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

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 may reign supreme in the graphics card arena, its hefty $1,999+ price tag is out of reach for many gamers. Fortunately, you don't need to break the bank to enjoy stunning 4K gaming. Both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer compelling alternatives, delivering exceptional performance at a more affordable price point.

Although current market prices are inflated due to high demand and limited supply following their launch, these GPUs are the ideal choice 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 the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT can be tricky due to their different architectures. Nvidia's CUDA cores and AMD's Shading Units, while similar in function, differ enough to make a direct comparison challenging.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each equipped with 64 shader units, totaling 4,096. It also includes 128 AI Accelerators and 64 RT Accelerators. Paired with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, this GPU is well-suited for modern games, though it may be pushed to its limits at 4K in the future.

On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also boasts 16GB of VRAM but uses the faster GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, offering higher bandwidth. It contains 70 Streaming Multiprocessors with 8,960 CUDA Cores, which, despite the higher count, doesn't necessarily translate to double the performance due to architectural differences.

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, actual performance results show both GPUs are strong contenders for 4K gaming, with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT often performing within a few frames of the RTX 5070 Ti, even in ray tracing-intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077.

In certain titles, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, the RTX 5070 Ti does pull ahead with 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps. However, the RX 9070 XT averaged 2% faster overall, which is significant considering its lower price point.

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 GPU today involves more than just hardware specs. Both Nvidia and AMD provide a range of software features that enhance their GPUs' capabilities.

Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti stands out with its DLSS suite, including AI upscaling and Frame Generation. The latest DLSS 4 introduces multi-frame generation, creating three AI-generated frames for every rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates with a slight latency trade-off mitigated by Nvidia Reflex. This feature is ideal for those already achieving decent frame rates, ideally above 60fps.

AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT supports Frame Generation but is limited to one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The highlight here is FSR 4, which introduces AI upscaling to AMD GPUs for the first time. Unlike the previous temporal upscaling method, FSR 4 uses machine learning for sharper image quality, though it's slightly slower than FSR 3. As this is AMD's first generation of AI upscaling, it has room to grow, especially compared to Nvidia's seven years of DLSS development.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price

Current GPU pricing is a contentious topic, with new generation cards often sold out and priced above MSRP. While both Nvidia and AMD suggest retail prices, actual market prices can vary widely.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, with a launch price of $599, is a fantastic value, delivering solid 4K performance with the new FSR 4 AI upscaler. This pricing harks back to more reasonable flagship GPU launch prices before Nvidia's gradual price increases starting with the RTX 2080 Ti.

In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, priced at $749, offers similar performance but at a $150 premium. The additional cost might be justified for some by features like Multi-Frame Generation, but it depends on individual needs and gaming 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 in 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, especially if prices return to normal levels.

For those looking to build a gaming PC aimed at high-end 1440p or 4K gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT stands out as the best choice. While it lacks multi-frame generation, this feature is less crucial for gamers without high-refresh 4K monitors.