Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q Review

Over the past month we've seen new laptop hardware launches that directly impact the segment of high-functioning and portable gaming machines. Intel's new Core i7-10875H is the key new CPU in their 10th-gen lineup for laptops. At the aforementioned time, Nvidia released a boosted RTX Super serial GPUs, and the calendar week prior, AMD unleashed a competitive processor that targets the aforementioned segment with Ryzen 4000.

Today our focus will be on the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, just proper context was very important because you should expect to run across new laptop models sporting a variety of all this hardware in the coming weeks and months.

It'south taken Nvidia nearly a year to bring their RTX Super GPUs from the desktop to mobile form factors, all the same as nosotros explained at the time of the declaration, the change is not limited to a frequency bump merely there are some neat new features reserved for these new GPUs. In instance you missed it, bank check out our total feature breakdown here.

The new laptop GPUs include the RTX 2080 Super, RTX 2070 Super and the GTX 1650 Ti. The RTX 2070 Super is bachelor in a range of TGPs, where the 80W and 90W variants get a Max-Q designation, while the maximum 115W version is referred to every bit Max-P.

As you tin can imagine, having all of these different variants and power limits nether a single GPU name tin exist confusing, and is something nosotros continue to be frustrated with. Simply take a look at all the GPUs that are chosen "RTX 2070" these days: two desktop GPUs, 2 Max-P laptop variants, and at to the lowest degree four Max-Q models. Some are Super, some are non Super. Some are Max-Q, others are non. The power targets frequently aren't advertised, but whether you stop up with an 80W or 90W Max-Q version does accept operation implications. Only permit'south move on...

Nvidia'south desktop and mobile GPUs have the same CUDA cadre counts. So the RTX 2070 Super for laptops features the same TU104 GPU with 2560 CUDA cores as its desktop counterpart, however clock speeds are different. When looking at the Max-P variant at 115W, the mobile model has a 29% lower base clock and 22% lower rated boost clock, then naturally it'll perform below an RTX 2070 Super desktop GPU. That's non hugely surprising considering the desktop card is rated for 215W and has more room to dissipate all that oestrus. Comparing laptop to desktop, nosotros also get the aforementioned retention subsystem that includes 8 GB of GDDR6 at 14 Gbps.

Max-Q models are configured at a lower clock to comply with oestrus dissipation constraints. The 80W model comes in at 930 MHz base and 1155 MHz boost. Our test laptop as well supports a 90W configuration which can heave performance. Our understanding is that laptops that default to 90W will characteristic 150 MHz higher base clocks. Same as with all modern Nvidia GPUs, while the rated boost clock is listed at 1155 MHz, due to GPU Boost algorithms the actual in-game clock speeds tend to be much higher, so these specifications are really only a guideline.

The laptop nosotros've used for testing is the Gigabyte Aorus 15G. This is the aforementioned unit from our Core i7-10875H CPU analysis, and information technology'll allow us to exam the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q performance in both the 80W and 90W configurations. Do note that because in this generation we're getting both a CPU and GPU upgrade at the same time -- all RTX Super laptops will feature new 10th-gen CPUs -- ideally we'd dear to be checking these GPUs out when paired with the Core i7-10750H, which is much closer to the Core i7-9750H used with many gaming laptops previously, and that would remove the CPU as a variable as best every bit possible. But right now that's just not possible, so we're sticking to mostly heavy GPU limited benchmarks throughout this review.

The Aorus 15G also packs xvi GB of DDR4-2933 retentivity and a 1080p 240 Hz display. Unfortunately, two of the new features Nvidia were touting at the RTX Super laptop launch are not included in this unit: nosotros aren't getting Dynamic Boost or Advanced Optimus, so that'south something we'll accept to evaluate later.

As with all our laptop testing, we try and lock down variables as much as possible. This means keeping the CPU at Intel's default settings unless otherwise specified, and aforementioned with the GPU. We don't use any included OEM utilities to overclock these GPUs, so this review is designed to evidence stock functioning with a given power configuration, although some OEMs similar Gigabyte in this instance let you to choose ability targets. We think many OEMs volition practise the same, and so we're showing both 80W and 90W performance to requite y'all the clearest idea of how this GPU will perform in a variety of configurations. Yous can notice the full list of laptops used for putting together the benchmarks here.

Benchmarks

We're kicking this i off with a fairly standard game in Far Cry 5. Hither you can see quite a bunching of results with all of the RTX 2070 serial GPUs we've tested, and y'all'll probably spot the RTX 2080 Max-Q peeking out from the middle there, too.

