Our recent article extensively evaluated the performance of the RX 6950 XT against the RTX 4090, where the RTX 4090 was the uncontested victor. In today’s guide, we will thoroughly analyze and compare the RTX 4070 vs RX 6950 XT to identify the GPU with better performance and economic value.
Key Takeaways
- In gaming performance, the RX 6950 XT surpasses the RTX 4070 by 16% at 1080p and an impressive 21.2% at 4K.
- Regarding power and thermal efficiency, the RTX 4070 is 70% more power efficient and 9.4% more thermal efficient than the RX 6950XT at 1080p.
- Looking at the MSRPs, Nvidia launched the RTX 4070 for $599, and AMD launched the RX 6950 XT for $1099.
Similar Comparison: RTX 4080 Vs RX 6950 XT
Comparison Table
| Feature | GeForce RTX 4070 | RX 6950 XT |
| Architecture | NVIDIA Ada Lovelace | AMD RDNA 2.0 |
| Chip | AD104 | Navi 21 |
| Shading Units | 5888 CUDA Cores | 5120 Stream Processors |
| CUDA Capability | 8.9 | – |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 46 | 80 |
| Texture Mapping Units | 184 | 320 |
| ROPs | 64 | 128 |
| Tensor Cores | 184 | – |
| Base Clock | 1.92 GHz | 1.89 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 2.48 GHz | 2.31 GHz |
| Pixel Rate | Up to 158.4 GPixel/s | Up to 295.7 GPixel/s |
| Texture Rate | Up to 455.4 GTexel/s | Up to 739.2 GTexel/s |
| FP64 (double) | 455.4 GFLOPS (1:64) | 1,478 GFLOPS (1:16) |
| L1 Cache | 128KB (per SM) | 128 KB per Array |
| L2 Cache | 36MB | 4MB L3 Cache: 128MB Infinity Cache |
| Manufacturing Node | 5nm at TSMC | 7nm at TSMC |
| I/O Die Size | 295 mm² | 520 mm² |
| Transistors Count | 35.8 billion | 26.8 billion |
| Density | 121.4 M / mm² | 51.5M / mm² |
| Standard Memory Config | 12GB GDDR6X | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface Width | 192-bit | 256-bit |
| Bandwidth | Up to 504.2 GB/s | Up to 576.0 GB/s |
| Memory Clock / Frequency | 1313 MHz 21 Gbps effective |
2250 MHz 18 Gbps effective |
| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| GPU TDP | 200W | 335W |
| Required System Power | 650W | 850W |
| Maximum Temperature | 90°C | Up to 110°C |
| Slot Width | Dual-slot | Triple-slot |
| Launch Date | Apr 13th, 2023 | May 10th, 2022 |
| Approximate Price | $599 | $650-$750 |
| Best Variants | BEST RTX 4070 Graphics Cards | – |
Architectural Difference
- Process Node: The RTX 4070 features an AD104 chip fabricated at a brilliant 5nm node, while the RX 6950 XT employs a Navi 21 chip manufactured at a 7nm process.
- Clock Speeds: The RX 6950 XT lags behind the RTX 4070 in the base clock by 0.03 GHz. But regarding the turbo clock, the RTX 4070 boosts a 7.36% higher boost clock.
- VRAM: Coming to the GPU memory, the RTX 4070 features 192-Bit 12GB GDDR6X memory with a max speed of 21 Gbps. In contrast, the RX 6950 XT offers 256-Bit 16GB GDDR6 memory with a max speed of 18 Gbps.
- TDP: Considering the power requirements of two GPUs, the RX 6950 XT operates at a much higher power than the RTX 4070. The RX 6950 XT has a TDP of 335W, and that of the RTX 4070 is 200W.
- Supported Technologies: The RTX 4070 features DLSS 3.0, Nvidia Reflex (Low latency platform), RTX Video Super Resolution, resizable Bar, G-Sync, and Nvidia Studio. In contrast, RX 6950 XT offers AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution.
