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 highly capable alternative for a stellar 4K gaming experience.

Currently, prices are elevated due to high demand and limited supply following their launch, but the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT remain the go-to 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-suited 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 on a 256-bit bus, offering higher bandwidth. It's 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 shows that both the RTX 5070 Ti and the RX 9070 XT are excellent choices for 4K gaming and top performers at 1440p. My review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT revealed it closely matched the RTX 5070 Ti, even in ray tracing-intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077.

While the RTX 5070 Ti does outperform the RX 9070 XT in certain titles, 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 was found to be 2% faster, a significant advantage considering its lower price point.

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; software features play a crucial role. Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti benefits from the DLSS suite, which includes AI upscaling and Frame Generation. The latest DLSS 4 introduces multi-frame generation, capable of producing three AI-generated frames for each rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates with a slight latency increase 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 supports Frame Generation as well, but it's limited to one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The major advancement for AMD this generation is FSR 4, which introduces AI upscaling to their GPUs for the first time. Unlike the previous temporal upscaling method, 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

The current GPU market is fraught with high prices due to supply shortages and high demand. Both Nvidia and AMD set suggested retail prices, but actual prices can vary widely due to retailer and third-party manufacturer markups. While it's hard to predict future pricing, we hope that as supply improves, prices will approach the MSRP.

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

In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, with a base price of $749, is $150 more expensive despite offering similar performance. The additional cost might be justified by features like Multi-Frame Generation, but whether it's worth it depends on your specific 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's ability to deliver comparable performance at a significantly lower price makes it the clear winner. As prices hopefully return to normal, the value proposition of the RX 9070 XT becomes even more compelling.

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