Looking at average frame rates, the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q in its 80W configuration is just barely alee of the RTX 2070 at 115W, which we approximate in itself is impressive every bit it does trounce the 90W RTX 2070 Max-Q which fell below the RTX 2070. But realistically when you look at all of these results, whether you become an RTX 2070 Max-Q through to RTX 2080 Max-Q doesn't matter too much as the difference betwixt the all-time and worst results is but 6% using Ultra settings.

What about in Battlefield 5, again using Ultra settings at 1080p? The story here isn't too different, although this time both configurations of the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q aren't as fast as the 115W RTX 2070, falling iii to half-dozen per centum behind. The 80W configuration is besides slower than the RTX 2080 Max-Q, but the margins here are similar to the RTX 2070, at simply single digits.

Permit'due south now expect at Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which is a more GPU intensive game than the previous two and allows the power of the RTX 2070 Super GPU to exist unleashed. This is ane of the strongest results for RTX 2070 Super Max-Q versus RTX 2070 Max-Q, both at 90W which is the comparison nosotros have bachelor. With this configuration, the new Super GPU is 13 percent faster and impressively, fifty-fifty the 80W variant is faster. This allows the 2070 Super Max-Q to come in 4% faster than the 115W RTX 2070 despite consuming just 80W of power. Impressive effect in a mobile form factor.

Resident Evil ii using Balanced settings besides played nicely on the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q at well over 100 FPS. Here we come across an 11% performance gain over the RTX 2070 Max-Q, and a 2% lead over the RTX 2070. Nonetheless, frame rates don't quite keep up to the RTX 2080 Max-Q in this game, the larger GPU is better here at the same 80W ability limit.

Metro Exodus is a very GPU intensive title and again we see quite a large bunching of results for all the RTX 2070 class GPUs. The 80W numbers for the 2070 Super Max-Q aren't overly impressive, two% slower than the RTX 2070, nevertheless this does flip over to a performance lead at 90W. In fact this game saw one of the largest gains for increasing the power limit at vi%, which allows it to be simply under v% faster than the RTX 2070 when all said and done. However when comparing 90W numbers to the 90W RTX 2070 Max-Q, we're non seeing much of a gain, just a 1% improvement to boilerplate frame rates.

Control is a very GPU demanding championship at 1080p using High settings, and hither we're testing without RTX features, if you choose to enable DLSS y'all will encounter better functioning. The 80W configuration of the 2070 Super Max-Q ends up nigh 10% behind the RTX 2070, only benefits from an eleven% operation increase when upped to 90W, allowing to edge slightly ahead of the more than power hungry concluding-gen configuration. This isn't a bad result from a lower ability draw part.

Borderlands 3 is some other championship where it's just at 90W can the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q match the performance of the RTX 2070, while falling nigh 5% behind when nosotros compare 80W 2070 Super Max-Q to 80W 2080 Max-Q. These names are pretty confusing but that's where we are at with modern gaming laptop GPUs.

Red Expressionless Redemption 2 is naturally a very popular title on PC and the functioning story is very similar to some of the games nosotros've just been looking at. The 80W configuration of the 2070 Super Max-Q is slower on average than an RTX 2070, simply faster at 90W. And surprisingly this is 1 of the few games we tested where the 80W 2070 Super Max-Q is actually faster than the 2080 Max-Q running at the same power limit.

Star Wars Jedi Fallen Lodge plays nicely with the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, with both power variants clocking in 2 to iv% faster than the standard RTX 2070 for laptops. It's non quite as fast as the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q only we think performance is practiced in this game either way, even using the Ballsy preset.

Grand Theft Car V is the last title we'll have an in-depth look at, representing an older but yet popular game. At that place'southward not much here that we haven't already talked almost, operation margins are slim between all the GPUs nosotros've been discussing and that's no dissimilar here actually. The 80W 2070 Super Max-Q is two% backside the RTX 2070, but ii% ahead at 90W. This is 1 of the rare titles where the new Super GPU is slower than the non-Super model, simply we believe some of that is down to a CPU limitation, the game does benefit from faster CPUs at these sorts of frame rates.

Performance Breakdown: Super or Not?

It's time to work through some performance breakdowns. Nosotros'll commencement with the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q versus the RTX 2070 Max-Q, both at 90W, in GPU express games. On average the new Super GPU was 7% faster under the same ability limit, but this varied between titles. Some games weren't faster by much, others were up to 15% faster. This will depend on how the game uses resources and whether the game prefers cadre frequency or core count.

