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

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 reigns supreme in the graphics card market with its hefty $1,999+ price tag, not everyone can afford to splurge on the top-tier model. 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.

Although current prices are elevated due to high demand and limited supply following their launch, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT stand out as the ideal choices for those seeking a high-end gaming setup without the exorbitant cost.

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 tricky 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 alone.

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. Coupled with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, this setup is well-equipped for modern games, though it might 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 it uses the faster GDDR7 memory. This is also on a 256-bit bus, offering higher bandwidth due to increased memory speeds. The RTX 5070 Ti is equipped with 70 Streaming Multiprocessors, each containing 8,960 CUDA Cores. Although Nvidia's design allows for twice as many Shader Units per Compute Unit, this doesn't necessarily translate to double the performance.

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 tells a different story. Both the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT are outstanding choices for 4K gaming and excel at 1440p, making them some of the best graphics cards available.

During my review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, I anticipated it would be close to the RTX 5070 Ti but lag behind in ray tracing-intensive games. Surprisingly, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the AMD card stayed within a few frames of the pricier RTX 5070 Ti.

There are instances where the RTX 5070 Ti outperforms, such as in Total War: Warhammer 3, where it achieves 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps. However, on average, the Radeon RX 9070 XT was 2% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti, a significant achievement considering its 21% lower cost.

Winner: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Photos

6 ImagesRTX 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 capabilities of their GPUs.

The Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti's standout feature is its DLSS suite, which includes AI upscaling and Frame Generation. With the RTX 5000 series, Nvidia introduced multi-frame generation, capable of generating three frames for each rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates. However, this comes with a slight 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 RX 9070 XT is FSR 4, which introduces AI upscaling to AMD GPUs for the first time. Unlike previous versions of FSR, which used temporal upscaling, FSR 4 leverages the Radeon RX 9070 XT's AI accelerators for more accurate upscaling via machine learning, similar to DLSS since 2018. Although not as fast as FSR 3, it provides clearer images. Keep in mind, this is AMD's first foray into AI upscaling, while Nvidia has refined DLSS over seven years.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price

GPU pricing is a contentious issue, with the latest 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, leading to significant fluctuations.

At its launch price of $599, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a stellar choice for 4K gaming, capable of running any game at max settings with the aid of FSR 4 AI upscaling. This price point harks back to when flagship GPUs were more affordable, before Nvidia's gradual price increases starting with the RTX 2080 Ti. Hopefully, this signals a return to more reasonable pricing as supply stabilizes.

In contrast, the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, despite its similar performance to the RX 9070 XT, starts at $749, a $150 premium. While it offers features like Multi-Frame Generation, the value of these extras depends on your specific 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 for 1440p gaming and can handle 4K. 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. As prices hopefully normalize, the value proposition of the AMD card becomes even more compelling.

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