GeForce GTX 470 vs GeForce GT 1030

Speed and memory

In our performance index the GeForce GTX 470 scores 2.8 and the GeForce GT 1030 scores 2.5, which makes the GeForce GTX 470 about 12% faster. That is a visible but modest gap, usually 5 to 10 fps in a game that runs at 60.

The GeForce GTX 470 has 1 GB of video memory and the GeForce GT 1030 has 2 GB. That difference matters at 1440p and in new games at High textures, and it can outweigh a small speed advantage as the card ages.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Grand Theft Auto V Legacy (35 against 44 fps), and the smallest is in Minecraft: Java Edition (56 against 51 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce GTX 470 is rated at 215 W and the GeForce GT 1030 at 30 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 650 W for the first and 450 W for the second. A gap of 185 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce GTX 470 cost $349 and the GeForce GT 1030 $79. Per dollar, the GeForce GT 1030 gave more performance (3.2 points per $100 against 0.8). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce GTX 470 if you want the faster card, and you can accept 1 GB of memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the GeForce GT 1030 if the price gap matters more than the 12% speed difference, and you value the extra video memory. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.