Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti vs. AMD RX 9070 XT: Battle of the GPUs

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 reigns supreme in the graphics card market with a hefty price tag of $1,999+, it's not within everyone's budget. Fortunately, you don't need to break the bank to enjoy 4K gaming. Both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer a compelling alternative, providing a robust 4K gaming experience at a more accessible price point.

Although current market prices are elevated due to high demand and limited supply post-launch, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT remain the go-to choices for gamers seeking a high-end experience without the exorbitant cost.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos

4 ImagesRTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Specs

Comparing the specs of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT can be complex due to their differing architectures. Nvidia's CUDA cores and AMD's Shading Units, though similar in function, are not directly comparable in numbers alone.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each with 64 shader units, totaling 4,096. Additionally, each compute unit includes two AI Accelerators and one RT Accelerator, amounting to 128 and 64 respectively. Coupled with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, this setup is well-equipped for modern gaming, though it may face challenges at 4K in the future.

On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also boasts 16GB of memory, but utilizes the faster GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus, enhancing bandwidth. With 70 Streaming Multiprocessors, each containing 8,960 CUDA Cores, the RTX 5070 Ti showcases Nvidia's ability to double the shader units per compute unit, a trend started with the RTX 3080 in 2020. However, this doesn't necessarily translate to double the performance.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

11 ImagesRTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Performance

Although the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti may appear superior on paper, the actual performance difference between it and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is minimal. Both cards excel as entry-level options for 4K gaming and are top contenders 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-tracing intensive games. Surprisingly, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the AMD card remained competitive, staying just a few frames behind the RTX 5070 Ti.

In certain games, like Total War: Warhammer 3, the RTX 5070 Ti does pull ahead, achieving 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps. However, overall, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT averaged 2% faster performance than the RTX 5070 Ti, which is a significant achievement considering its lower cost.

Winner: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Photos

6 ImagesRTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Software and Features

Choosing a graphics card today involves more than just hardware specs. Both Nvidia and AMD provide extensive software features that enhance the gaming experience.

The Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti stands out with its DLSS suite, which includes AI upscaling and Frame Generation. DLSS 4 introduces multi-frame generation, capable of producing three AI-generated frames for each rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates while introducing minimal latency, mitigated by Nvidia Reflex. This feature is most beneficial when you're already achieving a solid frame rate, ideally above 60fps.

AMD's RX 9070 XT also supports Frame Generation, but it's limited to one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The major advancement here is FSR 4, marking AMD's first venture into AI upscaling. Previously, FSR relied on temporal upscaling, which was effective but could lead to image fuzziness. FSR 4 leverages the RX 9070 XT's AI accelerators for more precise upscaling using machine learning, similar to DLSS since 2018, though it may not be as fast as FSR 4.

It's worth noting that FSR 4 represents AMD's initial 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

Current GPU pricing is a contentious issue, with many new generation cards sold out and prices inflated. Both Nvidia and AMD suggest retail prices, but third-party retailers often set their own, higher prices. While it's difficult to predict future pricing, we hope that as supply meets demand, prices will approach MSRP.

At its launch price of $599, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a standout value, capable of running any game at 4K with max settings, especially when using FSR 4 AI upscaler. This pricing harks back to a time when flagship GPUs launched at more reasonable prices, before Nvidia's price escalations starting with the RTX 2080 Ti. Hopefully, this signals a return to more sensible pricing from GPU manufacturers.

In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, while competitive, starts at a higher $749, a $150 difference from the RX 9070 XT. This price gap is significant, especially given their similar performance. Features like Multi-Frame Generation might justify the cost for some, but it depends on your specific gaming needs and the titles 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 excel in 1440p gaming, with the capability to handle 4K as well. However, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT emerges as the clear winner due to its significantly lower price point while delivering comparable performance.

If you're building a gaming PC for 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, as high-refresh 4K monitors are not yet common.