Science & Technology

Radeon RX 9070 XT vs. GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, 52 Game Benchmark @ 1440p & 4K (2026 Update)

by Hardware Unboxed

📚 Main Topics

Performance ComparisonDetailed benchmarking of the Radeon RX 970 XT and GeForce RTX 5070 Ti across 52 games.
Testing MethodologyEach game tested with two different quality presets (with and without ray tracing).
Power ConsumptionDiscussion on power efficiency between the two GPUs.
Price AnalysisCurrent market pricing and value proposition of each GPU.

✨ Key Takeaways

Overall PerformanceThe RTX 5070 Ti and RX 970 XT deliver nearly identical performance at 1440p, with the 5070 Ti having a slight edge of about 1.5% on average.
Ray Tracing PerformanceNvidia's RTX 5070 Ti generally outperforms the RX 970 XT in ray tracing scenarios, often by significant margins (e.g., 20-24% in F125).
Radeon StrengthsThe RX 970 XT excels in rasterization performance, particularly in titles like Call of Duty and Ghost of Sushima, where it can outperform the 5070 Ti.
Mixed ResultsPerformance varies significantly by game and settings, with some titles favoring AMD and others favoring Nvidia.
Power EfficiencyThe RX 970 XT consumes about 20% more power than the RTX 5070 Ti, making the latter more efficient.

🧠 Lessons Learned

Game OptimizationPerformance can vary widely based on game optimization for specific architectures; AMD performs well in certain titles while Nvidia excels in others.
Future-ProofingNvidia's architecture may provide better performance in future titles, especially those utilizing advanced ray tracing techniques.
Pricing ConsiderationsThe RX 970 XT is currently priced significantly lower than the RTX 5070 Ti, making it a more attractive option for budget-conscious gamers.
Competitive GamingFor competitive shooters, the RTX 5070 Ti may offer a smoother experience due to better driver support and performance consistency.

🏁 Conclusion

Choosing between the Radeon RX 970 XT and GeForce RTX 5070 Ti largely depends on individual gaming preferences, specific titles, and budget considerations. The RX 970 XT offers excellent rasterization performance at a lower price, while the RTX 5070 Ti excels in ray tracing and overall efficiency.

hardware unboxed

Transcript excerpt

0:05 A little over a year ago now, I compared the Radeon RX 970 XT and GeForce RTX 5070Ti across 55 games, and I found that on average, the Radeon GPU was 5% slower at 1440p and 4K. Now, that data did mostly focus on rasterization performance, and that's something I'll be changing for this updated comparison. In fact, I've made quite a few interesting changes in my opinion for this comparison. And one of them is the fact that I've tested every game essentially twice with two different quality presets. You know, some with ray

0:36 tracing, some without it. Just a variation of different results there. And it's provided a lot of great data to go over. And you know what else is great? Today's sponsor spot is brought to you by Thermal Grizzly and the new Juronaut higherformance thermal paste. Duronaut offers extreme long-term stability combined with outstanding thermal conductivity and this has been achieved through a specially engineered silicon oil combined with aluminium microp particles and zinc oxide nano particles of various shapes. Duronaut isn't electrically conductive and won't

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