Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti vs. AMD RX 9070 XT: Performance Showdown

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 commands the top spot in the graphics card market, its $1,999+ price tag is out of reach for most gamers. 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 affordable yet powerful alternatives, delivering exceptional 4K gaming experiences.

Current market conditions have driven prices up due to high demand and limited supply shortly after launch. However, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT stand out as the best choices for those seeking a high-end gaming experience without the premium price.

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 challenging due to their different architectures. Nvidia's CUDA cores and AMD's Shading Units, while similar in function, aren't directly comparable in terms of quantity.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT boasts 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each with 64 shader units, totaling 4,096. These units also feature 128 AI Accelerators and 64 RT Accelerators. Coupled with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, this card 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 comes with 16GB of VRAM, but it uses the newer GDDR7, offering higher bandwidth on the same 256-bit bus. It features 70 Streaming Multiprocessors with 8,960 CUDA Cores, showcasing Nvidia's efficiency in packing more Shading Units per Compute Unit. Despite this, the performance gain isn't always double.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

11 ImagesRTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Performance

Despite the RTX 5070 Ti's superior specs on paper, real-world performance shows both cards excel at 4K gaming, making them top contenders for 1440p gaming as well.

During my review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, I anticipated it would trail behind the RTX 5070 Ti, especially in ray tracing-heavy games. Surprisingly, the RX 9070 XT stayed competitive, often within a few frames of the RTX 5070 Ti, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077.

In certain games, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, the RTX 5070 Ti edged ahead with 87fps at 4K, while the RX 9070 XT achieved 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

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

Choosing the right graphics card today goes beyond hardware specs. Both Nvidia and AMD enhance their cards with powerful software features.

Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti benefits from the DLSS suite, including AI upscaling and Frame Generation. The latest DLSS 4 introduces multi-frame generation, capable of generating three frames per rendered frame, boosting frame rates with minimal latency, thanks to Nvidia Reflex. This feature is best used when you're already achieving at least 45fps, ideally over 60fps.

AMD's RX 9070 XT also supports Frame Generation but is limited to one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The significant advancement is FSR 4, bringing AI upscaling to AMD for the first time. Unlike the previous temporal upscaling method, FSR 4 uses AI accelerators for a more accurate, albeit slightly slower, upscaling process. As this is AMD's first AI upscaler, it's worth noting that Nvidia's DLSS has been refined over seven years.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price

The pricing landscape for GPUs is currently volatile, with new generation cards frequently sold out and prices inflated. Both Nvidia and AMD suggest retail prices, but third-party retailers often set higher prices.

At launch, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a standout at $599, offering robust 4K gaming capabilities, especially with FSR 4's AI upscaler. This pricing harks back to when flagship GPUs were more affordable, before Nvidia's gradual price increases starting with the RTX 2080 Ti.

Conversely, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, despite its similar performance to the RX 9070 XT, carries a base price of $749, a $150 premium. While it offers advanced features like Multi-Frame Generation, the price difference is substantial, making the decision largely dependent on the specific needs and games played.

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 excellent choices for high-end 1440p and 4K gaming. However, the RX 9070 XT's ability to deliver comparable performance at a significantly lower price makes it the clear winner.

For those building a gaming PC aimed at high-end 1440p or 4K gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is an unbeatable choice. While it lacks multi-frame generation, this feature is less critical for most gamers without high-refresh 4K monitors.