AMD Radeon RX 9070 Rated: 8.8/10 AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Rated: 9/10
Pros And Cons
GPU | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
RX 9070 | ✅ More power-efficient ✅ Lower cost compared to RX 9070 XT | ❌ Lower shading units & TMUs ❌ Weaker ray tracing performance |
RX 9070 XT | ✅ Higher shading units & TMUs ✅ Better ray tracing & tensor core performance | ❌ Higher power consumption ❌ More expensive |
Comparison Table
Features | RX 9070 | RX 9070 XT |
---|---|---|
Architecture | RDNA 4 | RDNA 4 |
GPU Codename | Navi 48 | Navi 48 |
Slot Width | Dual-slot | Dual-slot |
Release Date | March 6, 2025 | March 6, 2025 |
Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin | 2x 8-pin |
Shading Units | 3584 | 4096 |
TMUs | 224 | 256 |
ROPs | 128 | 128 |
Tensor Cores | 112 | 128 |
RT Cores | 56 | 64 |
Suggested PSU | 550W | 700W |
Architectural Difference
- Process Nodes: Both the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT utilize TSMC’s 5nm process technology, ensuring improved efficiency and performance.
- Clock Speeds: The RX 9070 features a base clock of 1,330MHz and boosts up to 2,520MHz, while the RX 9070 XT comes with a higher base clock of 1,660MHz and can boost up to 2,970MHz.
- VRAM: Both GPUs are equipped with 16GB GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, giving a balance between high memory and bandwidth.
- TDP: The RX 9070 has a TDP of 220W, whereas the RX 9070 XT demands more power at 304W, making cooling and PSU considerations crucial.
- Supported Technologies: Both GPUs support AMD’s FSR 4 frame generation as well as AMD’s AFMF 2.1, enabling frame generation in any game, enhancing smoothness and responsiveness.
With NVIDIA’s Blackwell series falling short for many, AMD’s latest releases might be exactly what gamers have been waiting for. Now that the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are here, the real question is—how much of a performance gap actually exists between the two? Let’s dive into this head-to-head comparison to find out.
Gaming Benchmarks – 4K
Now that we’ve covered the core specs, it’s time to get to the good stuff; real-world gaming performance. To see how these cards really stack up, we tested them in eight different games at 4K, pushing them to their limits. Using the same high-end test bench, let’s see how the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT handle the pressure.
Test Bench
- OS: Windows 11
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- Motherboard: MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi
- SSD: XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 2TB NVMe SSD
- RAM: Kingston Fury Renegade RGB DDR5 32GB 7200MHz
- PSU: XPG Fusion Titanium 1600W Power Supply
- CPU Cooler: EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 LUX D-RGB
Black Myth: Wukong
- The RX 9070 XT averaged 30 FPS, a 15.4% boost over the RX 9070’s 26 FPS, making it the stronger performer in this visually stunning title.
- For 1% lows, the RX 9070 XT hit 24 FPS, a 14.3% improvement over the RX 9070’s 21 FPS, ensuring smoother gameplay in demanding scenes.
Red Dead Redemption 2
- With an average of 92 FPS, the RX 9070 XT outperformed the RX 9070’s 84 FPS by 9.5%, showing its strength in open-world performance.
- The 1% lows saw the RX 9070 XT reach 79 FPS, a 16.2% lead over the RX 9070’s 68 FPS, reducing stutters in intensive areas.
Cyberpunk 2077
- In Cyberpunk 2077, the RX 9070 XT pulled ahead with an average of 61 FPS, 17.3% faster than the RX 9070’s 52 FPS, making it the better choice for this demanding title.
- For 1% lows, the RX 9070 XT held 50 FPS, a 16.3% headway over the RX 9070’s 43 FPS, offering better stability during fast-paced gameplay.
Starfield
- The RX 9070 XT’s 71 FPS average put it 16.4% ahead of the RX 9070’s 61 FPS, making it the superior option for this expansive sci-fi title.
- In 1% lows, the RX 9070 XT hit 55 FPS, a 10.0% increase over the RX 9070’s 50 FPS, ensuring a more consistent experience in heavy scenes.
F1 24
- Averaging 123 FPS, the RX 9070 XT showed an 11.8% advantage over the RX 9070’s 110 FPS, making it ideal for high-speed racing action.
- The 1% lows followed suit, with the RX 9070 XT reaching 108 FPS, a 14.9% gain over the RX 9070’s 94 FPS, delivering smoother frame pacing.
Alan Wake II
- The RX 9070 XT delivered 55 FPS on average, a 22.2% improvement over the RX 9070’s 45 FPS, solidifying its edge in this graphically demanding game.
- For 1% lows, the RX 9070 XT reached 49 FPS, a 25.6% lead over the RX 9070’s 39 FPS, ensuring smoother performance during intense moments.
Dying Light 2
- The RX 9070 XT averaged 63 FPS, pulling 10.5% ahead of the RX 9070’s 57 FPS, making it the better choice for this action-packed survival game.