Also Read: RTX 4070 Vs RX 7900 XT
RTX 4070 Vs RX 6950 XT: Gaming Benchmarks
The primary parameter to consider when evaluating a graphics card’s performance is how well it performs in games. To compare the proficiency of the RTX 4070 and RX 6950 XT, we will subject these graphics cards to gaming performance tests at 1080p and 4K resolutions. The following are the specifications of the system used to run these games.
Gaming Rig
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 8-Core, 16-Thread
- Mobo: ASUS ROG Strix X670E-A Gaming WiFi 6E Socket AM5 (LGA 1718)
- RAM: CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz CL36
- SSD: SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen 4 Gaming M.2 Internal SSD
- PC Case: CORSAIR iCUE 5000T RGB Mid-Tower ATX PC Case-208
- PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1650W, True 600W 12VHPWR
- Cooler: Corsair iCUE H150i RGB Elite Liquid Cooler (120mm Elite series Fans)
- Keyboard: Logitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Lightspeed Wireless RGB Mechanical
- Mouse: Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI
Related Article: RTX 4070 Vs RX 7900 XT
1080p Benchmarks
A Plague Tale: Requiem
- In A Plague Tale: Requiem, the RX 6950 XT rendered 8.8% or 10 FPS higher performance than the RTX 4070 at 1080p.
- The RX 6950 XT gained an impressive average frame rate of 123 FPS, whereas the RTX 4070 turned over an average of 113 FPS.
- Considering the energy discharge, the RTX 4070 operated at 196W, while the RX 6950 XT employed 302W.
- During the gameplay, the operating temperature of the RX 6950 XT was 68°C, which is 3°C higher than the RTX 4070’s 65°C.
- At the worst 1% performance time, the RTX 4070 delivered 89 FPS, while the RX 6950 XT produced 94 FPS.
Also Read: RTX 4070 Vs RX 6900 XT
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II
- At 1080p, the RX 6950 XT produced 25% or 50 more frames per second than the RTX 4070 in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.
- The RTX 4070 had an average frame rate of 201 FPS, while the RX 6950 XT achieved an amazing average of 251 FPS.
- During Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II at 1080p, the RTX 4070 used 154.5W, whereas the RX 6950 XT used 303W.
- Regarding GPU temperature, the operating temperature of the RX 6950 XT was 69°C, which is 11°C warmer than the RTX 4070’s 58°C.
- The RTX 4070 achieved 159 frames per second, and the RX 6950 XT provided 202 FPS at a low 1% performance.
Fortnite
- While playing Fortnite at 1080p, the RX 6950 XT yielded 12.5% or 11 more FPS on average than the RTX 4070.
- The RX 6950 XT achieved an incredible average frame rate of 99 FPS, in contrast to the RTX 4070’s 88 FPS.
- In terms of power consumption, the RTX 4070 used 178.8W, whereas the RX 6950 XT used 304W.
- The RX 6950 XT operated at 67°C during Fortnite, while the RTX 4070 operated at 62°C.
- For the low 1% frame rate, the RX 6950 XT delivered 90 FPS, while the RTX 4070 achieved 77 FPS.
Also Read: RTX 4070 Vs RX 6800
God Of War
- The RX 6950 XT produced 17.1% better performance on average than the RTX 4070 while playing God Of War at 1080p.
- With a remarkable average frame rate of 164 FPS, the RX 6950 XT outperformed the RTX 4070, which only produced 140 FPS.
- Regarding power usage in God Of War, the RTX 4070 used 196.8W, while the RX 6950 XT used 302W.
- Coming to the gaming temperature, the RTX 4070 ran at 65°C, whereas the RX 6950 XT ran at 68°C.
- The RTX 4070 only managed 109 FPS at the low 1% frame rate, whereas the RX 6950 XT mustered up 133 FPS.
Resident Evil 4
- In Resident Evil 4, the RX 6950 XT outperformed the RTX 4070 by delivering 3 FPS or 2.4% higher performance.
