RTX 3090 vs RTX 5070

AmperevsBlackwellUpdated 36 days ago

The RTX 3090 emerges as the winner for most machine learning use cases due to its 24 GB VRAM and 936 GB/s bandwidth, which outperform the RTX 5070's 12 GB and 448 GB/s in handling large models and batches. Superior availability across 52 cloud offers reinforces its practicality over the newer but limited RTX 5070.

RTX 3090 from $0.20/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecRTX-3090RTX-5070
TDP350W250W
VRAM24 GB12 GB
CUDA Cores10,4966,144
Memory TypeGDDR6XGDDR7
ArchitectureAmpereBlackwell
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
InterconnectNVLink
Tensor Cores328192
FP16 Performance35.6 TFLOPS40.6 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance35.6 TFLOPS40.6 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth936 GB/s448 GB/s

Performance Analysis

Compute performance favors the RTX 5070 slightly: its 40.6 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32 exceeds the RTX 3090's 35.6 TFLOPS by 14 percent. This delta translates to faster training iterations and inference latency for models fitting within memory limits. However, the RTX 3090's 24 GB VRAM doubles the RTX 5070's 12 GB, enabling larger batch sizes in deep learning tasks without swapping to system RAM. Memory bandwidth underscores this: 936 GB/s on the RTX 3090 versus 448 GB/s supports quicker data transfers, reducing bottlenecks in memory-intensive operations like LLM fine-tuning. For training, higher VRAM on the RTX 3090 accommodates massive datasets, while the RTX 5070's 250W TDP versus 350W offers better power efficiency for prolonged runs. Inference benefits from the RTX 5070's edge in flops for smaller models, but VRAM constraints limit its scalability. Bandwidth impacts batch sizes directly: higher figures prevent slowdowns in high-throughput scenarios.

Live Cloud Pricing

Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.

RTX 3090

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
TensorDock
TensorDock
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.20/GPU/hr
Available
TensorDock
TensorDock
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.21/GPU/hr
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
4×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.25/GPU/hr
$1.01/hr total (4×)
Available
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
4×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.27/GPU/hr
$1.07/hr total (4×)
Available
LeaderGPU
LeaderGPU
8×NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24GB VRAM
$0.29/GPU/hr
$2.29/hr total (8×)
Available

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the RTX 3090

Opt for the RTX 3090 in scenarios demanding high VRAM, such as training large language models exceeding 12 GB. Its 24 GB capacity and 936 GB/s bandwidth handle extensive datasets without fragmentation. Abundant cloud offers at an average of $0.41 per hour ensure reliability for production workloads. NVLink interconnect aids multi-GPU setups for scaled training.

When to Choose the RTX 5070

Choose the RTX 5070 for efficiency-focused tasks leveraging Blackwell architecture advancements. Its 40.6 TFLOPS outperforms the RTX 3090's 35.6 TFLOPS, suiting inference on models under 12 GB. Lower 250W TDP reduces operational costs, and average pricing of $0.21 per hour provides value despite fewer offers.

Use Cases

LLM Training
RTX 3090

The RTX 3090's 24 GB VRAM supports larger models than the RTX 5070's 12 GB. Higher 936 GB/s bandwidth enables bigger batches without slowdowns.

LLM Inference
RTX 5070

RTX 5070's 40.6 TFLOPS provides 14 percent faster performance than 35.6 TFLOPS for models fitting in 12 GB. Lower TDP suits sustained serving.

Fine-tuning
RTX 3090

24 GB VRAM on RTX 3090 accommodates full model loading during fine-tuning. NVLink supports multi-GPU scaling absent on RTX 5070.

Stable Diffusion
Either

Both GPUs manage typical 8-12 GB needs, but RTX 3090 excels in high-res generations via 24 GB VRAM. RTX 5070 offers efficiency with 40.6 TFLOPS.

Scientific Computing
RTX 3090

RTX 3090's 936 GB/s bandwidth accelerates data-heavy simulations. 24 GB VRAM handles complex datasets better than 12 GB.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has more VRAM?

The RTX 3090 provides 24 GB GDDR6X VRAM, double the RTX 5070's 12 GB GDDR7. This makes the RTX 3090 superior for memory-intensive tasks.

How do their compute performances compare?

RTX 5070 delivers 40.6 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32, surpassing RTX 3090's 35.6 TFLOPS by 14 percent. This aids faster inference on smaller models.

What are the cloud rental prices?

Both start at $0.08 per hour. RTX 3090 averages $0.41 per hour across 52 offers, while RTX 5070 averages $0.21 per hour across 6 offers.

Which has higher power consumption?

RTX 3090 requires 350W TDP, higher than RTX 5070's 250W. Lower TDP on RTX 5070 improves efficiency in cloud environments.

Does RTX 5070 support NVLink?

RTX 3090 includes NVLink for multi-GPU connectivity, absent on RTX 5070. This benefits scaled training setups.

Which is better for large batch sizes?

RTX 3090's 936 GB/s bandwidth outperforms RTX 5070's 448 GB/s, supporting larger batches in training. 24 GB VRAM further enables this.

Which is cheaper to rent, the RTX 3090 or the RTX 5070?

Cloud rental prices for both the RTX 3090 and RTX 5070 vary by provider, configuration, and availability. This page shows live pricing from 25+ providers updated every 60 seconds. Scroll to the Live Cloud Pricing section to compare current rates.

How much VRAM does the RTX 3090 have compared to the RTX 5070?

The RTX 3090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X memory. The RTX 5070 has 12 GB of GDDR7 memory.

Can I find RTX 3090 and RTX 5070 GPUs available to rent right now?

Yes. This page shows real-time availability across 25+ cloud GPU providers. The Live Cloud Pricing section displays only in-stock offers with current pricing.

What is the main difference between the RTX 3090 and the RTX 5070?

The RTX 3090 uses the Ampere architecture (2020) while the RTX 5070 uses Blackwell (2025). The RTX 5070 delivers 1.1x the FP16 throughput and 2.1x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 3090.

RTX 3090 vs RTX 5070: 24GB GDDR6X vs 12GB GDDR7 | GPUPerHour