- In 1% lows, the RX 9070 XT managed 56 FPS, a 14.3% improvement over the RX 9070’s 49 FPS, minimizing stutters in chaotic encounters.
Returnal
- With an average of 81 FPS, the RX 9070 XT outperformed the RX 9070’s 72 FPS by 12.5%, making it the superior choice for this fast-paced roguelike.
- The 1% lows saw the RX 9070 XT reach 59 FPS, a 13.5% increase over the RX 9070’s 52 FPS, ensuring a more stable experience during intense battles.
Productivity Benchmarks
Now that we’ve seen how the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT handle gaming, let’s dive into productivity benchmarks. Using the same test bench, we’ll see how these GPUs perform in demanding workloads, giving you a clearer picture of their overall computing power
Premiere Pro (PugetBench)
- There was virtually no difference between the two cards in Premiere Pro performance. The RX 9070 XT had a slight edge, scoring 12,236 points compared to the RX 9070’s 12,228 points—an insignificant 0.1% difference.
UL Procyon AI
- In AI-based image generation, the RX 9070 XT pulled ahead with a 19.6% higher score, managing 2,640 points compared to the RX 9070’s 2,210 points.
- The gap in AI text generation was smaller, but the RX 9070 XT still came out on top, scoring 2,075 points—a 3.2% improvement over the RX 9070’s 2,010 points.
Blender (Barbershop)
- Both GPUs were relatively close in rendering performance, but the RX 9070 was slightly slower. It took 100 seconds to complete the barbershop scene, 5.0% longer than the RX 9070 XT’s 95 seconds.
Overall Performance
GPU | RX 9070 | RX 9070 XT |
---|---|---|
Average FPS | 📈 63.5 | 📈 72 |
1% Lows | 📉 52 | 📉 60 |
Productivity (Rating) | ✏️ 8.7/10 | ✏️ 9/10 |
Winner: RX 9070 XT |
Average Framerate
In our testing, the RX 9070 XT delivered an approximate 13.4% performance uplift over the RX 9070 in average FPS, with the most significant gap observed in Alan Wake 2, where the RX 9070 XT outpaced its counterpart by 22%. Across the board, the XT variant proved to be the stronger performer.
1% Lows
The RX 9070 XT maintained its lead in 1% low FPS, showing an overall 15.4% advantage over the RX 9070. Once again, Alan Wake 2 exhibited the largest margin, with the RX 9070 XT delivering 25% smoother lows, reducing stutters, and maintaining a more stable experience.
Productivity
Unlike gaming, productivity benchmarks showed a much smaller difference. The RX 9070 XT was 3% faster on average across our tested workloads. While the gap wasn’t as significant as in gaming, every productivity test still leaned in favor of the XT variant, making it the more well-rounded choice for both gaming and work.
Power Consumption
Power Consumption | RX 9070 | RX 9070 XT |
---|---|---|
Idle | 9⚡ | 10⚡ |
Gaming | 242⚡ | 351⚡ |
Ray Tracing | 242⚡ | 351⚡ |
Maximum | 241⚡ | 346⚡ |
Winner: RX 9070 XT |
Price
GPU | RX 9070 | RX 9070 XT | Price Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Launch MSRP | 💲549 | 💲599 | 9.11% |
Current Price | 💲589 | 💲749 | 27.16% |
Even just after release, both the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are already selling above their launch prices. While the XT variant was originally just 9% more expensive, the current market has widened that gap to 27%, making it a pricier option for those looking to upgrade.
Final Verdict—What We Recommend?
RX 9070: AMD has knocked it out of the park with the RX 9070, delivering one of the most power-efficient cards in its class while going head-to-head with NVIDIA and coming out on top. With a solid mix of performance and a competitive price, it’s shaping up to be one of the best-value GPUs in this segment.
RX 9070 XT: The real highlight of AMD’s latest launch is the RX 9070 XT, which pushes this lineup to its full potential. With more RT cores, additional shading units, and a significant boost in raw performance, it delivers top-tier power without veering into an unreasonable price bracket.
While both cards fall a bit short in productivity benchmarks, the RX 9070 XT outshines its non-XT counterpart when you put them side by side. With its superior raw performance, the RX 9070 XT justifies its higher price tag, making it the go-to choice for anyone looking for the best value in this lineup.
The RX 9070 XT is the better long-term investment, as its higher core count and better performance ensure smoother gameplay in future titles. Both GPUs support FSR, but the RX 9070 XT benefits more from it due to its higher raw performance, allowing for smoother upscaling in demanding games. The RX 9070 XT’s higher performance ensures better longevity, making it the better long-term choice if budget isn’t a concern. The RX 9070 XT has an edge in competitive gaming due to its higher FPS and frame stability, but the RX 9070 still offers strong performance for high-refresh-rate monitors. Both GPUs support ray tracing, but the RX 9070 XT handles RT effects better due to its increased RT cores and shading units. FAQs
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[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