Are you looking to upgrade to the latest NVIDIA RTX 40 Series GPUs? We’ve compiled all of our expert knowledge into this complete guide, highlighting everything you need to know about NVIDIA’s brand-new generation of graphics cards. Including all the hardware you need to upgrade.
NVIDIA RTX 40 Series:
With the NVIDIA RTX 40 Series, harness the power of cutting-edge 3rd gen Ada Lovelace architecture. Engineered utilising a custom-made TSMC 4n process with 76 billion transistors designed to enhance performance in gaming, streaming, and content creation.
Thanks to third-gen RT and fourth-gen Tensor cores, unlock integrated support for Ray Tracing and AI DLSS 3.0. Both of which result in exceptional graphics, intelligent AI capabilities, and immersive lighting and shadows for a whole new generation of gaming.
Ray Tracing:
Real-Time Ray Tracing is an intelligent rendering technology designed to simulate the way in which light behaves in real time. Ray Tracing takes the point of view of the in-game camera, looks at the image, and traces it back to the original light source taking into account any textures. All of which results in realistic lighting and shadows, for an immersive gaming experience.
Want to know which games are compatible with Real-Time Ray Tracing? Check out our blog post!
AI DLSS 3.0:
AI DLSS 3.0, or Deep Learning Super Sampling, is the third generation of NVIDIA’s powerful AI-powered display technology. Updated for the RTX 40 Series, it now combines DLSS Super Resolution, DLSS Frame Generation, and NVIDIA Reflex, to intelligently upscale all your images is stunning hyper-realistic quality with silky-smooth frame rates. What’s more, DLSS 3.0 can notably boost performance and response times. With DLSS 3.0, your GPU can render your games up to twice the frame rate of what your CPU is capable of. Perfect for playing the latest AAA demanding games, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator.
You can read more about AI DLSS 3.0 and how you can enhance your gaming experience in our dedicated blog post.
The GPUs:
Below is a list of the GPUs currently in the 40 Series, including the Super models.
| RTX 4090 | RTX 4080 | RTX 4070 Ti | RTX 4070 | RTX 4060 Ti | RTX 4060 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace |
| CUDA cores | 16385 | 9728 | 7680 | 5888 | 4352 | 3072 |
| Base clock | 2.23GHz | 2.51GHz | 2.31GHz | 1.92GHz | 2.31GHz | 1.83GHz |
| Boost clock | 2.52GHz | 2.21GHz | 2.61GHz | 2.48GHz | 2.54GHz | 2.46GHz |
| RT cores | 3rd gen | 3rd gen | 3rd gen | 3rd gen | 3rd gen | 3rd gen |
| Tensor cores | 4th gen | 4th gen | 4th gen | 4th gen | 4th gen | 4th gen |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit | 256-bit | 192-bit | 192-bit | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| GDDR6 | 24GB | 12GB | 12GB | 12GB | 8GB | 8GB |
| TDP | 450W | 320W | 285W | 200W | 160W | 115W |
| RTX 4080 Super | RTX 4070 Ti Super | RTX 4070 Super | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace |
| CUDA cores | 10240 | 8448 | 7168 |
| Base clock | 2.21GHz | 2.34GHz | 1.98GHz |
| Boost clock | 2.55GHz | 2.61GHz | 2.48GHz |
| RT cores | 3rd gen | 3rd gen | 3rd gen |
| Tensor cores | 4th gen | 4th gen | 4th gen |
| Memory-Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit | 192-bit |
| GDDR6 | 16GB | 16GB | 12GB |
| TDP |
NVIDIA RTX 4090:
Designed for enthusiasts, the 4090 is the flagship GPU of the 40 Series. This GPU is primarily aimed at pro gamers, avid content creators, and streamers who wish to unlock incredible performance in an array of intensive workloads, such as image rendering or video editing, along with hyper-realistic, smooth graphics even at 4K.
Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 4090 MASTER 24GB GDDR6X Graphics Card:
- NVIDIA RTX 40 Series
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 16384 CUDA cores
- 24GB GDDR6X video memory
NVIDIA RTX 4080:
The RTX 4080 is the perfect choice for gamers looking to harness the power of next-generation technology. Upgrade your graphical prowess and unlock enhanced Ray Tracing, ultra-fast speeds, and smooth frame rates at 1440p.
ASUS GeForce RTX 4080 Strix Gaming OC 16GB GDDR6X Graphics Card:
- NVIDIA RTX 40 Series
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 9728 CUDA cores
- 16GB GDDR6X video memory
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti:
With the RTX 4070 Ti, unlock next-generation Ada Lovelace architecture along with enhanced Ray Tracing and AI capabilities for superior performance, smooth frame rates, and hyper-realistic graphics.
ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 Ti ROG Strix OC 12GB GDDR6X Graphics Card:
- NVIDIA RTX 40 Series
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 7680 CUDA cores
- 12GB GDDR6X video memory
RTX 4070:
The RTX 4070 has been designed for gamers and content creators looking to harness the latest generation of hardware. Take advantage of cutting-edge Ada Lovelace architecture, 5888 CUDA cores, and clock speeds of up to 2.48GHz, for seamless ultra-fast performance and phot-realistic visuals.
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Aero OC 12GB GDDR6X Graphics Card:
- NVIDIA RTX 40 Series
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 5888 CUDA cores
- 12GB GDDR6X video memory
NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti:
Designed for gamers and budding content creators, the NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti comes equipped with a whole suite of cutting-edge game enhancing features. This includes a hefty 4382 CUDA cores, speeds of up to 2.54GHz, along with next-gen RT and Tensor cores. Unlock photo-realistic visuals, thanks to support for Real-Time Ray Tracing and AI DLSS 3, for an optimised gaming experience.
ASUS GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Dual OC 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card:
- NVIDIA RTX 40 Series
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 4382 CUDA cores
- 8GB GDDR6 video memory
NVIDIA RTX 4060:
Designed for mid-range gaming, the RTX 4060 is the perfect GPU for those looking to harness the latest gaming technology. Utilise the 3072 CUDA cores, boosted clock speeds of up to 2.4GHz, 8GB GDDR6 video memory, and a suite of cutting-edge features, to unlock realistic gaming at up to 1080p resolutions.
MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ventus 2X OC 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card:
- NVIDIA RTX 40 Series
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 3072 CUDA cores
- 8GB GDDR6 video memory
RTX 4080 Super:
Crafted for gaming enthusiasts and streamers, the RTX 4080 Super comes equipped with everything you need to dominate in your favourite AAA games and intensive applications. This includes up to 10240 CUDA cores and boosted clock speeds of 2.51GHz. Both of which combined deliver you blisteringly fast performance, hyper-realistic visuals, and silky-smooth AI-powered frame rates.
Zotac GeForce RTX 4080 Super OC 16GB GDDR6X Graphics Card:
- Super model
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 10240 CUDA cores
- 16GB GDDR6X video memory
RTX 4070 Ti Super:
The RTX 4070 Ti Super is the ultimate upgrade for both gamers and content creators. Thanks to 8448 CUDA cores and boosted clock speeds of 2.51GHz, this GPU will render your gaming worlds at ultra-fast speeds in photo-realistic quality. What’s more, utilise support for AI DLSS 3.5, to unlock buttery-smooth frame rates and an immersive gaming experience.
ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super 16GB GDDR6X Graphics Card:
- Super model
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 7680 CUDA cores
- 16GB GDDR6X video memory
RTX 4070 Super:
Built with Ada Lovelace architecture, the RTX 4070 Super is the perfect choice for those looking to enjoy mid-tier gaming and streaming. Harness 7168 CUDA core, speeds of up to 2.61GHz, and support for Ray Tracing, to achieve stunning visuals and smooth performance in all your favourite games.
ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 Super Dual OC 12GB GDDR6X Graphics Card:
- Super model
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 5888
- 12GB GDDR6X video memory
What Do I need to Upgrade to the NVIDIA RTX 40 Series?
CPU:
For the NVIDIA RTX 40 Series, we recommend either a powerful Intel 13th gen or AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPU.
