While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 dominates the high-end graphics card market with its impressive performance, its steep price tag of $1,999 and above puts it out of reach for many gamers. However, you don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy stunning 4K gaming. Both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer more budget-friendly options while still delivering a remarkable 4K gaming experience.
Despite the current elevated prices due to high demand and limited supply following their launch, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT stand out as the best choices for gamers seeking high-end performance without breaking the bank.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos
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RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Specs
Comparing the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT can be tricky due to their different architectures. Nvidia's CUDA cores and AMD's Shading Units perform similar functions, but direct comparisons based solely on numbers aren't very helpful.
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each with 64 shader units, totaling 4,096. Each compute unit also includes two AI Accelerators and one RT Accelerator, resulting in 128 and 64, respectively. Coupled with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, this setup is well-suited for modern games, though it may be pushed to its limits at 4K in the future.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also comes with 16GB of VRAM, but it uses the faster GDDR7 memory. This is also on a 256-bit bus, offering higher bandwidth due to increased memory speeds. It contains 70 Streaming Multiprocessors, which Nvidia calls Compute Units, with a total of 8,960 CUDA Cores. This is double the number of Shader Units per Compute Unit compared to the RX 9070 XT, a trend Nvidia started with the RTX 3080. However, this doesn't necessarily translate to twice 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
Although the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti boasts superior specs on paper, real-world performance tells a different story. Both the RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT excel as entry-level options for 4K gaming and are top contenders for 1440p gaming.
When I reviewed the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, I anticipated it would closely match the RTX 5070 Ti, especially in games with heavy ray tracing. Surprisingly, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the AMD card remained just a few frames behind the pricier RTX 5070 Ti.
In certain games, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, the RTX 5070 Ti did pull ahead, achieving 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps. However, across various tests, the Radeon RX 9070 XT averaged 2% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti. This slight edge is significant, especially considering the RX 9070 XT is theoretically 21% cheaper.
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; it's also about the software features that enhance the card's capabilities. Nvidia and AMD both offer robust software suites that extend the functionality of their GPUs.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti benefits from Nvidia's DLSS technology, which includes AI upscaling and Frame Generation. With the RTX 5000 series, Nvidia introduced multi-frame generation, allowing AI to generate three frames for each naturally rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates. However, this feature adds a slight latency cost, which Nvidia Reflex helps mitigate. Multi-frame generation is best used when you're already achieving at least 45fps, ideally over 60fps.
AMD also supports Frame Generation, but it's limited to generating one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The major advancement this generation is FSR 4, which introduces AI upscaling to AMD GPUs for the first time. Previously, FSR relied on temporal upscaling, which was effective but could result in less sharp images. FSR 4 uses the Radeon RX 9070 XT's AI accelerators to upscale images via machine learning, similar to DLSS since 2018, offering more accurate upscaling, though it's not as fast as FSR 3.
It's worth noting that FSR 4 is AMD's first foray into AI upscaling, while Nvidia has refined DLSS over seven years.
Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price
The current GPU market is fraught with high prices due to new releases being sold out and inflated pricing by retailers and third-party manufacturers. Both Nvidia and AMD set suggested retail prices, but these are often ignored by sellers. It's uncertain when prices will stabilize, but hopefully, they'll approach MSRP once supply improves.
At its launch price of $599, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a standout, offering excellent 4K performance with the new FSR 4 AI upscaler. This pricing reflects a return to more reasonable flagship GPU costs before Nvidia's gradual price increases, starting with the RTX 2080 Ti.
In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, while comparable in performance, starts at $749, a significant $150 more than the RX 9070 XT. Nvidia's card includes features like Multi-Frame Generation, but whether these justify the extra cost depends on your specific gaming needs and the games you play.
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 stellar choices for high-end 1440p gaming, with the potential to handle 4K gaming as well. However, the RX 9070 XT's ability to deliver similar performance to the RTX 5070 Ti at a lower price makes it the clear winner, especially if prices return to normal levels.
For anyone building a gaming PC aimed at high-end 1440p or 4K gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is an outstanding choice. While it lacks multi-frame generation, this feature is less critical for most gamers without high-refresh 4K monitors.
