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AMD Radeon RX 9070: Two-minute overview
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is a card that simply may be saved by the financial chaos engulfing the GPU market proper now.
With ‘regular’ value inflation just about rampant with each current-gen GPU, the worth proposition for the RX 9070 may really make it an interesting decide for players who’re experiencing sticker shock when in search of the best graphics card for his or her subsequent GPU improve.
That does not imply, sadly, that the AMD RX 9070 goes to be one of many best cheap graphics cards going, even by comparability with every part else that is launched for the reason that finish of 2024. With an MSRP of $549 / £529.99 / AU$1,229, the RX 9070 remains to be an costly card, even when it is theoretically in step with your typical ‘midrange’ providing.
And, with the shortage of an AMD reference card which may have helped anchor the RX 9070’s value at Group Purple’s MSRP, you are going to just about be on the mercy of third-party producers and retailers who can cost no matter they need for this card.
Comparatively talking, although, even with value inflation, that is going to be one of many cheaper midrange GPUs of this technology, so in case you’re a bunch of various GPUs, with out query this one is more likely to be the most affordable graphics card made by both AMD or Nvidia proper now (sure, that is even counting the RTX 5060 Ti, which is already promoting for properly above 150% of MSRP in lots of locations).
Does that make this card definitely worth the buy? Effectively, that is going to rely upon what you are being requested to pay for it. Whereas it is attainable to search out RX 9070 playing cards at MSRP, they’re uncommon, and so you are going to should make a back-of-the-envelope calculation to see if this card goes to give you one of the best worth in your explicit circumstance.
I am pretty assured, nevertheless, that it’s going to. Had I the time to overview this card when it first launched in March, I may need scored it decrease based mostly on its efficiency and value proximity to the beefier AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT.
Taking a look at each of these playing cards based mostly on their MSRPs, there is no query that the RX 9070 XT is the a lot better graphics card, so I might have beneficial you spend the additional money to get that card as an alternative of this one.
Sadly, opposite to my hopes, the RX 9070 XT has been scalped nearly as badly because the best Nvidia graphics cards of this technology, in order that comparatively small value distinction on paper could be fairly massive in follow.
Provided that actuality, for many players, the RX 9070 is the best 1440p graphics card going, and may even get you some strong 4K gaming efficiency for lots lower than you are more likely to discover the RX 9070 XT or competing Nvidia card, even from the final technology.
For those who’re this card and the market has returned to sanity and MSRP pricing, then undoubtedly think about going for the RX 9070 XT as an alternative of this card. However barring that completely happy contingency, given the place every part is true now with the GPU market, the RX 9070 is the best AMD graphics card for 1440p gaming, and affords a few of the finest bang on your (inflationary) buck as you are more likely to discover at this time.
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Value & availability
- How a lot is it? MSRP is $549 / £529.99 / AU$1,229, however retail value will seemingly be greater
- When are you able to get it? The RX 9070 is accessible now
- The place is it accessible? The RX 9070 is accessible within the US, UK, and Australia
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is accessible now within the US, UK, and Australia for an MSRP of $549 / £529.99 / AU$1,229, respectively, however the value you may pay for this card from third-party companions and retailers will seemingly be greater.
Giving credit score the place it is due, the RX 9070 is the very same MSRP because the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE, which you’ll be able to argue the RX 9070 is changing. It is also coming in on the identical value because the RTX 5070’s MSRP, and as I will get into in a bit, for gaming efficiency, the RX 9070 affords a greater worth at MSRP.
Given how the RTX 5070 can not often be discovered at MSRP, the RX 9070 is in a good stronger place in comparison with its competitors.
