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, its hefty price tag of $1,999+ is out of reach for many. 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 more budget-friendly yet powerful alternative, delivering an exceptional 4K gaming experience.

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 choices for those seeking a high-end gaming experience without the premium cost.

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, though similar in function, differ significantly, making direct comparisons based on numbers alone less meaningful.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each with 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 ample 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 it uses the faster GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, offering higher bandwidth. It contains 70 Streaming Multiprocessors, with a total of 8,960 CUDA Cores. Although this is twice the number of Shader Units per Compute Unit compared to AMD, it 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

Despite the RTX 5070 Ti's superior specs 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 be close to the RTX 5070 Ti but lag in ray-traced games. Surprisingly, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the AMD card stayed within a few frames of the more expensive RTX 5070 Ti.

While the RTX 5070 Ti does outperform in certain games, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, where it achieves 87fps at 4K compared to the 9070 XT's 76fps, the AMD card averaged 2% faster overall. This slight edge is significant, especially considering the 9070 XT's 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 today involves more than just hardware specs. Both Nvidia and AMD provide a range of software features that enhance the card's capabilities.

The Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti's standout feature is its DLSS suite, which includes AI upscaling and Frame Generation. With DLSS 4, Nvidia introduces multi-frame generation, capable of generating three frames for each rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates with a minor latency increase mitigated by Nvidia Reflex. This feature is best used when you're already achieving at least 45fps, ideally over 60fps.

AMD also offers Frame Generation, but it's limited to one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The major advancement with the Radeon RX 9070 XT is FSR 4, which introduces AI upscaling for the first time. Unlike previous temporal upscaling methods, FSR 4 uses machine learning algorithms for more accurate image upscaling, though it's not as fast as its predecessor.

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 new generation cards often sold out and prices inflated. Both Nvidia and AMD set suggested retail prices, but retailers and third-party manufacturers can set their own prices. Hopefully, as supply meets demand, prices will approach MSRP.

At launch, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a standout at $599, offering robust 4K performance with FSR 4 AI upscaling. This pricing harks back to when flagship cards launched at more reasonable prices before Nvidia's gradual price increases starting with the RTX 2080 Ti.

In contrast, the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, despite similar performance, starts at $749, a $150 premium. While it offers features like Multi-Frame Generation, the value depends on your 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 are excellent choices for high-end 1440p and 4K gaming. However, the RX 9070 XT's ability to match the RTX 5070 Ti's 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 users without high-refresh 4K monitors.