Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, upon its release, disappointed many with its modest generational improvement over the RTX 4090, especially given its significantly higher price. In contrast, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, while not dramatically faster than its predecessor, offers a more affordable option, making it the most sensible choice from Nvidia's Blackwell series for those not looking to spend excessively.

Priced at a base of $749, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is an exceptional 4K graphics card that effectively competes with 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 $999 RTX 5080. If you manage to find the RTX 5070 Ti at its base price of $749, it's likely the best graphics card for most users, particularly those interested in 4K gaming.

Purchasing Guide

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti will be available starting February 20, 2025, with a starting price of $749. Be aware that various versions of this GPU may be priced much higher. 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 marks the third graphics card utilizing Nvidia's Blackwell architecture, initially designed for supercomputers powering AI models like ChatGPT. This architecture has been adapted for gaming GPUs while retaining a focus on AI capabilities.

Built on the same GB203 GPU as the RTX 5080, the RTX 5070 Ti features 14 disabled streaming multiprocessors (SM), resulting in 70 SMs, 8,960 CUDA cores, 70 RT cores, and 280 Tensor Cores. It also includes 16GB of GDDR7 RAM, though slightly slower than the RTX 5080. The Tensor Cores are pivotal, with Nvidia relying on AI upscaling and frame generation to enhance the card's performance.

The Blackwell architecture introduces an AI Management Processor (AMP) that efficiently distributes tasks across the GPU, a function previously handled by the CPU. This advancement significantly improves processes like DLSS and frame generation.

Nvidia has revamped DLSS to operate on a Transformer model, improving image quality by reducing ghosting and artifacts. DLSS 4 introduces "Multi-Frame Generation" (MFG), which can generate up to three frames for each rendered frame, though this increases latency. Nvidia's Reflex technology aims to mitigate this latency increase.

With a 300W Total Board Power budget, the RTX 5070 Ti is only slightly more power-intensive than the last-gen RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4070 Ti Super, both at 285W. Nvidia suggests a 750W power supply, but for safety, an 850W PSU is recommended, especially for the high-end MSI Vanguard Edition.

DLSS 4 – Is It Worth It?

While the RTX 5070 Ti offers improved performance over its predecessor, Nvidia's main highlight for this generation is DLSS 4, particularly multi-frame generation. This technology enhances gaming on high-refresh-rate monitors, though it does not significantly reduce latency.

MFG analyzes each frame and uses motion vector data to predict and generate new frames, potentially increasing frame rates by up to 4x. In Cyberpunk 2077 with Ray Tracing Overdrive and DLSS set to performance, the RTX 5070 Ti achieved 46 fps with 43ms latency. With 2x frame generation, it reached 88 fps with 49ms latency, and with 4x frame generation, it hit 157 fps with 55ms latency, a 3.4x frame rate increase.

In Star Wars Outlaws at 4K Max settings with DLSS on performance, the RTX 5070 Ti delivered 67 fps with 47ms latency. With 2x frame generation, it increased to 111 fps with reduced latency to 34ms, thanks to Reflex. With 4x frame generation, the frame rate rose to 188 fps with 37ms latency.

Multi-Frame Generation enhances smoothness on high-refresh displays but does not improve responsiveness. The increase in latency is minimal if you maintain a high frame rate, and the RTX 5070 Ti performs well at 4K.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Benchmarks

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Performance

At 4K, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti outperforms the RTX 4070 Ti Super by about 11% and the RTX 4070 Ti by 21%, offering a better generational uplift than the RTX 5080. This makes it the best value graphics card of this generation so far. In demanding games like Black Myth Wukong and Cyberpunk 2077, it consistently exceeds 60 fps at 4K.

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 MSI Vanguard SOC version of the RTX 5070 Ti was tested at stock settings to reflect the performance of the base $749 MSRP GPU.

In 3DMark Speed Way, the RTX 5070 Ti scored 7,590 points, a 19% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super and a 36% jump over the RTX 4070 Ti. In Port Royal, it scored 18,839 points, compared to 15,670 and 14,136 from the 4070 Ti Super and 4070 Ti, respectively, indicating strong potential for future optimizations.

In gaming, the RTX 5070 Ti showed varied improvements. In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 4K Extreme, it achieved 121 fps, a modest 5% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. In Cyberpunk 2077 with Ray Tracing Ultra, it managed 75 fps, a 9% and 17% lead over the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively.

Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition, tested without upscaling, saw the RTX 5070 Ti at 48 fps at 4K on the Extreme preset, compared to 45 fps for the RTX 4070 Ti Super and 42 fps for the RTX 4070 Ti. Red Dead Redemption 2 was an exception, with the RTX 5070 Ti achieving 113 fps, slightly slower than the RTX 4070 Ti Super's 115 fps.

Total War: Warhammer 3, without ray tracing or upscaling, showed the RTX 5070 Ti at 78 fps at 4K, a 15% and 30% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, it reached 149 fps at 4K Ultra High, compared to 141 fps and 132 fps from the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively.

Black Myth Wukong at 4K with the Cinematic Preset and DLSS at 40% achieved 66 fps, a 10% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. In Forza Horizon 5 at 4K with the Extreme preset, the RTX 5070 Ti hit 152 fps, a 15% and 21% improvement over the RTX 4070 Super and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively, and a 10% lead over the Radeon RX 7900 XT.

As mid-range graphics cards increasingly become viable for 4K gaming, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti stands out as a great value at its starting price of $749, particularly for those with 4K displays. It's the first RTX 5000 series card to offer a significant performance uplift over its predecessor at a more affordable price than the $799 RTX 4070 Ti.