While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 reigns supreme in the graphics card market, its hefty $1,999+ price tag is beyond the reach of most gamers. Fortunately, you don't need to break the bank to enjoy 4K gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer a more budget-friendly yet powerful alternative, delivering an impressive 4K gaming experience.
Although current prices are inflated due to high demand and limited supply following their launch, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT stand out as the top choices for gamers seeking a high-end experience without the exorbitant cost.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos
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RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Specs
Comparing graphics cards with different architectures can be challenging. Nvidia’s CUDA cores and AMD’s Shading Units, though similar in function, differ significantly enough that a direct numerical comparison is not always meaningful.
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. Paired with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, this setup is robust for current games but may be tested in future 4K titles.
On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also boasts 16GB of VRAM, but with the newer GDDR7, which offers higher speeds and bandwidth on a 256-bit bus. It contains 70 Streaming Multiprocessors with 8,960 CUDA Cores, providing twice the Shader Units per Compute Unit compared to its predecessor, the RTX 3080. However, this does not necessarily translate to 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
Despite the RTX 5070 Ti's superior specs on paper, its performance edge over the RX 9070 XT is not as pronounced. Both cards excel at 4K gaming and are among the best options for 1440p gaming.
In my review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, I anticipated it would trail the RTX 5070 Ti, particularly in ray tracing-heavy games. However, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the RX 9070 XT stayed within a few frames of the RTX 5070 Ti.
While the RTX 5070 Ti does outperform in certain games, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, achieving 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps, the AMD card averaged 2% faster overall. This marginal difference is significant, especially considering the RX 9070 XT's 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 today involves more than just hardware specs. Both Nvidia and AMD enhance their GPUs with a suite of software features.
The Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti stands out with its DLSS technology, including AI upscaling and Frame Generation. The latest DLSS 4 introduces multi-frame generation, allowing the generation of three frames for each rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates at the cost of slight latency, mitigated by Nvidia Reflex. This feature is best utilized when your game already achieves at least 45fps, ideally over 60fps.
AMD's RX 9070 XT supports Frame Generation but only generates one interpolated frame per rendered frame. However, the introduction of FSR 4 brings AI upscaling to AMD cards for the first time, improving image clarity through machine learning, though it's not as fast as the previous FSR versions. As this is AMD's first foray into AI upscaling, it has room to grow compared to Nvidia's more mature DLSS technology.
Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price
The pricing of GPUs remains a contentious issue, with new generation cards often sold out and prices inflated. Both Nvidia and AMD set suggested retail prices, but actual prices can vary widely due to retailer and third-party manufacturer decisions.
At its launch price of $599, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a standout, delivering top-tier 4K gaming performance, especially when paired with FSR 4 AI upscaling. This price point harks back to more reasonable flagship GPU launches before Nvidia's gradual price increases starting with the RTX 2080 Ti.
In contrast, the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, with a base price of $749, is $150 more expensive despite similar performance to the RX 9070 XT. Nvidia's additional features, like Multi-Frame Generation, may appeal to some, but the price difference is substantial.
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 exceptional for 1440p gaming and capable of 4K gaming. However, the RX 9070 XT's lower price point and comparable performance make it the clear winner. As GPU prices hopefully return to normal, the value offered by the RX 9070 XT becomes even more compelling.
For those building a high-end gaming PC focused on 1440p or aiming to venture into 4K, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is currently the best choice. While it lacks multi-frame generation, this feature is less crucial for gamers without high-refresh 4K monitors.
