Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti: Performance Reviewed

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, upon its release, did not meet expectations with its modest performance increase over the RTX 4090, especially considering its significantly higher price. On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, while not a huge leap in speed from its previous generation, offers a more budget-friendly option, making it the most practical choice among the Blackwell series for those not looking to splurge.

Priced at a base of $749, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti stands out as an excellent choice for 4K gaming, effectively overshadowing the pricier RTX 5080. However, it's important to note that the RTX 5070 Ti model I reviewed was an aftermarket version from MSI, priced at $1,099, which is even higher than the RTX 5080's $999. If you can secure the RTX 5070 Ti at its base price of $749, it's likely the best option for most gamers, particularly those aiming for 4K gaming experiences.

Purchasing Guide

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti becomes available starting February 20, 2025, with a base price of $749. Be aware that various models of this GPU may be available at higher prices. At $749, it's a great value, but its appeal diminishes as the price approaches that of the RTX 5080.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Photos

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Specs and Features

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the third card to utilize Nvidia's Blackwell architecture, which originated from supercomputers used for AI models like ChatGPT. This architecture has been adapted for gaming GPUs, maintaining a strong AI focus.

This graphics card uses the same GB203 GPU as the RTX 5080 but with 14 of its streaming multiprocessors (SM) disabled, resulting in 70 SMs, 8,960 CUDA cores, 70 RT cores, and 280 Tensor Cores. It also comes with 16GB of GDDR7 RAM, though slightly slower than the RTX 5080. The Tensor Cores are crucial, as Nvidia relies on AI upscaling and frame generation to enhance the performance of the RTX 5070 Ti.

Blackwell introduces an AI Management Processor (AMP) that assists in workload distribution across the GPU, a task typically handled by the CPU. This enhances the efficiency of processes like DLSS and frame generation. The new DLSS version uses a Transformer model instead of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), improving image quality by reducing ghosting and artifacts.

DLSS 4 also introduces "Multi-Frame Generation" (MFG), which can generate up to three AI frames per rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates. However, this comes with increased latency, mitigated to some extent by Nvidia's Reflex technology.

With a Total Board Power budget of 300W, the RTX 5070 Ti is not much more power-hungry than its predecessors. Nvidia recommends a 750W power supply, but for safety, an 850W PSU is advised, especially for high-end models like the MSI Vanguard Edition reviewed here.

DLSS 4 – Is It Worth It?

Nvidia's main attraction for the RTX 5070 Ti is DLSS 4, particularly its Multi-Frame Generation feature. This technology is ideal for gamers with high-refresh-rate monitors, enhancing frame rates but not necessarily reducing latency.

DLSS 4 analyzes each frame as it's rendered, using motion vector data to predict future frames. It can generate up to three AI frames per rendered frame, theoretically quadrupling frame rates. However, in practice, the improvement is not always fourfold.

In Cyberpunk 2077 with the Ray Tracing Overdrive preset and DLSS on performance, the RTX 5070 Ti achieved 46 fps with 43ms latency. Enabling 2x frame generation increased this to 88 fps with 49ms latency, and 4x frame generation pushed it to 157 fps with 55ms latency. In Star Wars Outlaws at 4K Max settings, the card reached 67 fps, which increased to 111 fps with 2x frame generation and 188 fps with 4x, with minimal increases in latency thanks to Reflex.

Multi-Frame Generation makes games appear smoother on high-refresh displays, but responsiveness may not improve due to increased latency. However, the RTX 5070 Ti can handle these technologies well at 4K without significant lag or artifacts.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Benchmarks

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Performance

At 4K resolution, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti offers an 11% performance boost over the RTX 4070 Ti Super and a 21% increase over the RTX 4070 Ti, marking a significant generational improvement. It consistently achieves over 60 fps at 4K in demanding games like Black Myth Wukong and Cyberpunk 2077.

The test system used included an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero motherboard, 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RAM at 6,000MHz, a 4TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD, and an Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 CPU cooler. The RTX 5070 Ti was tested at stock settings to reflect typical performance, focusing on its $749 MSRP.

Testing was conducted with the latest game versions and drivers. The RTX 5070 Ti excelled in 3DMark Speed Way, scoring 7,590 points compared to 6,374 and 5,552 for the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively. In Port Royal, it achieved 18,839 points, showing potential for future performance enhancements as drivers and games evolve.

In gaming benchmarks, the RTX 5070 Ti showed varying improvements. In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, it achieved 121 fps at 4K Extreme, a modest 5% increase over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. In Cyberpunk 2077 with Ray Tracing Ultra, it maintained a solid 75 fps, reinforcing its status as a 4K-capable GPU.

Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition saw the RTX 5070 Ti achieving 48 fps at 4K on the Extreme preset, slightly better than the RTX 4070 Ti Super's 45 fps. Red Dead Redemption 2 was an exception, with the RTX 5070 Ti slightly underperforming at 113 fps compared to the RTX 4070 Ti Super's 115 fps.

Total War: Warhammer 3, without ray tracing or upscaling, showcased the RTX 5070 Ti's rasterization prowess, averaging 78 fps at 4K max settings. In Assassin's Creed Mirage, it hit 149 fps at 4K with the Ultra High preset, slightly outperforming the RTX 4070 Ti Super.

Black Myth Wukong, a demanding title, saw the RTX 5070 Ti achieving 66 fps at 4K with the Cinematic Preset and DLSS at 40%, a 10% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. Forza Horizon 5, favoring high frame rates, saw the RTX 5070 Ti reaching 152 fps at 4K with the Extreme preset, outpacing both the RTX 4070 Ti Super and the Radeon RX 7900 XT.

In summary, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, when available at its base price of $749, offers the best value for 4K gaming among the RTX 5000 series. It provides a notable performance uplift over its predecessor at a more accessible price point, making it a compelling choice for gamers looking to upgrade their setup.