Interestingly, though, the 80W variant of the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q is still faster than the 90W RTX 2070 Max-Q we tested, non in all games and non by much, but a 3% improvement on average is respectable and points to a small gain in efficiency from the larger CUDA core array with its slightly reduced clocks.

Speaking of 80W versus 90W, here is how the higher power variant stacks up. In some titles we saw equally much as an 11% performance proceeds, but in others gains were more modest. On average we ended up with only a 3-iv% performance improvement from the higher power limit, which is a piffling bit lower than the gains seen from higher power limits in previous generations. The 90W RTX 2080 Max-Q for case, is 7% faster than the 80W configuration on boilerplate, when we reviewed it dorsum in early on 2022.

The bound upwardly to this new Super model has allowed the RTX 2070 form Max-Q variant to pull much closer to the regular RTX 2070 running at 115W. Running at 80W, the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q is just 2% slower on average, with some games showing it to be faster, and others slower. In our previous testing, the 80W RTX 2070 Max-Q was around 10% slower, sometimes more. We are still talking about RTX 2070 Super versus RTX 2070 here so Nvidia has needed to step upward a GPU tier to reach this performance parity at a lower ability target.

At 90W, the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q is able to pull ahead of the RTX 2070 on average, but only just. The low power Max-Q model isn't always the faster GPU, but in a lot of the about GPU demanding titles information technology tends to perform quite well here, so I'd exist hoping near people ownership a laptop with this GPU within end upwards getting the 90W configuration.

The RTX 2070 Super Max-Q still has its place in the line-up though. It barbarous only three% behind the RTX 2080 Max-Q on boilerplate, so while we tin't quite replace concluding generation'south higher-tier production with a lower tier pattern, it's very close.

The RTX 2070 Super Max-Q does provide considerably more functioning than the RTX 2060 when both are configured to 80W. The new Super GPU is xviii percent faster, which suggests it is past far the more efficient design.

After all the comparisons in a higher place, it'due south clear that Nvidia has crowded the market and the gains you get from moving up one GPU bracket are very small nigh of the time. From the RTX 2060 to RTX 2070 Max-Q you're looking at about a 10% gain, just annihilation you get above that are marginal increments.

What We Learned

Permit's try to proceed things every bit simple every bit possible. Nvidia says that the RTX 2070 Super is replacing the RTX 2070 at roughly the same toll indicate. So for the aforementioned money, you're getting a ~7% performance improvement. It'south not groundbreaking, only we'll take it.

The RTX 2070 will continue to be in the market by replacing the RTX 2060 in that cost tier, and then it'll be possible to choose between RTX 2070 Max-Q and RTX 2070 Super Max-Q models. Gigabyte's Aero 15, for example, is available with either GPU plus an i7-10750H. The RTX 2070 Max-Q model is $1,900, and the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q is $ii,100. That's an 11% increase in price for 7% more than performance, or upwardly to xv% in a best example scenario.

If you are tossing up between Max-Q and non Max-Q laptops, the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q is providing like performance to the 115W RTX 2070, which is bang-up from an efficiency sense, but not as nice when exploring value. Laptops that apply the full 2070 tend to be more affordable. This revamped pricing structure doesn't solve the value disparity between Max-Q and non Max-Q GPUs: Max-Q is e'er worse value, only that'due south the premium you pay for slimmer, nicer, more portable machines.

Then there are some edge cases where companies will replace the full RTX 2070 with an RTX 2070 Super Max-Q. That'southward what happened with the Gigabyte Aorus fifteen. In this scenario, the GPUs will perform relatively the same, but the CPU has received an upgrade from 6 to 8 cores. Unless y'all need improved productivity performance, this sort of "upgrade" isn't very enticing for gamers. If a laptop's cooler is capable of treatment a 115W GPU, the more sensible selection would take been upgrading to a 2070 Super Max-P, or keeping the RTX 2070 but reducing the price.

We should also note that the Aorus 15 nosotros tested has neither Dynamic Boost or Advanced Optimus, two new features Nvidia are pushing this generation. These have the potential to improve performance further, so what we've talked about today is more of a baseline metric. We'll take to explore those features in a time to come review as we receive more laptops for testing.

Lesser line, in terms of pure functioning the needle hasn't shifted besides much, simply hopefully nosotros'll run across new opportunities for better value laptops in the months to come. The excitement with 2022 laptops will come up from the use of Ryzen 4000 APUs, Nvidia's Advanced Optimus, new 300 Hz displays, and also these dainty mechanical key switches used in the Aorus.