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Specs
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
RX 9070 |
RX 9070 XT |
RX 7900 GRE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course of Node |
TSMC N4P |
TSMC N4P |
TSMC N5/N6 |
|
Transistor Depend (Billion) |
53.9 |
53.9 |
57.7 |
|
Compute Items |
56 |
64 |
80 |
|
Shaders |
3,584 |
4,096 |
5,120 |
|
Ray Accelerators |
56 |
64 |
80 |
|
AI/Matrix Processors |
112 |
128 |
160 |
|
Render Output Items |
128 |
128 |
160 |
|
Cache (MB) |
64 |
64 |
64 |
|
Base Clock (MHz) |
1,330 |
1,660 |
1,287 |
|
Increase Clock (MHz) |
2,520 |
2,400 |
2,245 |
|
Reminiscence Clock (MHz) |
2,518 |
2,518 |
2,250 |
|
Reminiscence Kind |
GDDR6 |
GDDR6 |
GDDR6 |
|
Reminiscence Pool (GB) |
16 |
16 |
16 |
|
Reminiscence Interface (bits) |
256 |
256 |
256 |
|
Efficient Reminiscence Pace (Gbps) |
20.1 |
20.1 |
18 |
|
Reminiscence Bandwidth (GB/s) |
644.6 |
644.6 |
576.0 |
|
PCIe Interface |
5.0 x16 |
5.0 x16 |
4.0 x16 |
|
TGP (W) |
220 |
304 |
260 |
|
Really useful PSU (W) |
550 |
700 |
600 |
|
Energy Connector |
2 x 8-pin |
2 x 8-pin |
2 x 8-pin |
The AMD RX 9070 is constructed on the brand new RDNA 4 structure utilizing TSMC’s N4P course of node (curiously, it is constructed with a monolithic GPU die, relatively than the MCM design of RDNA 3), so though the RX 9070 incorporates fewer compute items than the 6nm/5nm RX 7900 GRE, they’re extra superior.
The 56 compute items comprise 64 shaders, one ray tracing processor, and two AI processors every, giving the RX 9070 a complete of three,584 shaders, 56 ray accelerators, and 112 AI accelerators. Whereas I will get into the precise efficiency of this {hardware} in a bit, based on my testing, the AMD ray accelerators seem to have lastly caught up with Nvidia’s RT cores.
The RX 9070 additionally sports activities 16GB GDDR6 VRAM on a 256-bit reminiscence bus, which is greater than sufficient for 4K gaming whereas retaining the worth of the RX 9070 down.
Lastly, the RX 9070 makes use of 16 PCIe 5.0 lanes, so in case you’ve bought a PCIe 5.0 SSD, make sure that your motherboard has sufficient PCIe 5.0 lanes to help each parts at their full bandwidth, in any other case your SSD efficiency may revert to utilizing PCIe 4.0.
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Design & options
- No AMD reference card
- Can be good for SFF instances
By way of design, the RX 9070 does not have a reference card, so the cardboard I reviewed is the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 9070.
This card, specifically, is pretty simple with few frills, however for individuals who don’t need a complete lot of RGB lighting of their PC, that is extra of a constructive than a destructive. RGB followers, nevertheless, must have a look at different AMD companion playing cards for his or her repair.
The cardboard is a noticeably shorter dual-fan design in comparison with the longer triple-fan RX 9070 XT playing cards. That makes the RX 9070 an ideal choice for small kind issue PC instances.
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Efficiency
- About 13% slower than RX 9070 XT
- Excellent 1440p gaming efficiency
- First rate 4K efficiency
A notice on my knowledge
The charts proven beneath provide the latest knowledge I’ve for the playing cards examined for this overview. They might change over time as extra card outcomes are added and playing cards are retested. The ‘common of all playing cards examined’ consists of playing cards not proven in these charts for readability functions.
When it comes all the way down to efficiency, the RX 9070 is a really sturdy graphics card that’s considerably overshadowed by its beefier 9070 XT sibling, however goes toe-to-toe in opposition to the RTX 5070 the place it counts for many customers, which is gaming.
On the artificial aspect, the RTX 9070 places up some extremely strong numbers, particularly in pure rasterization workloads like 3DMark Metal Nomad, beating out the RTX 5070 by 13%. In ray tracing heavy workloads like 3DMark Pace Means, in the meantime, the RX 9070 manages to comes inside 95% of the RTX 5070’s efficiency.
