While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 sits at the pinnacle of the graphics card market with its hefty $1,999+ price tag, it's not within reach for everyone. Fortunately, you don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy 4K gaming. Both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offer a more budget-friendly yet robust 4K gaming experience.

Currently, GPU prices are elevated due to high demand and limited supply post-launch. However, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT remain the top contenders for those seeking a high-end gaming experience without breaking the bank.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos

4 ImagesRTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Specs

Comparing graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD can be complex due to their different architectures. Nvidia's CUDA cores and AMD's Shading Units, although similar in function, make direct comparisons challenging. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 64 RDNA 4 compute units, each containing 64 shader units, totaling 4,096. Each compute unit includes two AI Accelerators and one RT Accelerator, resulting in 128 and 64, respectively. It's paired with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, sufficient for today's games but potentially strained at 4K in the future.

On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti also boasts 16GB of VRAM, but with GDDR7 memory, which offers higher speeds and bandwidth on the same 256-bit bus. It contains 70 Streaming Multiprocessors, translating to 8,960 CUDA Cores. While this suggests superior performance, the actual difference isn't always double due to architectural variances.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

11 ImagesRTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Performance

Although the RTX 5070 Ti appears superior on paper, real-world performance shows both cards excel in 4K and are top choices for 1440p gaming. When testing the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, I anticipated it would trail behind the RTX 5070 Ti, particularly in ray-traced games. However, in titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the RX 9070 XT remained competitive, staying close to the RTX 5070 Ti's frame rates.

The RTX 5070 Ti does lead in some games, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, achieving 87fps at 4K compared to the RX 9070 XT's 76fps. Yet, the RX 9070 XT averaged 2% faster performance across various tests, a significant advantage considering its lower cost of about 21% less than the RTX 5070 Ti.

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 shines with its DLSS suite, including AI upscaling and Frame Generation. The latest DLSS 4 introduces multi-frame generation, capable of producing three AI-generated frames per rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates at the cost of minor latency, mitigated by Nvidia Reflex. This feature is best utilized at frame rates above 45fps, ideally over 60fps.

AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT supports Frame Generation as well, but only generates one frame per rendered frame. The major advancement here is FSR 4, which introduces AI upscaling to AMD GPUs for the first time. Unlike the previous temporal upscaling, FSR 4 leverages the RX 9070 XT's AI accelerators for more accurate upscaling through machine learning. Though not as fast as FSR 3, it's a promising start, with room for improvement as AMD continues to refine this technology.

Winner: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT: Price

The current GPU market faces significant pricing issues, with new generation cards often sold out and prices inflated. Both Nvidia and AMD suggest retail prices, but actual prices can vary widely due to retailer and third-party manufacturer decisions. Hopefully, as supply meets demand, prices will align more closely with MSRP.

At launch, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT priced at $599 is a stellar option for 4K gaming, especially when paired 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, represents a significant $150 increase over the RX 9070 XT, despite similar performance. The additional features like Multi-Frame Generation may justify the cost for some, depending on their 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 excel at 1440p gaming and can handle 4K. However, the RX 9070 XT's ability to compete at a lower price point makes it the clear winner. As GPU prices hopefully normalize, the value proposition of the RX 9070 XT becomes even more compelling.

For those building a gaming PC aimed at high-end 1440p or venturing into 4K gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT stands out as the best choice, especially considering most gamers won't benefit from the RTX 5070 Ti's multi-frame generation without a high-refresh 4K monitor.