Comparing all RTX 4070s: What’s the Real Difference Between 65W, 105W, 120W, and 140W TGP, and Should You Invest More Money?
If you’re looking for a powerful laptop graphics card, one of the best options is the GeForce RTX 4070. However, as you’ve seen in our Top Laptop Graphics Ranking, not all RTX 4070s are created equal, as they can have different power limits depending on the laptop model. The GPU is found in so many laptops this year, from thin and light office workstations to beefy gaming models that need someone like Arnold to carry them around.
Today, we’ll compare the RTX 4070s with different TGPs and see how dependent they are on their power limit, as well as synthetic benchmark performance and gaming performance. We’ll also check how they handle GPU stress tests and see which can really take the heat for long. So far we’ve tested the 65W, the 105W, the 120W, and the 140W version of the GPU, so it’ll be interesting to see what’s the real difference between them.
We’ll also make sure to keep the article updated, in case we come across more 4070 laptops with TGPs that we haven’t tested before. So let’s get started and see which RTX 4070 version is the best for you!
Contents
GPU specs, contestants
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing Process | 4 nm |
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace |
| Base Frequency | 1230 MHz |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 |
| Memory Frequency | 2000 MHz |
| Memory Bandwidth | 266 GB/sec |
| Released | Q1 2023 |
| Power Consumption | 40 – 140W |
| Cores | 4608 |
| Maximum Frequency | 2175 MHz |
| Memory Capacity | 8 GB |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit |
| Drivers | www.nvidia.com |
| Supported Technologies | DLSS 3 (Super Resolution + Frame Generation), NVIDIA Reflex, PCI Express Gen 4, Resizable BAR, NVIDIA GPU Boost, Vulkan 4.6, 5th Generation NVIDIA Decoder, DirectX 12 Ultimate |
Meeting the contestants
The 65W RTX 4070 sits inside the ASUS ROG Flow Z13. We had the special ACRNM edition, which comes with a more rugged design and straps that attach, so the Z13 can be carried like a bag, however, the regular model is just as good. It pairs the 4070 with a Core i9-13900H, so the cooling there has to be something special, otherwise, throttling will be a concern.
ASUS ROG Flow Z13 ACRNM (GZ301, 2023) series
- Dimensions
- 302 x 214 x 15.6 - 20.0 mm (11.89" x 8.43" x 0.61")
- Weight
- 1.32 kg (2.9 lbs)
- Price
- Not Available
Next is the MSI Stealth 16 Studio, which offers a 105W version of the RTX 4070. It’s a bigger laptop with potent cooling, so expect good results from it. Also, with a Core i7-13700H, there’ll be no bottlenecking when it comes to performance. The Studio part refers to the screen and the overall sleeker aesthetic. This is a badass machine for the best video editors, designers, and cinematographers.
MSI Stealth 16 Studio (A13Vx) series
- Dimensions
- 355.8 x 259.7 x 19.95 mm (14.01" x 10.22" x 0.79")
- Weight
- 1.99 kg (4.4 lbs)
- Price
- Starting at $1985.00
For the 120W version of the GPU, we have the largest and probably most powerful convertible on the market right now. The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is a crazy device, with a 16:10 QHD screen that’s super crisp and has amazing colors. Of course, it also carries a Core i9-13900H, as the H-series are now found in pretty much any laptop, regardless of the form factor or cooling capacity.
ASUS ROG Flow X16 (GV601, 2023) series
- Dimensions
- 355 x 243 x 19.4 - 21.9 mm (13.98" x 9.57" x 0.76")
- Weight
- 2.20 kg (4.9 lbs)
- Price
- Starting at $2149.00
The most powerful 4070 variant, the 140W model, we have the 16-inch Lenovo Legion Slim 7i, probably one of the best-cooled laptops on the market. You’ll see how it does under full load a bit further into the analysis.
Lenovo Legion Slim 7i / S7 (16" Intel, Gen 8) series
- Dimensions
- 357.7 x 259.3 x 17.6 - 19.9 mm (14.08" x 10.21" x 0.69")
- Weight
- 2.00 kg (4.4 lbs)
- Price
- Starting at $2549.00
GPU benchmarks
We’ve prepared four benchmarks. Starting with 3DMark Time Spy, the 140W 4070 is only 36% faster than the 65W version, despite having more than double the TGP. As for the 105W and 120W versions, they appear to have pretty much identical scores, as the difference of 1% is negligible. Moving into the Fire Strike benchmark, the 105W card is 5% faster than the 120W GPU, while also being super close to the 140W version. As for the Wild Life benchmark, this time the 120W card is the fastest overall, beating out the 105W and 140W cards. Lastly, in Unigine Superposition, the 105W card is the fastest, although by the slimmest of margins.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
Results are from 3DMark Fire Strike (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
Results are from the Unigine Superposition benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Gaming tests
For Metro Exodus, there is a 9 fps jump at the extreme preset from the 65W card to the 120W card, which is significant.