As anticipated although, the RX 9070’s artistic efficiency is not in a position to sustain with Nvidia’s competing RTX 5070, particularly in 3D modeling workloads like Blender. For those who’re in search of an inexpensive artistic workstation GPU, you are going to need to go for the RTX 5070, no query.
However that is not likely what this card is about. AMD playing cards are gaming playing cards via and thru, and as you’ll be able to see above, at 1440p, the RX 9070 goes blow for blow with Nvidia’s midrange card in order that the general common FPS at 1440p is 114 in opposition to Nvidia’s 115 FPS common (72 FPS to 76 FPS common minimums/1%, respectively).
Likewise, at 4K, the 2 playing cards are successfully tied, with the RX 9070 holding a slight 2 FPS edge over the RTX 5070, on common (50 FPS to 51 FPS minimal/1%, respectively).
Placing all of it collectively, one factor within the Nvidia RTX 5070’s favor is that it is ready to tie issues up with the RX 9070 at about 26 fewer watts beneath load (284W most energy draw to the RTX 5070’s 258W).
That is not the most important distinction, however even 26W further energy can imply the distinction between needing to interchange your PSU or sticking with the one you could have.
Underneath regular situations, I might argue that this could swing issues in favor of Nvidia’s GPU, however the GPU market is hardly regular proper now, and so what you actually need to have a look at is how a lot you are being requested to pay for both of those playing cards. Likelihood is, you are going to have the ability to discover an RX 9070 for a very good bit cheaper than the RTX 5070, and so its worth to you in the long run is probably going going to be greater.
Must you purchase the AMD Radeon RX 9070?
|
Class |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Worth |
At MSRP, this card is simply too near the RX 9070 XT to advocate, however given the market, it may be one of the best worth within the midrange. |
4 / 5 |
|
Specs & options |
Whereas it does not use GDDR7 just like the RTX 5070, it does characteristic 16GB VRAM and PCIe 5.0. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design |
The Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 I reviewed is pretty plain, however for individuals who hate all of the blinking lights, it will be simply wonderful, particularly in a small kind issue case. |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Efficiency |
This card goes toe-to-toe with the RTX 5070 in 1440p and 4K gaming efficiency, solely falling behind Nvidia’s card by way of artistic efficiency and energy consumption. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Closing rating |
If I might overview this card when it first launched, I may need reviewed it decrease, however given the inflated costs within the GPU market proper now, this card may be one of the best worth you may discover within the midrange. |
4 / 5 |
Purchase the AMD Radeon RX 9070 if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally think about
How I examined the AMD Radeon RX 9070
- I spent about two weeks with the RX 9070
- I used my full GPU testing suite to investigate the cardboard’s efficiency
- I examined the cardboard in on a regular basis, gaming, artistic, and AI workload utilization
Check System Specs
Listed below are the specs on the system I used for testing:
Motherboard: ASRock Z790i Lightning WiFi
CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K
CPU Cooler: Gigabyte Auros Waterforce II 360 ICE
RAM: Corsair Dominator DDR5-6600 (2 x 16GB)
SSD: Samsung 9100 Professional 4TB SSD
PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower PF3 1050W Platinum
Case: Praxis Wetbench
I spent about two weeks with the AMD RX 9070, utilizing it as my major workstation GPU for artistic work and gaming after hours.
I used my updated benchmarking process, which incorporates utilizing built-in benchmarks on the most recent PC video games like Black Fable: Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077, and Civilization VII. I additionally used industry-standard benchmark instruments like 3DMark for artificial testing, whereas utilizing instruments like PugetBench for Creators and Blender Benchmark for artistic workload testing.
I’ve reviewed greater than three dozen graphics playing cards for TechRadar over the previous three years, which has included a whole bunch of hours of devoted GPU testing, so you’ll be able to belief that I am supplying you with the fullest image of a graphics card’s efficiency in my evaluations.
- Initially reviewed Could 2025