The latest generation of processors come equipped with enough cores and threads to unlock the full potential of the 40 Series. With one of these CPUs, you can wave goodbye to slow performance, input lag, and poor frame rates.
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU:
- AMD Ryzen 7000 series
- 12 cores / 24 threads
- 4.70GHz base clock
- Up to 5.60GHz boost clock
- 64MB L3 cache
- 170W TDP
Intel Core i7 13700KF CPU:
- Intel 13th gen
- 16 cores / 24 threads
- Base clock 3.40GHz
- Up to 5.4GHz boost clock
- 54MB cache
- 125W TDP
Power Supply:
For the RTX 40 Series, you should invest in a high-quality PSU with an 80 Plus rating of Gold or higher. You can also opt to upgrade to an ATX 3.0 PSU. With an RTX 4090, we recommend at least an 850W PSU. Whereas, a 750W power supply will be efficient enough to support an RTX 4080.
Corsair TX850 850W 80 Plus Gold Semi-Modular PSU:
- Semi-modular
- 850W
- 80 Plus Gold rating
Seasonic Prime TX-750 750W 80 Plus Titanium Modular PSU:
- Modular
- 750W
- 80 Plus Titanium rating
PCIe cables:
For every GPU in the RTX 40 Series, you will need at least three 8-pin PCIe connectors, that will need to be connected to the 12VPHWR adapter cable. This will most likely come bundled with your chosen graphics cards. However, to avoid unnecessary cable clutter and to ensure the best possible performance with your RTX 40 Series GPU, we recommend you also upgrade to an ATX 3.0 PSU. These cutting-edge power supplies have been designed to handle the hefty power demands of the RTX 40 Series, along with any unexpected power spikes.
If you do upgrade to an ATX 3.0 PSU, it will likely come with a direct 12VPHWR cable, as standard.
For more of an in-depth look at the ATX 3.0 power supplies, take a look at our dedicated guide.
Case:
Since both the RTX 4090 and 4080 have high a TDP (Thermal Design Power), both GPUs feature a large integrated heatsink and fans to keep them performing at optimum temperatures. This heatsink makes the card longer and thicker compared to previous generations. Both cards measure at least 304mm in length.
As a result, you need a compatible PC case that has a GPU clearance that can accommodate an 40 Series GPU, along with any additional cooling or customisation features.
Kolink Observatory Z Mesh aRGB Black Mid Tower Case:
- Mid tower PC case
- Supports up to E-ATX motherboards
- Comes with four pre-installed 120mm PWM fans
- Tempered glass side panel
- GPU clearance of 308mm
Phanteks Enthoo Evolv X Galaxy Silver Mid Case:
- Mid tower PC case
- Supports up to E-ATX motherboards
- Tinted tempered glass side panels
- GPU clearance of 435mm
All Your NVIDIA RTX 40 Series Questions Answered!
Will an NVIDIA RTX 40 Series Fit in my Case?
To ensure your RTX 40 Series card fits inside your chosen case, you will need to ensure it has a large enough GPU clearance. For either the 4090 or 4080, we would recommend a GPU clearance of at least 380mm.
You can take a look at a selection of our favourite RTX 40 Series compatible cases in our blog article!
Do I need an ATX 3.0 PSU for an NVIDIA RTX 40 Series GPU?
To upgrade to the NVIDIA RTX 40 Series, it isn’t crucial that you upgrade to an ATX 3.0 PSU, since your chosen GPU will most likely come with the required 12VHPWR adapter cable.
However, ATX 3.0 PSUs have been specifically fine-tuned to handle the hefty power requirements of these graphics cards. You may find that you can’t fully utilise all of the cutting-edge technology and the huge increase in performance without an ATX 3.0 PSU.
- 10 min read
Ruth Rowley
Author
Ruth has been with Overclockers UK for over a year and has gone on to write about everything ranging from in-depth hardware guides to monthly game releases.
Outside of writing blog posts, she can be found wrapped in a blanket with her black cat, engrossed in a book or playing life-simulation games such as The Sims, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
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