RX 9070 Vs RTX 4070 – Which One Is Better?

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Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Difference

• Architecture: The Radeon RX 9070 features AMD’s avant RDNA 4.0 architecture, which is becoming famous for its incredible performance. On the other hand, the RTX 4070 uses Nvidia’s acclaimed Ada Lovelace design.
• GPU Chip: The RTX 4070 utilizes an AD104 chip with 35.8 million transistors. In contrast, the RX 9070 integrates the latest Navi 48 XT chip, offering 53.9 million transistors. Both GPUs are fabricated at TSMC’s 5nm process.
• VRAM: While the RTX 4070 has a 192-bit 12GB GDDR6X memory, the RX 9070 offers a stronger 256-bit 16GB GDDR6 VRAM with 27% better bandwidth. We expect the added 4GB VRAM to boost RX 9070’s performance.
• TDP: The RTX 4070 has a thermal design power of 200W, while the RX 9070 has a TDP of 220W. We expect these graphics cards to be cost-efficient in terms of electricity use due to their low TDPs.
• Clock Speed: AMD offers enhanced clock speeds with the RX 9070. Compared to the RTX 4070, it has a nearly 2.0% higher turbo clock for peak performance and an 8.4% higher base clock for basic processing tasks.
• Advanced Technologies: The RX 9070 integrates AMD’s pinnacle FSR 4.0 resolution enhancement, optimizing the immersive gaming paradigm. In contrast, the RTX 4070 utilizes Nvidia’s DLSS 3.0 upscaling technology.

Amid the recent GPU launches, we had almost lost hope for anything radical this year until AMD RX 9070 arrived. This critically recognized RX 9070 mid-range GPU faces the challenge of Nvidia’s RTX 4070. Does it truly offer something valuable? Let’s compare the RX 9070 vs RTX 4070 to find out!

Gaming Benchmarks

The RX 9070 has new features that could make it better. Right now, it’s too early to say if this GPU is better. To see which GPU performs better, we tested the RX 9070 vs RTX 4070 in 8 tough games at 1440p. We also tested ray tracing to evaluate the potential of Tensor cores against AMD’s RT cores.

Test Bench

The following specifications show the gaming setup we used for these benchmarks.

• OS: Windows 11
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• Motherboard: ASRock B850M Pro RS WiFi Motherboard
• SSD: Teamgroup T-Force G70 Pro 4TB NVMe SSD
• RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal Neo DDR5-8000 CL38 EXPO Kit
• PSU: Seasonic Vertex GX-1200 Gold ATX 3.0
• CPU Cooler: EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 LUX D-RGB

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

• In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the RX 9070 achieved an impressive 106 FPS on average, surpassing the RTX 4070’s 74 FPS by 43.2%, showcasing its superior performance in this title.
• During the low 1% performance scenario, the RTX 4070 delivered 52 FPS, whereas the RX 9070 achieved a significantly higher 78 FPS. So, the RX 9070 offered a 50% performance advantage at its worst 1%.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

• The RX 9070 performed better in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, averaging 80 FPS. In contrast, the RTX 4070 reached 72 FPS, trailing behind by 11.1%.
• In the worst 1% performance moments, the RTX 4070 maintained 58 FPS, while the RX 9070 outperformed it with 69 FPS, delivering a 19.0% higher frame rate in this challenging scenario.

Marvel Rivals

• During our gameplay of Marvel Rivals, the RX 9070 maintained an average frame rate of 76 FPS. This gave it an 8.6% lead over the RTX 4070, which managed 70 FPS.
• At the lowest 1% frame rate threshold, the RTX 4070 recorded 45 FPS, whereas the RX 9070 excelled with 52 FPS, offering 15.6% better performance in this gameplay segment.

The Last of Us Part I

• Our testing in The Last of Us Part I showed the RX 9070 averaging 91 FPS, giving it a 13.8% performance boost over the RTX 4070, which managed only 80 FPS.
• The RTX 4070 maintained 69 FPS in the bottom 1% performance scenario, while the RX 9070 surged ahead with 82 FPS, offering an 18.8% improvement in frame rate stability under heavy load.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

• While testing Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, we saw that the RX 9070 recorded an average frame rate of 95 FPS, leaving the RTX 4070 behind at 81 FPS, marking a significant 17.3% performance gain.
• Under the lowest 1% performance conditions, the RTX 4070 sustained 69 FPS, but the RX 9070 outperformed it with 80 FPS, showcasing a 13.8% higher frame rate.

Alan Wake 2 (RT)

• During our Alan Wake 2 test with ray tracing, the RTX 4070 averaged 38 FPS, outperforming the RX 9070’s 32 FPS by 18.9%, delivering noticeably smoother gameplay and a significant performance edge.
• When analyzing the worst 1% performance, the RTX 4070 achieved 30 FPS, while the RX 9070 provided 25 FPS. This demonstrates a 20.0% advantage in the low 1% frame rate for the RTX 4070.

