Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Unveiled: Performance Review

When the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 was released, it offered a disappointing generational improvement over the RTX 4090, especially considering its significantly higher price point. However, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, despite not being much faster than its predecessor, presents a more affordable option, making it the most sensible choice from the Blackwell series for budget-conscious buyers.

At its base price of $749, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti stands out as an excellent 4K graphics card, effectively overshadowing the pricier RTX 5080. It's important to note that the RTX 5070 Ti I reviewed was an aftermarket model from MSI, priced at $1,099, which is even more expensive than the $999 RTX 5080. If you can secure the RTX 5070 Ti at its base price of $749, it emerges as the top choice for most gamers, particularly those aiming for 4K gaming.

Purchasing Guide

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti will be available starting February 20, 2025, with a starting price of $749. However, be aware that various models of this GPU will be available at higher price points. While it offers great value at $749, 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 graphics card in Nvidia's Blackwell architecture lineup. Originally designed for AI supercomputers powering models like ChatGPT, this architecture has been adapted for gaming GPUs while maintaining a strong AI focus.

This card utilizes the same GB203 GPU as the RTX 5080, but with 14 of the 84 streaming multiprocessors (SM) disabled, resulting in 70 SMs, 8,960 CUDA cores, 70 RT cores, and 280 Tensor Cores. It comes equipped with 16GB of GDDR7 RAM, albeit slightly slower than the RTX 5080. The Tensor Cores are particularly noteworthy, as Nvidia leverages AI upscaling and frame generation to enhance performance significantly.

The Blackwell architecture introduces an AI Management Processor (AMP) that enhances the efficiency of processes like DLSS and frame generation by managing workload distribution on the GPU. This shift from CPU to GPU handling improves efficiency. DLSS has been updated to use a Transformer model instead of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), which improves image quality and reduces artifacts.

DLSS 4 introduces Multi-Frame Generation (MFG), capable of generating up to three AI frames per rendered frame, potentially quadrupling frame rates. However, this comes with increased latency, which Nvidia's Reflex technology aims to mitigate.

With a 300W Total Board Power budget, the RTX 5070 Ti is not significantly more power-hungry than its predecessors, the RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4070 Ti Super, which both require 285W. Nvidia recommends a 750W power supply, but for safety, an 850W PSU is advisable, especially for high-end models like the MSI Vanguard Edition reviewed.

DLSS 4 – Is It Worth It?

While the RTX 5070 Ti offers improved performance over its predecessor, Nvidia's highlight for this generation is DLSS 4, specifically its Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) capability. This technology is ideal for gamers with high-refresh-rate monitors, although it doesn't significantly reduce latency.

MFG uses Tensor Cores to analyze rendered frames and motion data from the game engine to predict and generate new frames. This can theoretically increase frame rates by up to four times, making it highly beneficial for high-end gaming setups. In practice, the actual improvement varies.

In Cyberpunk 2077, with the Ray Tracing Overdrive preset and DLSS set to performance, the RTX 5070 Ti achieved 46 fps with 43ms latency. With 2x frame generation, this increased to 88 fps, but latency rose to 49ms, even with Reflex enabled. At 4x frame generation, the frame rate reached 157 fps, with a latency of 55ms, representing a 3.4x increase in frame rate but with increased latency.

In Star Wars Outlaws, the RTX 5070 Ti managed 67 fps at 4K Max settings with DLSS set to performance. With 2x frame generation, the frame rate increased to 111 fps, and latency decreased from 47ms to 34ms due to Reflex. At 4x frame generation, the frame rate reached 188 fps, with a latency increase to 37ms.

While Multi-Frame Generation enhances visual smoothness on high-refresh displays, it does not improve responsiveness. However, the latency increases are minimal when starting from a high frame rate, ensuring games remain smooth and responsive with the RTX 5070 Ti at 4K.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Benchmarks

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Performance

At 4K resolution, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti outperforms the RTX 4070 Ti Super by about 11% and the RTX 4070 Ti by 21%, marking a significant generational improvement compared to the RTX 5080. This makes the RTX 5070 Ti the best value graphics card of this generation so far. It consistently delivers over 60 fps at 4K in demanding titles like Black Myth Wukong and Cyberpunk 2077.

The test system used included an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor, an Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero motherboard, 32GB of 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 on a prerelease driver provided by Nvidia, with all other cards using the latest available drivers.

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 achieved 18,839 points, compared to 15,670 and 14,136 for the 4070 Ti Super and 4070 Ti, respectively, showcasing its potential for future enhancements.

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

Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition, tested without upscaling, saw the RTX 5070 Ti achieve 48 fps at 4K on the Extreme preset, compared to 45 fps and 42 fps for the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively. However, in Red Dead Redemption 2, the RTX 5070 Ti was 2% slower than the RTX 4070 Ti Super, achieving 113 fps versus 115 fps.

Total War: Warhammer 3, without ray tracing or upscaling, saw the RTX 5070 Ti deliver 78 fps at 4K max settings, a 15% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super and 30% over the RTX 4070 Ti. In Assassin's Creed Mirage, it achieved 149 fps at 4K Ultra High, surpassing the RTX 4070 Ti Super's 141 fps and the RTX 4070 Ti's 132 fps.

In the demanding Black Myth Wukong, the RTX 5070 Ti managed 66 fps at 4K with the Cinematic Preset and DLSS at 40%, a 10% improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. Forza Horizon 5 saw the RTX 5070 Ti reach 152 fps at 4K Extreme, a 15% improvement over the RTX 4070 Super and 21% over the RTX 4070 Ti.

With the current trend, even mid-range graphics cards like the RTX 5070 Ti are capable of 4K gaming. If you can purchase it at the starting price of $749, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti offers exceptional value, particularly for 4K gamers. It not only provides a significant performance uplift over its predecessor but does so at a lower price than the $799 RTX 4070 Ti.