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

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 may be the pinnacle of graphics cards, but its hefty $1,999+ price tag is out of reach for most gamers. Fortunately, you don't need the top-tier card to enjoy stunning 4K gaming. Both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer a compelling alternative, delivering robust performance at a much more accessible price point.

Currently, the market is seeing elevated prices due to high demand and limited supply following the launch of these GPUs. However, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT remain the best choices for gamers seeking a high-end experience without breaking the bank.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos

4 Images

RTX 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 tricky due to their different architectures. The RX 9070 XT boasts 64 RDNA 4 compute units, totaling 4,096 shader units, alongside 128 AI Accelerators and 64 RT Accelerators. It's equipped with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, which is ample for current games but might be tested in future 4K titles.

The RTX 5070 Ti also features 16GB of memory but utilizes the newer GDDR7 for enhanced speed. With 70 Streaming Multiprocessors and 8,960 CUDA Cores, it offers a higher core count, though this doesn't necessarily translate to double the performance.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

11 Images

RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Performance

Despite the RTX 5070 Ti's superior specs on paper, the real-world performance between it and the RX 9070 XT is remarkably close. Both cards excel at 4K gaming and are top contenders for 1440p gaming as well. The RX 9070 XT, surprisingly, keeps pace with the RTX 5070 Ti even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, staying just a few frames behind.

In certain games, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, the RTX 5070 Ti does pull ahead, achieving 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps. However, on average, the RX 9070 XT is about 2% faster, which is a significant advantage considering its lower price.

Winner: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Photos

6 Images

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 offer a range of software features that enhance gaming performance. The RTX 5070 Ti's standout feature is Nvidia's DLSS suite, which includes AI upscaling and Frame Generation. With the RTX 5000 series, Nvidia introduces multi-frame generation, capable of producing three AI-generated frames for every rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates, albeit with a slight latency increase mitigated by Nvidia Reflex.

AMD's RX 9070 XT supports Frame Generation but only produces one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The significant advancement for AMD this generation is FSR 4, introducing AI upscaling for the first time. Unlike previous FSR versions, which used temporal upscaling and could result in less sharp images, FSR 4 leverages the RX 9070 XT's AI accelerators for more precise machine learning-based upscaling.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price

GPU pricing remains a contentious issue, with new generation cards often sold out and prices inflated beyond suggested retail. The RX 9070 XT, with a launch price of $599, is a stellar option for 4K gaming, especially when paired with the new FSR 4 AI upscaler. This pricing harks back to more reasonable launch prices before the gradual escalation seen with Nvidia's cards.

In contrast, the RTX 5070 Ti, with similar performance to the RX 9070 XT, commands a higher base price of $749. This $150 difference is significant, especially considering the performance parity. The RTX 5070 Ti does offer additional features like multi-frame generation, but whether these justify the extra cost depends 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 are excellent choices for high-end 1440p and 4K gaming. However, the RX 9070 XT stands out as the clear winner due to its competitive performance at a significantly lower price. If GPU prices return to more normal levels, the RX 9070 XT's value proposition becomes even more compelling.

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