- The RX 6950 XT produced an average frame rate of 127 FPS at 1080p, compared to the RTX 4070’s 124 FPS.
- Coming to power consumption, the RX 6950 XT used 303W compared to the RTX 4070’s 173.9W.
- While playing Resident Evil 4, the RX 6950 XT and the RTX 4070 had operating temperatures of 67°C and 63°C, respectively.
- With a remarkable 114 FPS at the lowest 1% performance, the RX 6950 XT outperformed the RTX 4070, beating out its 103 FPS.
Also Read: RTX 4070 Vs RTX 3090
The Callisto Protocol
- While playing The Callisto Protocol at 1080p, the RX 6950 XT outperformed the RTX 4070 with an average lead of 41 FPS, 20.6% better results.
- The RX 6950 XT exhibited outstanding performance with an average frame rate of 240 FPS, surpassing the RTX 4070’s 199 FPS.
- In terms of power consumption, the RX 6950 XT consumed 302W, while the RTX 4070 used 153.7W.
- During The Callisto Protocol gameplay, the RX 6950 XT maintained a temperature of 68°C, while the RTX 4070 operated at 59°C.
- Considering the low 1% frame rate, the RX 6950 XT delivered 139 FPS, whereas the RTX 4070 achieved 120 FPS.
4K (1960p) Benchmarks
A Plague Tale: Requiem
- The RX 6950 XT produced a 15.4% or 6 FPS higher frame rate in A Plague Tale: Requiem than the RTX 4070 at 4K resolution.
- The RTX 4070 only managed an average frame rate of 39 FPS, while the RX 6950 XT achieved a relatively higher average of 45 FPS.
- In terms of power consumption, the RTX 4070 used 196.1W, while the RX 6950 XT required 304W at 4K.
- During this gameplay, the RX 6950 XT’s operating temperature was 69°C, 4°C warmer than the RTX 4070’s 65°C.
- The RTX 4070 achieved 32 FPS, and the RX 6950 XT 35 FPS in the worst 1% of performance times.
Also Read: RTX 4070 Vs RTX 3080 Ti
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II
- In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II at 4K, the RX 6950 XT generated 36.1% or 35 more FPS than the RTX 4070.
- The RX 6950 XT achieved an incredible average frame rate of 132 FPS, in contrast to the RTX 4070’s 97 FPS average.
- The RTX 4070 utilized 185.4W while playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II at 4K resolution, whereas the RX 6950 XT used 303W.
- Regarding GPU temperature, the RX 6950 XT ran at a 68°C temperature, while the RTX 4070 ran at 64°C.
- The RX 6950 XT delivered 95 FPS at its low 1% performance, while the RTX 4070 delivered 67 FPS at the same time.
Fortnite
- While playing Fortnite at 4K resolution, the RX 6950 XT exhibited an average performance boost of 8.8% over the RTX 4070.
- With a higher average frame rate of 37 FPS, the RX 6950 XT outperformed the RTX 4070, which managed 34 FPS.
- While playing the game, the RTX 4070 utilized 189.8W, and the RX 6950 XT used 302W.
- During Fortnite at 4K, the RTX 4070 ran at 65°C while the RX 6950 XT ran at 69°C.
- The RTX 4070 only managed 26 FPS at the low 1% frame rate, compared to the RX 6950 XT’s 29 FPS.
Also Read: RTX 4070 Vs RX 7900 XTX
God Of War
- In God of War gameplay at 4K resolution, the RX 6950 XT outscored the RTX 4070 by 11.6% on average.
- The RX 6950 XT surpassed the RTX 4070, which could only manage 69 FPS, with a fantastic average frame rate of 77 FPS at 4K.
- If we see the power usage at 4K, the RTX 4070 utilized 193.7W, whereas the RX 6950 XT used 303W in God of War.
- Regarding GPU’s gaming temperature, the RTX 4070 operated at 65°C, whereas the RX 6950 XT ran at 68°C.
