It’s time as soon as once more for a brand new Nvidia graphics card launch—phrases that may both convey pleasure or dread to players. (Particularly to our pocketbooks!)
After a lukewarm response (at greatest) with the controversial RTX 4070 Ti attributable to astronomical pricing, Nvidia has now launched the $599 GeForce RTX 4070, a extremely environment friendly 1440p monster. That is now the most affordable “Next Generation” graphics card accessible from Nvidia or AMD. It additionally guarantees to pack the identical nice DLSS 3 know-how we’ve loved in GPUs such because the ferocious GeForce RTX 4090.
We should additionally have a look at its predecessors to find out what’s modified—and what hasn’t. The GeForce RTX 3080 was much-lauded at $699 for its worth in 2020, despite the fact that pandemic woes saved it a lot larger on common. Equally, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT at its at present discounted value of below $550 nonetheless packs a punch with its 16GB of VRAM and 3080-like efficiency. Does the RTX 4070 have what it takes to beat them? They’re the last-gen GPUs that the RTX 4070 matches up greatest with performance-wise.
Which GPU must you spend your hard-earned cash on? We’ll have a look at the pricing, efficiency, and vital objects equivalent to energy consumption. New applied sciences equivalent to DLSS 3 Body Era additionally have an effect on variations right here, together with 4K viability attributable to constraints on the VRAM bandwidth and capability. Let’s learn the way the RTX 4070 compares to the RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT!
Additional studying: The most effective graphics playing cards for PC gaming
Nvidia RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080 vs AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT: Worth and availability
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With the Nvidia RTX 4070 freshly launched, we’re glad to report that inventory appears considerable on the base $599 MSRP. Retailers appear to have good stock, and costs don’t go a lot above $679 even for fancier fashions. With that in thoughts, it’s nonetheless vital to level out that we’ve skilled some critical “price creep” this technology. The RTX 4070 prices $100 greater than the $499 RTX 3070 did, and we even stated most individuals ought to go for a $400 RTX 3060 Ti over the 3070 final technology attributable to their miniscule efficiency variations.
Transferring on to the RTX 3080, each the 10GB or 12GB fashions are pretty troublesome to search out in in the present day’s market. It is sensible, as they sit in a deadly place within the Nvidia product stack the place they begin to overlap with new RTX 40-series releases. They each had troublesome beginnings within the sense that they got here through the “Great GPU Shortage,” making availability and pricing unrealistic for many players.
The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT appears to fare significantly better within the fashionable period, and AMD has but to launch a next-gen GPU cheaper than the $899 Radeon RX 7900 XT. It’s nonetheless broadly accessible on many retailers, and a primary search introduced up a number of fashions below $600 on Newegg.
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So the RTX 4070 is in inventory at MSRP—however is that sufficient? That was a easy metric we judged a GPU on through the shortages however instances have modified. Clearly, for a lot of players, it’s nonetheless on the costly aspect for a 1440p-class graphics card. Judging by the abundance of 4070 inventory nonetheless on retailer cabinets just a few days after launch, it clearly falls brief as an excellent worth within the eyes of players.
The decision for the pricing debate is advanced right here. We will safely eradicate the RTX 3080 from dialogue because it’s scarcely accessible now (used graphics playing cards being an exception). The Radeon RX 6800 XT is actually a GPU that’s garnering gamer consideration attributable to its mixture of decrease pricing and ample 16GB of reminiscence. Let’s take it to the efficiency part.
Nvidia RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080 vs AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT: Efficiency
Efficiency is the “truth” for GPUs—a stage the place none can escape the almighty benchmarks. Whereas we are able to count on the RTX 4070 to trounce its RTX 3070 predecessor, traditionally we’d look to the 80- or 90-series GPUs from the earlier technology to check towards a brand new 70-class card. This time, we even have extra competitors within the type of the Radeon RX 6800 XT from AMD (and to some extent the 6900 XT and 6950 XT).
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Let’s first have a look at the standard rasterized gaming efficiency we are able to count on, so we are able to examine these GPUs with out ray tracing upscaling tech. Remember right here that the RTX 4070 carries a TDP of 200 watts, which is properly under each opponents right here. We’re off to a promising begin—however that beginning value of $599 is at all times there within the background to remind us it higher be good for this value!
There’s additionally one other noteworthy problem value mentioning: The RTX 4070’s 4K efficiency is hampered as a result of VRAM reminiscence bandwidth, as we coated intimately in our RTX 4070 evaluate. Positive, one can argue it is a 1440p GPU. However for $599, one may argue it needs to be a greater 4K GPU than it’s.
Bear in mind people: Video games are solely getting extra VRAM hungry, with an abundance of excessive textures and ray tracing including to the combo. Current recreation releases have already made 8GB graphics playing cards such because the RTX 3070 restricted at 1440p. Nvidia bumped the RTX 4070’s VRAM as much as 12GB of sooner GDDR6X reminiscence, however it’s not simply the capability that’s the difficulty; general reminiscence bandwidth is just too, and that’s damage by Nvidia determination to go along with an ultra-narrow 192-bit reminiscence bus.
