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 among the best graphics cards available.

During my review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, I anticipated it would lag behind the RTX 5070 Ti, especially in ray-traced games. However, the RX 9070 XT consistently stayed within a few frames of the RTX 5070 Ti, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077.

While the RTX 5070 Ti does outperform the RX 9070 XT in certain games, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, where it achieves 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps, the overall performance difference is minimal. On average, the RX 9070 XT is 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 DLSS 4, Nvidia introduces multi-frame generation, capable of generating three frames for each rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates at the cost of slight latency, mitigated by Nvidia Reflex. This feature is best utilized when you're already achieving at least 45fps, ideally over 60fps.

AMD's RX 9070 XT also supports Frame Generation, but it can only generate one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The major advancement this generation is FSR 4, which introduces AI upscaling to AMD GPUs for the first time. Unlike previous temporal upscaling methods, FSR 4 uses the Radeon RX 9070 XT's AI accelerators for machine learning-based upscaling, offering more accurate results, though not as fast as FSR 3. It's worth noting that this 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 remains 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, leading to variability.

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 upscaler. This pricing reflects a return to more reasonable launch prices for flagship GPUs, a trend that started shifting with Nvidia's RTX 2080 Ti.

In contrast, the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, despite its similar performance to the RX 9070 XT, comes with a base price of $749, a significant $150 more. While it offers features like Multi-Frame Generation, the value proposition depends on your specific gaming needs and the games 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 deliver comparable performance at a significantly lower price makes it the clear winner. As prices hopefully normalize, the value offered by the RX 9070 XT becomes even more compelling.

For those building a gaming PC aimed at high-end 1440p or 4K gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is currently one of the best graphics cards to consider. While it lacks multi-frame generation, this feature is less critical for most users without high-refresh 4K monitors.