Zotac RTX 4070 Amp Airo evaluate: Beefy, stunning, and inaudible

One of many issues we love about Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Version graphics card is its diminutive dimension. Lastly, after an RTX 40-series rollout completely composed of monstrous triple-slot beasts, a conventional two-slot design arrives! However what in order for you the intense cooling and ample extras a much bigger graphics card gives? Enter the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Amp Airo.

Ostensibly a $699 providing (although we’re seeing it going for $669 in some locations RTX 4070s are offered), Zotac delivers much more heavy steel within the 2.5-slot Amp Airo, enhanced by enticing RGB lighting you received’t discover within the Founders Version. It additionally comes with a slight manufacturing unit overclock. The tweaks assist Zotac’s 4070 flagship run cooler, quieter, sooner, and flashier than Nvidia’s homegrown mannequin. Is it sufficient to justify the value improve?

Let’s dig in.

Zotac GeForce RTX 4070 Amp Airo specs and options

At its core, the Zotac Amp Airo revolves across the identical “GA104” GPU all RTX 4070s are constructed upon (which itself is a cut-down model of the GA102 die discovered within the $800 GeForce RTX 4070 Ti). Take a look at our unique RTX 4070 evaluate for the total particulars.

In a nutshell, Nvidia’s RTX 4070 GPU delivers extremely environment friendly, ultra-fast 1440p gaming and best-in-class ray tracing efficiency, bolstered by DLSS 3 Body Era and GeForce’s arsenal of implausible software program options (like RTX Video Tremendous Decision and Nvidia Reflex). It mercifully comes with 12GB of quick GDDR6X reminiscence, an enchancment over the RTX 3070’s 8GB of primary GDDR6, however Nvidia geared up it with a slender 192-bit reminiscence bus that limits its future potential at 4K decision. Primarily, the RTX 4070 is a completely killer 1440p graphics card however don’t purchase it in case you’re seeking to play at 4K long-term.

Zotac modified a couple of issues up, nevertheless—particularly, making use of a manufacturing unit overclock. The RTX 4070 Amp Airo is rated for two,535MHz enhance clock speeds, in comparison with the Founders Version’s 2,475MHz. That jolt, together with the flashy RGB lights, bump the rated energy consumption to 215 watts, up from the Founders Version’s 200W. It makes use of the identical 16-pin 12VHPWR connector as Nvidia’s card, nevertheless, which connects to twin 8-pin energy cables by way of an included adapter.

However the true purpose to contemplate shopping for this explicit graphics card is for its kitted-out customized cooling design. The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Amp Airo presents a wonderful tackle the GeForce RTX 4070. Whereas it could be on the higher finish of the RTX 4070 pricing section, the Amp Airo actually has the development to again up the rise.

Keith Could/IDG

Coming in at 2.5 slots, it’s as large and daring as pricier RTX 40-series graphics playing cards, however due to the a lot decrease energy the 4070 operates at, this beefy beast runs ice chilly and whisper quiet. The triple followers on the Icestorm 2.0 cooler permit Zotac’s Amp Airo to succeed in core clocks of round 2,750MHz below gaming masses whereas sustaining a sub-65C temperature. Higher but, we couldn’t seize the Amp Airo’s noise ranges as a result of the Arctic Cooling Liquid Freezer 2 420mm cooler utilized in our testing rig made extra noise than the graphics card.

Severely. It’s that quiet.

Whereas the cardboard is huge for this efficiency section, it nonetheless has a glossy design that isn’t too garish, and Zotac had the foresight to toss a tasteful GPU assist stand within the field. Fortunately, the cardboard is constructed rock stable, so sag needs to be minimal anyway—that means the assist bracket received’t should work too arduous to maintain the GPU good and degree. Nonetheless, we respect Zotac including it.

Keith Could/IDG

And it is a card that can need to be proven off. When the RTX 4070 Amp Airo is powered on, the facet of the cardboard illuminates in a surprisingly tasteful array of colours. By default, it’ll take you for a experience on rainbow highway, however the RGB lighting will be configured with Zotac’s FireStorm Utility in case you need. Observe, nevertheless, that this model of the Amp Airo lacks the twin BIOS change discovered on pricier fashions.

With that out of the best way, let’s get to the benchmarks!

Our check system

Keith Could examined the Zotac GeForce RTX 4070 Amp Airo on his testing system, which runs utilizing the identical core elements as Brad’s important PCWorld GPU testing rig. You may see Keith clarify the elements in his rig in video kind right here, whereas this hyperlink particulars what’s inside the principle GPU rig. Keith offered numbers for the Zotac card; the comparability knowledge was pulled from our just-updated database of GPUs utilizing the principle check rig.