Black Myth: Wukong (RT)

• The RTX 4070 delivered an average of 39 FPS in Black Myth: Wukong with ray tracing activated at 1440p, beating the RX 9070’s 25 FPS by 56.0%, making it the clear winner in this benchmark.
• During the worst 1% performance drops, the RX 9070 retained 20 FPS, while the RTX 4070 pulled ahead at 32 FPS, delivering a 60% higher frame rate in this taxing gameplay scenario.

Cyberpunk 2077 (RT)

• Our Cyberpunk 2077 ray tracing benchmark revealed the RX 9070 hitting an average of 60 FPS, beating the RTX 4070’s 55 FPS by 9.1%, ensuring superior fluidity and responsiveness.
• In the most performance-intensive 1% of gameplay, the RTX 4070 reached 45 FPS, while the RX 9070 achieved 48 FPS, offering a 6.7% better experience during these demanding moments.

Productivity Benchmarks

The RX 9070 performed competitively against the RTX 4070 in gaming tests, but how do they compare in productivity benchmarks? To find out, we tested the RX 9070 vs RTX 4070 in various software on the same test bench used for gaming.

3DMark Steel Nomad Light

• In our 3DMark Steel Nomad Light test, the RX 9070 achieved an impressive score of 19982, surpassing the RTX 4070’s 18136 score by a remarkable 10.2%, a testament to its superior performance and efficiency.

Geekbench 6

• The Geekbench 6 OpenCL benchmark shows that the RTX 4070 surpasses the RX 9070 in image processing and AI tasks by about 5.7%, securing an impressive score of 167496 against the rival’s 158522. 

PassMark

• When tested with PassMark, the RTX 4070 reached 26966 points, a solid 8.4% lead over the RX 9070’s 24875. This indicates the 4070 provides better performance in tasks like 3D modeling and animation.

Overall Performance

Average Frame Rate

While the RX 9070 asserted its authority across most games with a commanding lead, the RTX 4070 exhibited its prowess by securing an edge in two ray-traced titles. Nonetheless,  considering the overall average performance, the RX 9070 surpasses its rival by an amazing 14.3% margin.

Low 1% Frame Rate

The worst 1% performance trend mirrored the average performance observed across the tested games, maintaining a consistent pattern. On average, the RX 9070 exhibits a remarkable 13.6% superiority over the RTX 4070 in the most demanding 1% of gameplay, ensuring greater stability.

Productivity Performance

Our productivity tests reveal that the RTX 4070 excels in computationally intensive tasks, making it an ideal choice for high-performance applications. In contrast, the RX 9070 is better at visually demanding workloads. Based on the average, we conclude that the RX 9070 is 1.5% better in productivity.

Power Efficiency

The RTX 4070 operates efficiently, drawing less than 200 watts, whereas the RX 9070 surpasses its rated 220-watt TDP, consuming about 20 to 25 more watts in our gaming sessions. Based on our GPU power consumption stats, the RTX 4070 is 24.5% more power-efficient than the RX 9070.

Thermal Efficiency

Regarding graphics card thermals, the RX 9070 excels in both idle and gaming conditions, maintaining superior cooling efficiency and stability. According to the gaming temperatures we noted for the RX 9070 vs RTX 4070, the RX 9070 exhibits 12.3% better thermal efficiency than its rival.

Price And Value

The price of the GPU is the deciding element in comparison. At present, the RTX 4070 costs 23.3% more than its MSRP, while the new RX 9070 remains elusive. The RX 9070 is a great deal in its class and is expected to reach retail closer to its MSRP. It promises better performance per dollar.

What We Recommend?

Radeon RX 9070: The RX 9070 redefines gaming excellence, delivering superior performance and cutting-edge features at a highly competitive price. Built upon AMD’s state-of-the-art RDNA 4.0 architecture, it employs the latest FSR 4.0 for exceptional upscaling.

GeForce RTX 4070: The RTX 4070 is a mid-tier GPU designed for 1440p gaming. It effortlessly handles computationally demanding tasks. This card boasts exceptional power efficiency, ensuring optimal output without excessive energy consumption.

We suggest opting for the RX 9070 for its outstanding technology and performance at an affordable price. However, if you desire even greater power, exploring the latest high-performance GPUs may lead you to the ideal choice for your needs. Check out our most recent comparisons for that.

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Shehryar Khan

[Comparisons Expert]

Shehryar Khan, a seasoned PC hardware expert, brings over three years of extensive experience and a deep passion for the world of technology. With a love for building PCs and a genuine enthusiasm for exploring the latest advancements in components, his expertise shines through his work and dedication towards this field. Currently, Shehryar is rocking a custom loop setup for his built.

Get In Touch: shehryar@tech4gamers.com