When the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 was released, it disappointed many with its marginal improvement over the RTX 4090, especially given its significantly higher cost. However, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, despite not being a dramatic leap in performance from its predecessor, offers a more budget-friendly option, making it the most compelling choice in the Blackwell lineup for those not looking to break the bank.
Priced at a base of $749, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti stands out as an excellent choice for 4K gaming, effectively overshadowing the pricier RTX 5080. It's important to note, though, that the RTX 5070 Ti model I reviewed was an aftermarket version from MSI, priced at a steep $1,099, which is higher than the $999 RTX 5080. If you can secure the RTX 5070 Ti at its base price of $749, it's likely the best graphics card for the majority of gamers, particularly those eyeing 4K gaming.
Purchasing Guide
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti becomes available on February 20, 2025, starting at $749. Be aware that this is just the starting price, and various models may be priced significantly higher. At $749, it's a fantastic value, but its appeal diminishes as the price approaches that of the RTX 5080.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Photos
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Specs and Features
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti marks the third entry in Nvidia's Blackwell architecture series. Originally crafted for AI supercomputers, this architecture has been adapted for gaming GPUs, maintaining a strong AI focus. The RTX 5070 Ti shares the GB203 GPU with the RTX 5080, albeit with 14 of its streaming multiprocessors (SM) disabled, resulting in 70 SMs and a total of 8,960 CUDA cores, 70 RT cores, and 280 Tensor Cores. It also comes equipped with 16GB of GDDR7 RAM, though slightly slower than the RTX 5080's. The spotlight, however, shines on the Tensor Cores, which Nvidia relies on for AI-driven upscaling and frame generation to enhance performance.
The Blackwell architecture introduces an AI Management Processor (AMP) that offloads CPU tasks to the GPU, making technologies like DLSS and frame generation more efficient. Nvidia has revamped DLSS to operate on a Transformer model, significantly improving image quality and reducing artifacts. DLSS 4 also introduces Multi-Frame Generation (MFG), capable of generating up to three frames per rendered frame, though this comes with higher latency, mitigated somewhat by Nvidia's Reflex technology.
With a Total Board Power of 300W, the RTX 5070 Ti is only slightly more power-hungry than its predecessors. Nvidia suggests a 750W power supply, but for safety and future-proofing, an 850W PSU is recommended, especially for the high-end MSI Vanguard Edition reviewed here.
DLSS 4 – Is It Worth It?
The RTX 5070 Ti offers a performance boost over its predecessor, but Nvidia's true highlight is DLSS 4, especially its Multi-Frame Generation (MFG). This technology is designed to maximize the potential of high-refresh-rate monitors, though it doesn't significantly improve latency. MFG analyzes rendered frames and motion data to predict and generate new frames, potentially quadrupling frame rates. However, in practice, the improvement is not always a straightforward 4x increase.
In Cyberpunk 2077 with the Ray Tracing Overdrive preset and DLSS set to performance, the RTX 5070 Ti achieved 46 fps with 43ms latency. With 2x frame gen, the frame rate increased to 88 fps, but latency rose to 49ms, even with Reflex enabled. At 4x frame gen, the frame rate reached 157 fps, but with a latency of 55ms. In Star Wars Outlaws at 4K Max settings, the RTX 5070 Ti achieved 67 fps with DLSS on performance, and with 2x frame gen, it increased to 111 fps with reduced latency from 47ms to 34ms. At 4x frame gen, the frame rate hit 188 fps, with latency increasing to 37ms.
While MFG can make games appear smoother on high-refresh displays, it doesn't enhance responsiveness. The latency increases are minimal as long as you maintain a high initial frame rate. The higher the frame rate, the better the frame generation algorithm performs, reducing the likelihood of lag and artifacts at 4K with the RTX 5070 Ti.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Benchmarks
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Performance
At 4K, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti outperforms the RTX 4070 Ti Super by about 11% and the RTX 4070 Ti by 21%, showcasing a significant generational improvement. This makes the RTX 5070 Ti the best value graphics card of this generation. It consistently delivered over 60 fps at 4K across a variety of demanding titles, including Black Myth Wukong and Cyberpunk 2077.
The test system used included an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero motherboard, 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RAM at 6,000MHz, a 4TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD, and an Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 CPU cooler. Although the review model was the high-end MSI Vanguard SOC, it was tested at stock settings to reflect the performance of the base RTX 5070 Ti at its $749 MSRP.
All tests were conducted using the latest game versions and drivers, with the RTX 5070 Ti using a prerelease driver provided by Nvidia. Frame Generation was disabled, and upscaling was used only when both DLSS and FSR were supported by the game.
In 3DMark Speed Way, the RTX 5070 Ti scored 7,590 points, a 19% and 36% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively. In Port Royal, it scored 18,839 points, demonstrating its potential for future growth as drivers and games evolve to better utilize the Blackwell architecture.
In actual gaming scenarios, the RTX 5070 Ti showed varying degrees of improvement. In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 4K Extreme settings, it achieved 121 fps, a modest 5% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. In Cyberpunk 2077 with Ray Tracing Ultra at 4K, it delivered 75 fps, a 9% and 17% lead over the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively. Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition saw the RTX 5070 Ti reach 48 fps at 4K without upscaling, a slight improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super's 45 fps.
However, in Red Dead Redemption 2, the RTX 5070 Ti was 2% slower than the RTX 4070 Ti Super, though it still maintained a high frame rate of 113 fps. In Total War: Warhammer 3, which relies solely on rasterization, the RTX 5070 Ti achieved 78 fps at 4K, a 15% and 30% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, it reached 149 fps at 4K, slightly trailing the Radeon RX 7900 XT's 150 fps.
Black Myth Wukong, a highly demanding game, saw the RTX 5070 Ti maintain an average of 66 fps at 4K, a 10% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. In Forza Horizon 5, it achieved 152 fps at 4K, outperforming both the RTX 4070 Ti Super and the Radeon RX 7900 XT.
In today's gaming landscape, even mid-range GPUs can handle 4K gaming. If you can find the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti at its base price of $749, it offers the best value for money, particularly for 4K gaming. It's the first RTX 5000 series card to provide a significant performance uplift over its predecessor at a lower price point than the $799 RTX 4070 Ti.