| Metro Exodus | Full HD, Low (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Extreme (Check settings) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 65W) | 158 fps | 83 fps | 42 fps |
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 105W) | 183 fps (+16%) | 100 fps (+20%) | 49 fps (+17%) |
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 120W) | 175 fps (+11%) | 102 fps (+23%) | 51 fps (+21%) |
As for Borderlands 3, at Medium settings, we can see a clear progression in the framerates. As you go higher and higher in the setitngs, you see less and less of a difference. Still, between the 65W GPU and the 100W+ GPUs, there’s around a 30% to 40% difference.
| Borderlands 3 | Full HD, Medium (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Badass (Check settings) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 65W) | 121 fps | 95 fps | 76 fps |
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 105W) | 153 fps (+26%) | 123 fps (+29%) | 100 fps (+32%) |
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 120W) | 155 fps (+28%) | 125 fps (+32%) | 103 fps (+36%) |
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 140W) | 179 fps (+48%) | 136 fps (+43%) | 108 fps (+42%) |
Lastly, in Ghost Recon Wildlands, there’s barely any difference between the 105W and the 120W GPU, while the 65W card still reaches 65fps at the Ultra preset at Full HD.
| Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Very High (Check settings) | Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 65W) | 114 fps | 101 fps | 66 fps |
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 105W) | 137 fps (+20%) | 121 fps (+20%) | 80 fps (+21%) |
| RTX 4070 (Laptop, 120W) | 135 fps (+18%) | 117 fps (+16%) | 80 fps (+21%) |
Stress testing
Even the 65W GPU couldn’t reach its max power limit, maxing out at 60W even after 30 minutes of testing. The 105W card is also very close, going as high as 99W. The 120W and 140W GPUs fail more miserably, leaving a lot of TDP headroom on the table to be used. Still the 140W card reaches high clock speeds. As for which card was the hottest, the award goes to the 105W RTX 4070, which reaches a peak temperature of 80°C.
| GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 2 min) | GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 30 min) | |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 4060 (Laptop, 65W) | 1860 MHz @ 68°C @ 60W | 1860 MHz @ 70°C @ 60W |
| RTX 4060 (Laptop, 105W) | 2325 MHz @ 77°C @ 98W | 2325 MHz @ 80°C @ 99W |
| RTX 4060 (Laptop, 120W) | 2370 MHz @ 71°C @ 103W | 2370 MHz @ 73°C @ 102W |
| RTX 4060 (Laptop, 140W) | 2494 MHz @ 70°C @ 114W | 2482 MHz @ 76°C @ 115W |
Just like the RTX 4060, the RTX 4070 is unable to heat peak wattages, even if we put the cards under extreme stress in the toughest. Apparently, NVIDIA does allow the GPUs to hit these power limits, however, only in certain scenarios and some games. However, they don’t specify which workloads and games exactly, so all we’re left with is a guessing game.
NVIDIA accomplishes this thanks to a voltage limit on the GPU. However, this can also be a safety net, so as to not damage the card, as higher values will put more stress on the card in terms of power and heat. It can also affect stability and lead to crashes. We’ll decide to trust NVIDIA on this one, but it’s really weird how the 30-series graphics cards had no problem reaching their peak TGPs. NVIDIA might also be playing it safe and to be more efficient, as battery life is crucial for laptops.
As for what this entails for you, the consumer: Don’t spend extra money for a supposedly higher power limit RTX 4070, as even the 105W version can do as much work as the “high and mighty” 140W model. And as a bonus, most of the time you’ll be getting a thinner and more compact laptop that still offers great performance.
If you want to get the most out of your GPU, head on to our [eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT your Gaming Laptop:
🛠️ GPU Modifications: vBIOS, Overclocking, Undervolting
⚙️ Building Fast/Reliable RAID configuration
💻 Hardware upgrade tips for best results
🖼 Display enhancing
💾 OS Optimization for best performance
Best Prices for each TGP tier
RTX 4070 (Laptop, 140W) Laptops
RTX 4070 (Laptop, 120W) Laptops
RTX 4070 (Laptop, 105W) Laptops
RTX 4070 (Laptop, 65W) Laptops
![[Q1 2025] Global Ranking of Best-Selling Laptop GPUs on Amazon – Intel Dominates Budget, Apple & NVIDIA Rule Premium](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Best-Selling-GPUs-GLOBAL-Top-10-375x250.jpg)
![[Q1 2025] Global Ranking of Best-Selling Laptop CPUs on Amazon – Intel Dominates, Apple Rules Premium, and Celeron Shocks Everyone](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Best-Selling-CPUs-GLOBAL-Top-10-375x250.jpg)
![[March 2025] Amazon Global: Top 10 Best-Selling Laptops – HP Dominates with Ultra-Affordable $244 Model Claiming the Top Spot!](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Best-Selling-Laptops-GLOBAL-Top-10-375x250.jpg)
![[March 2025] Amazon Global: Top 10 Best-Selling Gaming Laptops – HP Victus 15 Dominates with Unbeatable Value!](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Best-Selling-Gaming-Laptops-GLOBAL-Top-10-375x250.jpg)
![[March 2025] Best-Selling Laptop Brands on Amazon Global – Apple Dominates Revenue Despite HP Leading in Units](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GLOBAL-Best-Brands-375x250.jpg)
