While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is the pinnacle of graphics cards, its hefty $1,999+ price tag is out of reach for most. Fortunately, you don't need the top-tier card to enjoy 4K gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer a more budget-friendly yet powerful alternative, delivering an impressive 4K gaming experience.
Current market conditions have driven up prices due to high demand and limited supply following their launch. However, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT remain the go-to options for those seeking a high-end gaming setup without breaking the bank.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos
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RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Specs
Comparing graphics cards with different architectures is complex. Nvidia’s CUDA cores and AMD’s Shading Units, though similar in function, don't allow for straightforward comparisons based solely on numbers.
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each with 64 shader units, totaling 4,096. It also includes 128 AI Accelerators and 64 RT Accelerators. Coupled with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, it's well-equipped for modern games, though might be pushed to its limits at 4K in the future.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also boasts 16GB of memory but uses the newer GDDR7, offering higher bandwidth on a 256-bit bus. With 70 Streaming Multiprocessors and 8,960 CUDA Cores, it showcases Nvidia's efficiency, though this doesn't necessarily mean double the performance.
Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks
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RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Performance
On paper, the RTX 5070 Ti seems superior, but real-world performance tells a different story. Both cards excel at 4K gaming and are top contenders for 1440p gaming.
During my review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, I anticipated it would lag behind the RTX 5070 Ti, especially in ray-traced games. However, in games like Cyberpunk 2077, the RX 9070 XT stayed remarkably close to the RTX 5070 Ti. In Total War: Warhammer 3, the RTX 5070 Ti achieved 87fps at 4K, while the RX 9070 XT hit 76fps. Yet, on average, the RX 9070 XT was 2% faster, a significant achievement given its lower cost.
Winner: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Photos
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RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Software and Features
Choosing a graphics card now involves more than just hardware performance. Both Nvidia and AMD provide comprehensive software suites that enhance the capabilities of their cards.
The RTX 5070 Ti benefits from Nvidia's DLSS suite, including AI upscaling and Frame Generation. With DLSS 4, Nvidia introduces multi-frame generation, producing three AI-generated frames for each rendered frame, boosting frame rates while slightly increasing latency. This feature is best utilized when starting from a frame rate of at least 45fps, ideally over 60fps.
AMD's RX 9070 XT supports Frame Generation but is limited to one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The introduction of FSR 4 brings AI upscaling to AMD cards for the first time, improving image quality over previous temporal upscaling methods. While FSR 4's performance may not match DLSS, it's a promising start for AMD's AI upscaling technology.
Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price
The current GPU market faces significant pricing challenges due to high demand and limited supply. While both Nvidia and AMD set suggested retail prices, actual market prices can vary widely.
At launch, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT was priced at $599, offering exceptional 4K performance when paired with FSR 4. This pricing reflects a return to more reasonable launch prices for flagship cards, a trend that started shifting with Nvidia's RTX 2080 Ti.
In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, with similar performance, starts at $749, a $150 premium over the RX 9070 XT. While it includes features like Multi-Frame Generation, the price difference is substantial for similar gaming capabilities.
Winner: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
The Winner Is… the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
Both the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti are excellent choices for high-end 1440p and 4K gaming. However, the RX 9070 XT's ability to deliver comparable performance at a lower price point makes it the clear winner. As prices hopefully normalize, the value offered by the RX 9070 XT becomes even more compelling.
If you're building a gaming PC for high-end 1440p or 4K gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT stands out as an unbeatable choice, especially since most gamers don't have the high-refresh 4K monitors that would benefit from Nvidia's multi-frame generation.
