The battle for the heart of the PC gaming market is always the most fierce, and the latest showdown between AMD and NVIDIA is no exception. For weeks, we've been poring over data comparing the Radeon RX 9070, RX 9070 XT, and the GeForce RTX 5070. But now, with the final piece of the puzzle—the RTX 5070 Ti—thoroughly tested by the experts at Hardware Unboxed, a clear and somewhat unexpected value champion has emerged for gamers on a budget.
If you're building a new PC or upgrading your current rig for buttery-smooth 1440p gaming, the question is simple: which of these four powerful cards gives you the most frame for your buck? The answer, according to the latest deep-dive testing, might steer you towards Team Red in a way we didn't initially expect.
The Apex Contender: RTX 5070 Ti vs. RX 9070 XT
Let's start at the top of this mid-range skirmish. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti enters the arena with a reputation to uphold and a price tag of $749. Its direct competitor, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, aims to undercut it with a compelling $599 MSRP. On paper, it's a classic showdown.
In Hardware Unboxed's exhaustive 22-game test suite at 1440p resolution, the RTX 5070 Ti holds a slight but consistent lead. Using native settings (no upscaling), the 5070 Ti was about 5% faster on average than the RX 9070 XT.
The battle gets even closer when we bring in the secret weapons of modern gaming: DLSS and FSR. With NVIDIA's DLSS 4 and AMD's competing FSR 4 enabled in their respective Quality, Balanced, and Performance modes, the performance gap shrinks to a near-negligible 2-3%. This means in real-world gaming, both cards will deliver an almost identical experience, with the 5070 Ti edging out a win by a hair.
So, if performance is this close, the RX 9070 XT at $150 less should be the runaway winner, right? Unfortunately, there's a catch. The RX 9070 XT is still incredibly hard to find at its $599 MSRP. At inflated street prices, its value proposition crumbles, making the more readily available RTX 5070 Ti the default choice for buyers who want that top-tier mid-range performance and are willing to pay for it.
For a complete look at how these two titans trade blows, you need to see the data in action.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDligqbbPGs" target="_blank">Hardware Unboxed's full 30-game benchmark analysis is essential viewing for any serious buyer.</a>
The Value Revelation: RTX 5070 Ti vs. The "Little Brother" RX 9070
This is where the story gets interesting for the cost-conscious gamer. When Hardware Unboxed pivoted and compared the $749 RTX 5070 Ti to the $549 Radeon RX 9070, the value equation shifted dramatically.
Here, the raw performance gap is much wider. At native 1440p, the RTX 5070 Ti is a substantial 15% faster than the RX 9070. Even with DLSS 4 Quality engaged, the 5070 Ti maintains a 9% lead. This is a clear win for NVIDIA in terms of pure frames.
However, context is everything. The RTX 5070 Ti commands a 36% price premium over the RX 9070. You are paying more than a third more money for a 15% performance increase. For many, that math simply doesn't add up.
Furthermore, AMD's FSR 4 has closed the image quality gap with NVIDIA's DLSS in a massive way. HU notes that to match the performance level of the RTX 5070 Ti with DLSS 4 Quality, you only need to run the RX 9070 on FSR 4 Balanced mode. Given the minimal difference in image quality between these two settings, you're getting a nearly identical visual experience for a significantly lower cost.
The Verdict: Today's Clear Mid-Range Champion
So, where does this leave you, the buyer?
- If money is no object and you want the absolute fastest card in this segment: The RTX 5070 Ti is your card, assuming you can stomach the $749 price.
- If you're chasing the perfect balance of price and performance: The RX 9070 XT is the theoretical sweet spot, but it remains a phantom recommendation until it's readily available at its $599 MSRP.
- If you want the best value for your money today: The choice is clear. The Radeon RX 9070 is the undisputed mid-range value king.
For $549, you get a GPU that delivers outstanding 1440p performance. While it doesn't beat the 5070 Ti, it gets you remarkably close for far less money, especially when you leverage the excellent FSR 4. The RX 9070 represents the smartest investment for the vast majority of gamers who want high frames without a financial headache.
All in all, Hardware Unboxed's testing and the current market reality point to a single conclusion: if you're buying a GPU today, the Radeon RX 9070 offers the most compelling blend of performance and price in the brutal mid-range battlefield.
Ready to make the jump? You can find the value-packed AMD Radeon RX 9070 available for purchase here: Check price on Amazon. For those who have their heart set on NVIDIA's offering, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti can also be found here: Check price on Amazon.