- The RX 6950 XT achieved 68 FPS, while the RTX 4070 could only generate 60 FPS at the low 1% frame rate.
Resident Evil 4
- At 4K, the RX 6950 XT outpaced the RTX 4070 in Resident Evil 4 by putting out 12 more frames per second or 15% greater performance.
- Compared to the RTX 4070’s 57 FPS average, the RX 6950 XT provided a loftier average frame rate of 69 FPS at 1080p.
- Concerning the power drawn, the RTX 4070 utilized 192.5W, whereas the RX 6950 XT used 302W.
- The operational temperatures of the RTX 4070 and RX 6950 XT while playing Resident Evil 4 at 4K were 65°C and 67°C, respectively.
- The RTX 4070’s 51 FPS couldn’t keep up with the RX 6950 XT’s 63 FPS at the lowest 1% performance, which was impressively higher.
Also Read: RTX 4070 Vs RTX 3080
The Callisto Protocol
- In The Callisto Protocol, the RX 6950 XT expressed dominance over the RTX 4070 with an impressive average lead of 7 FPS at 4K, representing a wonderful 18.4% superior performance.
- The RTX 4070’s performance, which only managed 38 FPS, was surpassed by the RX 6950 XT’s skilled average frame rate of 45 FPS.
- When it comes to power consumption, the RX 6950 XT drew 299W, while the RTX 4070 utilized 179.7W.
- Throughout The Callisto Protocol gameplay, the RTX 4070 maintained a 3°C lower temperature of 65°C, outperforming the RX 6950 XT’s 68°C.
- Regarding the worst 1% performance, the RX 6950 XT impressively delivered 39 FPS, outpacing the RTX 4070’s delivery of 33 FPS.
Also Read: RTX 4080 Vs RX 6950 XT
Overall Gaming Analysis
So far, we have discussed the gaming statistics of the RTX 4070 vs RX 6950 XT individually in different games at 1080p and 4K resolutions. Let’s now look at the overall performance and efficiency trends to find out which GPU comes on the top.
Performance
At 1080p
- The RX 6950 XT clearly exhibits extraordinary supremacy, surpassing the RTX 4070 by an astonishing margin of 16% at 1080p gaming.
- The RX 6950 XT offered an excellent average frame rate of 167.3 FPS in the six games mentioned at 1080p, easily outpacing the RTX 4070’s average of 144.2 FPS.
- At the worst 1% performance of these GPUs, the RX 6950 XT showcased a notable improvement of approximately 17.5% over the RTX 4070.
- The RX 6950 XT averaged 128.7 FPS in the low 1%, compared to the RTX 4070’s 109.5 FPS.
At 4K (1960p)
- If we compare the overall performance in 4K gaming, the RX 6950 XT exceeds the RTX 4070 by an incredible margin of 21.2%.
- At 4K, the RX 6950 XT provided a superb average frame rate of 67.5 FPS, far surpassing the RTX 4070’s average of 55.7 FPS.
- Regarding the low 1% performance at 4K, the RX 6950 XT showed a considerable improvement of about 22.3% over the RTX 4070.
- The RTX 4070 produced just 44.8 frames per second at the low 1%, whereas the RX 6950 XT remarkably maintained 54.8 FPS.
Contrary to expectations, the RTX 4070 falls short as a suitable choice for 4K gaming, excelling instead at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. On the other hand, the RX 6950 XT delivers exceptional performance at 4K, making it a superior option for high-resolution gaming.
Power Efficiency
At 1080p
- The RTX 4070 offered 72.4% greater power efficiency than the RX 6950 XT during the 1080p games.
- While playing the games mentioned above, the RX 6950 XT operated at an average of 302.7W, whereas the RTX 4070 operated only at 175.6W.
- The RTX 4070 provided 0.82 frames per watt at 1080p, while the RX 6950 XT provided 0.55 frames per watt.
At 4K (1960p)
- During the 4K games, the RTX 4070 exhibited a substantial 59.5% increase in power efficiency compared to the RX 6950 XT.
