. In 8 popular games at 1080p (High settings), the RTX 4090 averages about 259 FPS and the RTX 4080 about 246 FPS.
Estimated average FPS at 1080p, High settings, with a fast processor so only the graphics cards differ.
Average estimated FPS on High settings in the same games.
| Resolution | RTX 4090 | RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 259 FPS | 246 FPS |
| 1440p | 236 FPS | 189 FPS |
| 4K | 151 FPS | 117 FPS |
How each graphics card compares with the official graphics card requirements of new PC games.
| Game | RTX 4090 | RTX 4080 |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil Requiem | Above recommended | Above recommended |
| Forza Horizon 6 | Above recommended | Above recommended |
| Gears of War: E-Day | Above recommended | Above recommended |
| Crimson Desert | Above recommended | Above recommended |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 | Above recommended | Above recommended |
| Phantom Blade Zero | Above recommended | Above recommended |
| RTX 4090 | RTX 4080 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance score | 540 ✓ | 420 |
| Video memory (VRAM) | 24 GB ✓ | 16 GB |
| Memory type | GDDR6X | GDDR6X |
| Power (board) | 450 W | 320 W ✓ |
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace |
| Ray tracing | Yes | Yes |
| Upscaling | DLSS + Frame Generation | DLSS + Frame Generation |
| Released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Typical price (US) | $2490 | $1030 |
Official specs from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel. Performance score: GTX 1060 6GB = 100. Prices: the cheaper of the usual new price and the typical used (eBay) price, October 2026. They change every week.
Not sure how much video memory you need? Read How Much VRAM Do You Need for Gaming.
Yes. The RTX 4090 is about 29% faster in games. In our 8 test games at 1080p (High settings) it averages about 259 FPS vs 246 FPS.
It is a noticeable upgrade (about 29% faster), worth it if you can sell your RTX 4080 or find a good price.
At 1440p High, our estimate is about 236 FPS for the RTX 4090 and 189 FPS for the RTX 4080 on average in recent games. More VRAM also helps at 1440p: RTX 4090 24 GB, RTX 4080 16 GB.
Every graphics card has a gaming performance score (GTX 1060 6GB = 100) based on published benchmark averages. FPS come from the same model as our FPS Estimator, with a fast processor so only the graphics cards differ. They are estimates, not benchmarks.
How we compare: scores are gaming performance averages from published benchmarks (TechPowerUp, Tom's Hardware and others), and FPS come from the same model as our FPS Estimator, calibrated on benchmark results. They are estimates for typical gameplay, not our own lab tests. Updated October 2026. See our editorial standards.