While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 remains the pinnacle of graphics card performance, its steep price of $1,999 and above is out of reach for most gamers. Fortunately, you don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy 4K gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer a more budget-friendly yet highly capable alternative, providing an exceptional 4K gaming experience.
Despite the current high prices due to overwhelming demand and limited supply following their launch, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT stand out as the ideal choices for gamers seeking a high-end experience without breaking the bank.
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 can be challenging. Nvidia's CUDA cores and AMD's Shading Units serve similar functions but differ significantly, making direct comparisons tricky.
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each containing 64 shader units, totaling 4,096. Each compute unit also includes two AI Accelerators and one RT Accelerator, resulting in 128 and 64, respectively. It's equipped with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, which is more than sufficient for current games but might be pushed to its limits in future 4K titles.
On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also boasts 16GB of VRAM, but utilizes the faster GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, offering higher bandwidth. It includes 70 Streaming Multiprocessors, each with 8,960 CUDA Cores. Although Nvidia's design provides twice as many Shader Units per Compute Unit, this doesn't 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
Although the RTX 5070 Ti appears superior on paper, real-world performance tells a different story. Both cards excel as entry-level options for 4K gaming and are among the best 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, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the AMD card closely matched the performance of the more expensive RTX 5070 Ti.
In some games, like Total War: Warhammer 3, the RTX 5070 Ti did pull ahead, achieving 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps. Despite Nvidia's occasional lead, the Radeon RX 9070 XT averaged 2% faster performance overall. This slight edge is significant, especially considering the RX 9070 XT costs about 21% less.
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 the right graphics card now involves considering software capabilities as well. Both Nvidia and AMD provide extensive software features that enhance the card's functionality.
Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti stands out with its DLSS suite, including AI upscaling and Frame Generation. With DLSS 4, Nvidia introduces multi-frame generation, capable of generating three frames for each rendered frame, boosting frame rates at the cost of minor latency, which Nvidia Reflex helps mitigate. This feature is most beneficial when you're already achieving decent frame rates, ideally over 60fps.
AMD's Radeon 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, using the card's AI accelerators and a machine learning algorithm for sharper images, though not as fast as FSR 3.
It's worth noting that FSR 4 is AMD's first foray into AI upscaling, while Nvidia has been refining DLSS for seven years.
Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price
GPU pricing is a contentious issue with the current generation often sold out and prices inflated. Both Nvidia and AMD set suggested retail prices, but retailers and third-party manufacturers often set their own prices. While it's uncertain how prices will evolve, hopefully, they'll approach MSRP as supply improves.
At its launch price of $599, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a stellar value, capable of running any game at 4K with max settings using FSR 4 AI upscaling. This pricing harks back to when flagship graphics cards launched at more reasonable prices before Nvidia's gradual price increases started with the RTX 2080 Ti.
In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, despite its similar performance to the RX 9070 XT, has a base price of $749, a significant $150 more. The additional features like Multi-Frame Generation may justify the price for some, but the value proposition heavily favors the AMD card.
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 top-tier choices for 1440p gaming and capable of 4K. However, the RX 9070 XT's ability to match the RTX 5070 Ti's performance at a lower price makes it the clear winner. As prices hopefully return to normal, the value gap between these two cards underscores the RX 9070 XT's appeal.
For those building a gaming PC for high-end 1440p or even venturing into 4K gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is an unbeatable choice. While it lacks multi-frame generation, this feature is less crucial for gamers without high-refresh 4K monitors.
