Both cards have 24 GB of VRAM, but the RTX 4090 is much faster and adds DLSS Frame Generation, while the RTX 3090 is far cheaper used and wins on value. Buy the 4090 for a big performance jump; keep or buy the 3090 for 24 GB on a budget.
Quick answer. For anyone with 24 GB needs — large AI models or 4K — this is a common decision. The 4090 is substantially faster, more efficient per watt despite higher draw, and adds DLSS 3 Frame Generation the 3090 lacks. The 3090 answers with a much lower used price and the same 24 GB VRAM, making it the value route into a big memory buffer.
Quick answer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 leads on both gaming and AI workloads. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 gives the best performance per dollar of the group. Look at VRAM and memory bandwidth for capability, TDP for power and heat, and separate gaming vs AI performance scores. Then weigh new and used prices, and cloud rental cost if you only need the card occasionally. Not necessarily. TDP measures power draw, not performance. A newer architecture can deliver more frames or tokens per watt, so always compare performance scores alongside power, not power alone. Used cards can offer far better value, especially previous-generation flagships. Factor in the lack of warranty and unknown wear. This tool lists both new and used reference prices so you can judge the gap. Head-to-head comparison
Spec
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
VRAM
24 GB (winner)
24 GB
Bandwidth
936 GB/s
1008 GB/s (winner)
TDP (power)
350 W (winner)
450 W
Gaming score
80/100
95/100 (winner)
AI score
78/100
96/100 (winner)
Price (new)
$900 (winner)
$1,900
Price (used)
$700 (winner)
$1,550
Cloud rent $/hr
$0.22 (winner)
$0.34
Best for
Best value, Efficiency
Gaming, AI / LLMs
Get it
GPU reference specs
GPU
VRAM
TDP
Bandwidth
Street price
Cloud $/hr
Released
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
32 GB
575 W
1792 GB/s
$2,500
$0.69
2025
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
16 GB
360 W
960 GB/s
$1,200
$0.40
2025
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
12 GB
250 W
672 GB/s
$650
$0.25
2025
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
24 GB
450 W
1008 GB/s
$1,900
$0.34
2022
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
16 GB
320 W
717 GB/s
$1,100
$0.28
2022
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
12 GB
200 W
504 GB/s
$550
$0.20
2023
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24 GB
350 W
936 GB/s
$900
$0.22
2020
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
12 GB
170 W
360 GB/s
$280
$0.12
2021
NVIDIA A100 80GB
80 GB
400 W
2039 GB/s
$8,000
$1.10
2020
NVIDIA H100 80GB
80 GB
700 W
3350 GB/s
$25,000
$2.49
2022
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
24 GB
355 W
960 GB/s
$850
$0.30
2022
Intel Arc B580
12 GB
190 W
456 GB/s
$250
N/A
2024
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two GPUs?
Is a higher TDP GPU always faster?
Should I buy new or used when comparing GPUs?
Which should you buy?
- Performance upgrade: the 4090 is a large step up in both gaming and AI, plus Frame Generation.
- Budget 24 GB: the 3090 delivers the same VRAM for far less, ideal for AI experimenters watching cost.
- Value: the 3090 wins per dollar; the 4090 wins per watt and on features.
Key differences
- VRAM: both 24 GB — parity for model size.
- Features: DLSS 3 Frame Generation on the 4090 only.
- Performance: the 4090 is clearly faster with higher bandwidth.
- Price: the 3090 is much cheaper, especially used.
New, used, or cloud
The 3090 is a used-market value star for 24 GB. But for periodic heavy AI, renting a 4090 (or larger) can beat owning either — compare cloud GPUs.
People also ask
Is it worth upgrading from a 3090 to a 4090? If you want much higher performance and Frame Generation, yes. If your 3090’s 24 GB already fits your workloads and speed is acceptable, the upgrade is optional. Do the 3090 and 4090 have the same VRAM? Yes, both have 24 GB. The 4090 is faster and adds Frame Generation, but neither has a capacity advantage.
Related: RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 · RTX 4080 vs RTX 4090 · Check used prices