Keith Could/IDG

Zotac GeForce RTX 4070 Amp Airo efficiency benchmarks

Since we already know the way the usual RTX 4070 performs, we carried out a number of assessments to see how the Zotac RTX 4070 Amp Airo performs, utilizing the usual testing strategies outlined intimately within the second hyperlink above. We additionally included ray tracing and DLSS benchmarks after the usual rasterization assessments.

We’ll let these benchmarks communicate for themselves, merely setting the stage with some preliminary commentary. The Zotac Amp Airo’s gentle manufacturing unit overclock and outrageous cooling answer helps it run about 5 p.c sooner on common than the RTX 4070 Founders Version, although that jumps to 11 p.c in Complete Battle: Troy. Variations in reminiscence timings between the 2 check rigs could account for a few of that, nevertheless, however count on the Zotac to run barely sooner than the Founders Version general.

Once more: It is a nice, extremely environment friendly 1440p graphics card with top-notch ray tracing and DLSS.

Keith Could/IDG

Keith Could/IDG

Keith Could/IDG

Keith Could/IDG

Keith Could/IDG

Keith Could/IDG

Keith Could/IDG

Keith Could/IDG

Zotac GeForce RTX 4070 Amp Airo energy and thermals

We check energy draw by looping the F1 22 benchmark at 4K for about 20 minutes after we’ve benchmarked all the things else (to heat up the GPU) and noting the very best studying on our Watts Up Professional meter, which measures the facility consumption of our whole check system. The preliminary a part of the race, the place all competing vehicles are onscreen concurrently, tends to be probably the most demanding portion. 

This isn’t a worst-case check; it is a GPU-bound recreation working at a GPU-bound decision to gauge efficiency when the graphics card is sweating arduous. For those who’re taking part in a recreation that additionally hammers the CPU, you could possibly see greater general system energy attracts. Take into account your self warned.

Keith Could/IDG

As you possibly can see, the RTX 4070 and Zotac’s Amp Airo completely sips energy whereas delivering knockout 1440p efficiency. Props to Nvidia for the effectivity it achieved with this GPU.

In relation to cooling, the Amp Airo stayed under 65 levels Celsius always. That’s deeply spectacular, nevertheless it’s value noting that the Founders Version topped out at 67 levels, so damned-good temperatures are a calling card for the 4070. The place Zotac provides its particular sauce is within the noise ranges: We couldn’t even attempt to seize these as a result of the CPU cooler in our testing rig was louder than the Amp Airo’s followers. For all intents and functions, this card is just about silent—one thing the Founders Version can’t declare.

Do you have to purchase the Zotac RTX 4070 Amp Airo?

For those who’re in search of a extremely environment friendly 1440p graphics card backed by a bevy of recent options, like DLSS 3 Body Era and best-in-class ray tracing, the RTX 4070 is value contemplating. It’s not a slam dunk advice given its excessive value, and you must look elsewhere for 4K gaming. We delve deeper into that breakdown in our unique RTX 4070 evaluate.

However in order for you a 4070 particularly, is the Zotac RTX 4070 Amp Airo value shopping for? It is dependent upon your needs.

Additional studying: GeForce RTX 4070 vs. RTX 3080 vs. Radeon RX 6800 XT: Which GPU must you purchase?

Keith Could/IDG

Nvidia’s RTX 4070 Founders Version delivers basically the identical efficiency and energy effectivity in a smaller two-slot design. Go that route in case you’re constructing a small form-factor PC. For those who’re rocking one thing extra giant and in cost, the beefier Zotac Amp Airo is value contemplating. Its heft not solely helps it carry out a wee bit sooner than the Founders Version, however all that heavy steel additionally retains this beast working ice-cold and completely silent even when below probably the most strenuous gaming masses. Silent working is an enormous quality-of-life improve that may’t be understated. And sizzling rattling, its rainbow LEDs look good.

The issue is that the RTX 4070 is already priced uncomfortably excessive for our tastes. Including further prices on prime solely exacerbates that. That stated, you’ll all the time pay a value premium for a slickly designed, well-engineered customized card just like the Zotac Amp Airo. We’re seeing it go for wherever from $669 to $699 relying on the place you store. If the whisper-quiet noise ranges, barely sooner efficiency, eye-catching RGB lights, and frigid temperatures are worthwhile to you, go for it—although we’d counsel going with one of many decrease priced retailers in case you can.