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With Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray tracing off and DLSS/FSR off), the RTX 4070 instantly falls in need of each the RTX 3080 and 6800 XT. It is a very demanding recreation—however you’ll want no less than a RTX 4070 Ti to greatest the older GPUs at 1440p or 4K.
The $599 RTX 4070 does handle to squeak a victory by the $499 RTX 3070, if solely by just a few FPS. This isn’t a really spectacular efficiency for $599 in 2023, years after a lot of the competitors launched. The GeForce RTX 4070 is environment friendly with much less energy draw compared to the opposite GPUs, no less than.
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Name of Obligation: Trendy Warfare 2 is a recreation that clearly favors AMD GPUs when it comes to efficiency, however now we have some higher information right here for the RTX 4070. It no less than roughly equally matches the RTX 3080 in body price. The Radeon RX 6800 XT considerably pulls forward right here.
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The 4070 ekes out slight victories of its personal in Gears Ways and Horizon Zero Daybreak, however be aware how the 6800 XT is quicker than the 4070 at 4K, but slower at 1440p. AMD constructed out the Radeon RX 6800 XT’s reminiscence subsystem for 4K gaming, whereas Nvidia didn’t do the identical with the RTX 4070. You’ll be able to see how a lot sooner the RTX 3080 is at 4K as properly attributable to its wider reminiscence bus.
Nvidia RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080 vs AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT: Ray tracing and DLSS
Let’s return to Cyberpunk 2077, however this time with ray tracing. We’ll have a look at Extremely, not the extremely strenuous new “Overdrive” know-how preview with full path tracing.
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Ah, lastly! The RTX 4070 is now not a fish out of water, as we observe it in its pure ray traced habitat. With ray tracing set to extremely, we are able to see how the AMD 6800 XT begins to fall behind the Nvidia GPUs. That is anticipated and goes to indicate how the ray tracing chops within the {hardware} of Nvidia RTX 40-series has developed.
Whereas body price efficiency remains to be decrease than we’d like at 37.5 FPS, it’s no less than a giant bounce over the 6800 XT at 25.3 FPS. However we begin to see a extra drastic change as we have a look at DLSS/FSR upscaling efficiency on their Balanced setting. Even with ray tracing nonetheless energetic and set to Extremely, the RTX 4070 reaches comfortably playable frames over 74 FPS, whereas the RX 6800 XT lingers below 53 FPS. The RTX 3080 will get the same increase to the RTX 4070, however the 4070’s extra superior ray tracing and tensor cores give it a transparent edge on this situation.
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We now attain the “raison d’etre” of Nvidia’s grasp plan: DLSS 3 with body technology.
With DLSS 3 Body Era enabled, the RTX 4070 completely runs away from each the RTX 3080 and AMD 6800 XT. We’re speaking 117 FPS versus 74 FPS from the RTX 4070 working “just” DLSS Balanced, whereas the rival GPUs battle to hit 60fps with DLSS/FSR Balanced alone. That’s a major distinction, however remember we’re utilizing know-how solely accessible on RTX 40-series GPUs attributable to some inherent {hardware} upgrades meant particularly to make DLSS 3 soar. Nvidia’s new tech can add some latency, however requiring the latency-reducing Nvidia Reflex in DLSS 3 largely negates that (and typically really improves responsiveness).
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With ray tracing on in Watch Canine Legion at 1440p, the RTX 4070 as soon as once more begins to drag away from the 6800 XT. That is additionally true when FSR/DLSS are on Balanced. This highlights Nvidia’s ray tracing benefit normally, since we see the RTX 3080 run in keeping with the RTX 4070 as properly. It’s additionally value noting how poorly the RTX 3070 and its paltry 8GB reminiscence capability performs with ray tracing on on this notoriously memory-heavy recreation. Ray tracing solely exacerbates VRAM calls for.
Taking a look at one final ray tracing title, Hitman 3 additionally has DLSS 3 accessible, which the RTX 4070 takes benefit of right here totally. Whereas native non-ray traced efficiency equals the contenders, DLSS 3 is basically the magic trick that propels the RTX 4070 forward if you begin turning on ray tracing and upscaling options.
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As anticipated, efficiency metrics between these three GPUs maintain some massive caveats to concentrate on to find out a victor. Should you’re after video games that provide principally straight up rasterization, equivalent to most esports titles, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT clearly is the winner right here. Its 16GB of VRAM may not be ignored, with the bevy of current video games totally exploiting any VRAM they’ll get ahold of. With each the RTX 3080 and RTX 4070 having considerably much less, it’s actually a promoting level for the 6800 XT—and its reminiscence bus bandwidth will not be restricted just like the 12GB RTX 4070.
