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

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 may reign supreme in the graphics card market with its hefty $1,999+ price tag, it's not a practical choice for everyone. Fortunately, you don't need to break the bank to enjoy 4K gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer a more budget-friendly yet powerful alternative, delivering exceptional performance for high-end gaming.

Currently, prices are elevated due to high demand and limited supply following their launch. However, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT remain the top contenders for those seeking a premium gaming experience without the premium price.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos

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RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Specs

Comparing graphics cards with different architectures is complex. Nvidia’s CUDA cores and AMD’s Shading Units, though similar in function, don’t translate directly in terms of numbers.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, totaling 4,096 shader units, along with 128 AI Accelerators and 64 RT Accelerators. It comes equipped with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, ample for current games but might be pushed in future 4K titles.

In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also boasts 16GB of VRAM, but uses the faster GDDR7 memory, also on a 256-bit bus, resulting in higher bandwidth. It contains 70 Streaming Multiprocessors, with 8,960 CUDA Cores, showcasing Nvidia's advantage in core count since the RTX 3080. However, this doesn't necessarily equate 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 impressive specs, real-world performance shows that both cards are excellent for 4K gaming, and among the best for 1440p gaming.

During my review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, I anticipated it would closely trail the RTX 5070 Ti, particularly in ray-traced games. Surprisingly, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the RX 9070 XT remained competitive, only a few frames behind the RTX 5070 Ti.

The RTX 5070 Ti does lead in certain games, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, where it achieves 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps. However, on average, the RX 9070 XT was 2% faster, a significant achievement considering its 21% lower price.

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 now involves considering the software ecosystem as well. Nvidia’s RTX 5070 Ti benefits from the comprehensive DLSS suite, including AI upscaling and Frame Generation. The latest DLSS 4 introduces multi-frame generation, capable of generating three AI frames for each rendered frame, boosting frame rates with a minor latency increase mitigated by Nvidia Reflex. This feature is best used when you're already achieving frame rates above 45fps, ideally over 60fps.

AMD’s RX 9070 XT supports Frame Generation but only generates one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The significant upgrade here is FSR 4, introducing AI upscaling to AMD cards for the first time. While FSR 4's machine learning approach is more accurate than previous temporal upscaling methods, it's not as fast. Given that this is AMD's first AI upscaler, it's promising but still lags behind Nvidia's well-established DLSS.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price

The GPU market is currently facing price volatility due to high demand and limited supply. Both Nvidia and AMD set suggested retail prices, but actual prices can vary widely as retailers and third-party manufacturers set their own. It’s hoped that prices will eventually stabilize closer to MSRP.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, priced at $599 at launch, represents a fantastic value for a 4K-capable card, especially with the new FSR 4 AI upscaler. This price point recalls an era when flagship GPUs launched at more reasonable rates before Nvidia's upward trend starting with the RTX 2080 Ti.

Conversely, the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, despite its similar performance, starts at a steeper $749, a $150 premium over the RX 9070 XT. Nvidia's additional features, like Multi-Frame Generation, may justify this for some, but the decision largely hinges 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 at 1440p and 4K gaming, but AMD's card offers comparable performance at a significantly lower price. As prices hopefully return to normal, the value proposition of the RX 9070 XT becomes even clearer, making it the superior choice for building a high-end gaming PC. While it lacks multi-frame generation, this feature is less critical for most gamers who don't yet own high-refresh 4K monitors.