While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 reigns supreme in the graphics card arena, its hefty price tag of $1,999+ makes it a luxury many can't afford. Fortunately, you don't need to break the bank to enjoy 4K gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer compelling alternatives that deliver exceptional 4K gaming performance at a more accessible price point.

Currently, the market is facing high demand and limited supply, causing elevated prices right after launch. However, for those seeking a high-end gaming experience, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT are the standout choices to consider.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos

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RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Specs

Comparing graphics cards with different architectures is complex. Nvidia's CUDA cores and AMD's Shading Units, though serving similar roles, aren't directly comparable due to their fundamental differences.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each containing 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 may be tested at 4K in the future.

In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also boasts 16GB of VRAM, but utilizes the faster GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus for higher bandwidth. With 70 Streaming Multiprocessors and 8,960 CUDA Cores, it offers a significant number of Shader Units per Compute Unit, a trend Nvidia started with the RTX 3080. However, this doesn't necessarily translate to double the performance.

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, real-world performance shows that both the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT excel at 4K and are top choices for 1440p gaming.

My review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT anticipated it would be close to the RTX 5070 Ti, particularly in games with ray tracing. Surprisingly, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the AMD card kept pace, staying within a few frames of the more expensive RTX 5070 Ti.

While the RTX 5070 Ti occasionally outperforms in certain games, such as Total War: Warhammer 3 (87fps vs. 76fps at 4K), the RX 9070 XT actually averaged 2% faster overall, despite its theoretically lower cost by 21%.

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 graphics card today involves more than just hardware specs. Both Nvidia and AMD provide extensive software features that enhance the gaming experience.

Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti stands out with its 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 every naturally rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates with minimal latency increase thanks to Nvidia Reflex. This feature is ideal when you're already achieving at least 45fps, ideally over 60fps.

AMD's RX 9070 XT supports Frame Generation as well but only generates one interpolated frame per rendered frame. The major leap with this generation 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 algorithms for more accurate image upscaling, though it's slightly slower than its predecessor.

It's worth noting that FSR 4 is AMD's first foray into AI upscaling, whereas Nvidia has been refining DLSS for seven years.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price

GPU pricing is a contentious topic as new generation cards are often sold out, leading to inflated prices. Both Nvidia and AMD suggest retail prices, but retailers and third-party manufacturers can set their own prices. Hopefully, as supply meets demand, prices will align more closely with MSRP.

At launch, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT was priced at $599, making it an outstanding value for a 4K-capable graphics card, especially when paired with the new FSR 4 AI upscaler. This price point harks back to when flagship GPUs were more reasonably priced before Nvidia's gradual price increases starting with the RTX 2080 Ti.

Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti, on the other hand, has a base price of $749, a significant $150 more than the RX 9070 XT, despite their similar performance. The extra cost may be justified by features like Multi-Frame Generation, but its value 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's ability to deliver comparable performance at a lower price makes it the clear winner, especially if prices normalize.

For those building a gaming PC aimed at high-end 1440p or even 4K gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is currently one of the best options available. Although it lacks multi-frame generation, this feature is less crucial for most gamers without high-refresh 4K monitors.