The RTX 4070’s DLSS 3 function is clearly the sport changer right here. Not each recreation helps the know-how, and it’s principally present in single participant type video games like Hogwarts Legacy, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Cyberpunk 2077, and so forth. If these are the sorts of video games you play, particularly with ray tracing enabled, DLSS 3 makes an enormous distinction.
That’s the spot the place the RTXD 4070 shines, coupled with its effectivity. If we take away DLSS 3 from the equation, we’re not left with a lot towards the RTX 3080. However the Radeon RX 6800 XT could be very spectacular right here for all different, extra conventional video games individuals play – particularly its enormous 16GB reminiscence capability and now-lower value.
Nvidia RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080 vs AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT: Energy draw and different options
AMD at all times had good arguments for its RDNA GPUs when it comes to effectivity. Whereas they’re nonetheless not energy hogs, Nvidia’s new GeForce RTX 40-series actually gave us a brand new scope of GPU effectivity.
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With a TDP of 200 watts, the RTX 4070 is clearly properly under the 300+ watts of each the RTX 3080 and AMD 6800 XT. Nvidia’s new card is pumping out simply as many (and typically extra) frames as these last-gen titans with a fraction of the ability use. That’s effectivity!
The diminished energy draw has actual world advantages, too. The RTX 4070 will usually run a lot cooler and thus quieter than these different GPUs. That’s how the RTX 4070 lastly presents some moderately small cooler designs—such Nvidia’s personal Founders Version—which may slot in nearly any PC construct with ease. All RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT fashions are large three-slot beasts.
You don’t want a wild watercooling setup like this with the RTX 4070 (although to be truthful, it’s not required for the RX 6800 XT or RTX 3080 both).
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Driver help is one other space to contemplate. Historically, Nvidia drivers appear to have an edge when it comes to general efficacy and launch cadence. For instance, a number of the more moderen AMD Radeon drivers for the RX 6000-series GPUs took months to roll out, even after the newer RX 7000 GPUs had their drivers already.
Nvidia GPUs such because the RTX 4070 even have just a few vital options other than DLSS 3 that you have to be conscious of. Content material creators usually favor Nvidia GPUs attributable to their efficiency in video enhancing, 3D heavy purposes, and machine studying. Whereas our focus right here is totally on gaming, these are objects to concentrate on for those who plan on utilizing your GPU for these functions. The Nvidia Broadcast suite is very engaging for streamers.
RTX Tremendous Video Decision can also be a neat know-how that improves the visible high quality of offline and streaming—a “nice to have,” however not important—whereas Nvidia Reflex actually helps in esports responsiveness. AMD additionally has its suite of options, in fact, from Good Entry Reminiscence to FSR and Radeon Tremendous Decision, and FSR 3 is coming to problem DLSS 3 someday sooner or later. Typically, nevertheless, software program and have help is a giant feather in Nvidia’s cap.
Nvidia RTX 4070 vs RTX 3080 vs AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT: Verdict
The Nvidia RTX 4070 is the newest GPU to enter our battlegrounds. How did it fare? Make no mistake—it’s going up towards seasoned and still-relevant GPUs such because the RTX 3080 and AMD’s 6800 XT. The RTX 4070’s $599 MSRP nonetheless feels excessive for a 1440p GPU, and to date it appears it isn’t flying off the cabinets like previous-gen graphics card launches have.
Let’s deal with the Nvidia GPUs first. Should you at present have an RTX 3080, is there a lot purpose to improve? Should you primarily play esports titles, or video games with minimal ray tracing, not likely. These video games additionally usually might not supply DLSS 3, so that you’re greater than superb with the DLSS 2 help that many video games do supply for the RTX 3080.
Right here’s the kicker: Should you occur to principally play the kind of video games that do have DLSS 3 help, you then’ll actually get a giant body price enchancment with Body Era on the RTX 4070. You’ll even be utilizing significantly much less energy. Nonetheless, with out DLSS 3 the RTX 4070 isn’t very spectacular versus the RTX 3080. You may even name it disappointing, actually.
How in regards to the RTX 4070 versus the 16GB Radeon RX 6800 XT? AMD’s providing is cheaper and also you’re getting extra VRAM. You’re additionally getting usually superior efficiency in most non-ray traced video games, equivalent to most esports titles, particularly at 4K decision. That stated, the Radeon RX 6800 XT additionally attracts much more energy (if that issues to you). Ray tracing efficiency may even endure in video games that help it.
The reply right here doubtless is determined by whether or not you take into account DLSS 3 Body Era important, or for those who demand entry to Nvidia’s suite of different software program options. Nonetheless, it’s troublesome to disregard the Radeon RX 6800 XT’s uncooked brute pressure efficiency in lots of, many non-ray traced video games.
Whereas the GeForce RTX 4070 presents superb effectivity, and it’s technically the most affordable GPU with DLSS 3 you may get now, we actually suppose the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT and its 16GB of reminiscence can enchantment to many players, too. Choose you poison!
