While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 stands at the pinnacle of the graphics card market, its hefty price tag of $1,999 and above is beyond the reach of most gamers. However, 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 highly capable alternative for achieving a stellar 4K gaming experience.
Currently, prices are elevated due to high demand and limited supply following their launches, but these GPUs remain the top choices for those seeking high-end gaming performance without the top-tier price.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos
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RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Specs
Comparing the specs of graphics cards with different architectures is challenging. Nvidia’s CUDA cores and AMD’s Shading Units, though similar in function, are not directly comparable due to their differences.
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each containing 64 shader units, totaling 4,096. Each compute unit includes two AI Accelerators and one RT Accelerator, resulting in 128 and 64, respectively. It is equipped with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, sufficient for current games but may be pushed to its limits with future titles at 4K.
Conversely, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also boasts 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. The RTX 5070 Ti is built with 70 Streaming Multiprocessors, which equate to Compute Units, and contains 8,960 CUDA Cores. Despite having twice as many Shader Units per Compute Unit, 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, real-world performance shows both cards as strong contenders for 4K gaming, and they excel at 1440p gaming as well.
During my review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, I anticipated it would trail the RTX 5070 Ti, especially in games with heavy ray tracing. However, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the AMD card stayed close to the RTX 5070 Ti, within a few frames.
In certain games, like Total War: Warhammer 3, the RTX 5070 Ti edges out with 87fps at 4K, while the RX 9070 XT achieves 76fps. Yet, on average, the Radeon RX 9070 XT was 2% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti across various benchmarks. This slight edge 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
Selecting a graphics card today involves more than just hardware; it's also about the software ecosystem. Both Nvidia and AMD provide comprehensive software features that enhance their GPUs' capabilities.
The standout feature for the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti is the DLSS suite, encompassing AI upscaling and Frame Generation. With DLSS 4, Nvidia introduces multi-frame generation, allowing the creation of three frames for each rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates, though with a slight latency increase mitigated by Nvidia Reflex. This feature is most beneficial at frame rates above 45fps, ideally over 60fps.
AMD also offers Frame Generation, but it's limited to one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The major advancement for AMD is FSR 4, introducing AI upscaling for the first time. Previously based on temporal upscaling, FSR 4 now uses the Radeon RX 9070 XT's AI accelerators for machine learning-based upscaling, enhancing image quality, though it's not as fast as its predecessor.
It's worth noting that FSR 4 is AMD's first foray into AI upscaling, whereas 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 sees inflated prices due to high demand and low supply. Both Nvidia and AMD set suggested retail prices, but third-party sellers often price them higher.
At launch, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT was priced at an attractive $599, making it a compelling option for 4K gaming, particularly when paired with the new FSR 4 AI upscaler. This pricing harks back to when flagship GPUs launched at more reasonable prices before Nvidia's gradual price increases, starting with the RTX 2080 Ti.
In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, with similar performance, starts at $749, a significant $150 more than the RX 9070 XT. Nvidia's card offers additional features like Multi-Frame Generation, but whether these justify the price difference depends on individual gaming needs and preferences.
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 excel in 1440p and 4K gaming, but the RX 9070 XT's lower price and comparable performance make it the clear winner. As GPU prices hopefully stabilize, the value proposition of the RX 9070 XT becomes even more compelling.
For those building a high-end gaming PC targeting 1440p or venturing into 4K, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT stands out as the best choice currently available. While it lacks multi-frame generation, this feature is less critical for gamers without high-refresh 4K monitors.
