AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT: In-Depth Review

Over the past few generations, AMD has been fiercely competing with Nvidia at the high end of the graphics card market. With the introduction of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, however, AMD has strategically shifted its focus away from the ultra-high-end, leaving that segment to the RTX 5090. Instead, AMD is now targeting the needs of the majority of gamers, delivering a powerhouse that's both accessible and highly competitive—the Radeon RX 9070 XT.

Priced at $599, the Radeon RX 9070 XT goes head-to-head with the $749 GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, offering a compelling value proposition. Not only does it challenge Nvidia's offering in performance, but AMD enhances its appeal with the introduction of FSR 4, marking the debut of AI upscaling in an AMD graphics card. This makes the Radeon RX 9070 XT an excellent choice for 4K gaming, especially for those not willing to splurge on the pricier RTX 5090.

Purchasing Guide

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT will be available starting March 6, with a starting price of $599. Be aware that prices may vary, particularly with third-party models that might be priced higher. Aim to purchase one for under $699 to get the best value.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos

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Specs and Features

Built on the RDNA 4 architecture, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT brings significant improvements to its shader cores, but the true highlight is the new RT and AI Accelerators. The AI Accelerators power FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4), introducing AI upscaling to AMD GPUs for the first time. While FSR 4 might not boost framerates over FSR 3.1, it enhances image quality considerably. Gamers can toggle FSR 4 on or off via the Adrenalin software, depending on their preference for image quality versus framerate.

AMD has also refined its shader cores, boosting performance on a per-core basis. The Radeon RX 9070 XT boasts 64 Compute Units, each with 64 Streaming Multiprocessors, totaling 4,096, alongside 64 ray accelerators and 128 AI accelerators. Despite featuring less memory than its predecessor, the RX 7900 XT, with 16GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, the RX 9070 XT is still well-equipped for 4K gaming.

The RX 9070 XT has a slightly higher power budget of 304W compared to the 300W of the RX 7900 XT, though actual power consumption in testing was lower. Cooling is manageable with a standard power budget, and the absence of a reference design means reliance on third-party manufacturers. The Powercolor Radeon RX 9070 XT Reaper, with its efficient triple-fan design, maintained temperatures at 72°C during testing.

The card uses standard power connectors, requiring two 8-pin PCI-E connectors, and comes with three DisplayPort 2.1a and one HDMI 2.1b port. While a USB-C port would add versatility, the current setup meets the needs of most modern gamers.

FSR 4

For years, AMD has sought an AI upscaling solution to rival Nvidia's DLSS. With the Radeon RX 9070 XT, AMD introduces FSR 4, which uses AI accelerators to enhance image quality, albeit at a slight performance cost. In games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Monster Hunter Wilds, FSR 4 offers improved visuals but with a noticeable drop in framerates. However, the option to revert to FSR 3.1 remains, allowing gamers to prioritize either performance or image quality based on their preferences.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

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Performance

The Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers exceptional performance for its price point. At $599, it not only undercuts the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti by 21% but also outperforms it by an average of 2%. This makes it a formidable contender in the market, especially at 4K resolutions where it maintains its lead even with ray tracing enabled.

Testing was conducted using the latest drivers available, ensuring accurate comparisons. In benchmarks like 3DMark, the RX 9070 XT showed significant improvements over the RX 7900 XT and even managed to outperform the RTX 5070 Ti in certain scenarios.

In specific games, the RX 9070 XT demonstrated strong performance. In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, it outpaced the RTX 5070 Ti by 15%, while in Cyberpunk 2077, it was only 5% behind despite the significant price difference. Metro Exodus and Red Dead Redemption 2 further showcased the RX 9070 XT's capabilities, with notable performance gains over its predecessor and Nvidia's offering.

However, not all games favored the RX 9070 XT, with Total War: Warhammer 3 showing a 13% deficit to the RTX 5070 Ti. Yet, in titles like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Black Myth Wukong, the RX 9070 XT reclaimed its lead, demonstrating its versatility across different gaming scenarios.

The Radeon RX 9070 XT's performance in Forza Horizon 5 further solidified its position as a top contender, offering a 5% improvement over the RTX 5070 Ti. This consistent performance across a wide range of games makes the RX 9070 XT a compelling choice for gamers seeking high performance without breaking the bank.

Announced quietly at CES 2025, the Radeon RX 9070 XT feels like AMD's strategic move to challenge Nvidia's Blackwell graphics cards. At $599, it represents a return to more reasonable pricing in the graphics card market, offering flagship-level performance that's accessible to a broader audience. While it may not match the raw power of the RTX 5080 or RTX 5090, the RX 9070 XT stands out as a worthy flagship for gamers looking for value and performance.