- The RX 6950 XT consumed an average of 302.2W, whereas the RTX 4070 impressively operated at a mere 189.5W for 4K games.
- Regarding performance-per-watt, the RTX 4070 offered 0.3 frames per watt, while the RX 6950 XT supplied 0.22 frames per watt.
Moving from 1080p resolution to 4K, the power consumption of the RX 6950 XT did not change. But in the case of the RTX 4070, the power consumption has greatly increased. Moreover, considering the performance-per-watt, the RTX 4070 performs much better than the RX 6950 XT.
Thermal Efficiency
At 1080p
- With a thermal efficiency advantage of around 9.4% over the RX 6950 XT, the RTX 4070 leads the pack in gaming temperature management.
- The RTX 4070 outperformed the RX 6950 XT regarding average gaming temperature at 1080p, which was around 62.0°C compared to 67.8°C.
At 4K (1960p)
- The RTX 4070 outperforms the competition in temperature control during 4K gaming, beating the RX 6950 XT by roughly 5.6% higher thermal efficiency.
- During the 4K gaming session, the average temperature of the RX 6950 XT was around 68.2°C, and that of the RTX 4070 was about 64.8°C.
Price And Availability
Before picking a GPU, it is crucial to consider factors like the graphics card’s price and availability. Taking into account the launch MSRPs (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices), while AMD priced the RX 6950 XT at $1099 in May 2022, Nvidia released the RTX 4070 at a price of $599 in April 2023.
However, depending on variables like time and demand, the cost of these graphics cards may change. Currently, the RTX 4070 is being sold for its various manufacturers at prices ranging from $600 to $670, with the ASUS ROG variant being the most expensive. In contrast, the RX 6950 XT is now selling between $650 to $750 for most of its variants.
Concerning the availability factor, these GPUs are readily available in markets. Despite the release of the latest generation of AMD graphics cards, the RX 7000 series, the RX 6950 XT is still readily available in the market. You can order these GPUs directly from the official stores of Nvidia and AMD, respectively. These GPUs are also available through vendors like Amazon, Newegg, and other platforms.
Similar Comparison: RTX 4070 Vs RX 6900 XT
RX 6950 XT Vs RTX 4070: Which One Should You Go For?
Now that we have deeply scrutinized the RTX 4070 and RX 6950 XT, it’s time to decide which GPU meets your individual requirements and financial limitations.
The RX 6950 XT emerges as the superior option over the RTX 4070 if your foremost objective is to immerse yourself in a gaming experience like no other. The Radeon RX 6950 XT delivers amazing performance and handles 4K games easily. It ensures higher value and unmatched gaming delight compared to the RTX 4070.
However, the RTX 4070 is also a great graphics cards with brilliant 1080p and 1440p gaming performance. Additionally, this feature guarantees improved power and thermal efficiency, leading to reduced electricity costs.
Its price is also less than the RX 6950 XT. Thus, considering the budget limitations and prioritizing cost-effective GPUs with lower operating costs, I highly recommend the RTX 4070.
Pros And Cons
| Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| Great AI and Ray Tracing performance | Not good for 4K gaming | High performance at 1080p to 4K gaming resolutions | High power consumption |
| High power efficiency | Unnecessary 16-pin power connector | Dual BIOS switch | Ray tracing not much effective |
The RX 6950 XT comes out as a superior choice for gamers over the RTX 4070. The RX 6950 XT delivers an effective performance boost of 16% at 1080p and an even more impressive 21.2% increase at 4K compared to the RTX 4070. The RTX 4070 has a lower operating cost than the RX 6950 XT. It consumes 72% less energy at 1080p gaming and 60% less at 4K gaming than the RX 6950 XT. The RTX 4070 provides better value for the money than the RX 6950 XT. The reason is its relatively higher performance per dollar, higher power efficiency (performance per watt), and great 1080p and 1440p gaming performance.Frequently Asked Questions
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[Comparisons Expert]
Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.
Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.
As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.
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