For several generations, AMD has been striving to challenge Nvidia's dominance in the high-end graphics card market. However, with the introduction of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, AMD has shifted its focus away from competing directly with the ultra-high-end RTX 5090. Instead, AMD aims to deliver the best graphics card for the majority of gamers, a goal it achieves remarkably well.
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, priced at $599, goes head-to-head with the $749 GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, positioning it as one of the top GPUs available today. What makes it even more appealing is the inclusion of FSR 4, marking the first time AMD has introduced AI upscaling to its graphics cards. This makes the Radeon RX 9070 XT the ideal choice for 4K gaming, especially for those not looking to spend $1,999 on the RTX 5090.
Purchasing Guide
----------------The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT will be available starting March 6, with a starting price of $599. Be aware that prices may vary, as third-party cards might be priced higher. Aim to purchase one under $699 for the best value.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos
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Specs and Features
------------------The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is powered by the RDNA 4 architecture, which brings significant enhancements to its shader cores. The standout features are the new RT and AI Accelerators, with the AI Accelerators being crucial for the debut of FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4). This AI upscaling technology enhances image quality over the older FSR 3.1 model, though it may come at the cost of slightly reduced frame rates. For those prioritizing performance, the Adrenalin software offers a convenient toggle to disable FSR 4.
AMD has also improved the efficiency of its shader cores, allowing the Radeon RX 9070 XT to deliver impressive performance with only 64 Compute Units, each equipped with 64 Streaming Multiprocessors, totaling 4,096, along with 64 ray accelerators and 128 AI accelerators. Despite these advancements, the card features 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, a downgrade from the previous generation's 20GB on a 320-bit bus, which might affect performance at the highest settings.
The RX 9070 XT has a slightly higher power budget of 304W compared to the 300W of its predecessor, the RX 7900 XT. Interestingly, in testing, the RX 7900 XT consumed more power, peaking at 314W, while the RX 9070 XT maxed out at 306W. Cooling is manageable with a standard power budget, and the card relies solely on third-party designs, such as the Powercolor Radeon RX 9070 XT Reaper, which maintains a temperature of 72°C during testing.
The card uses standard power connectors, requiring two 8-pin PCI-E connectors, and comes with three DisplayPort 2.1a and one HDMI 2.1b port. While a USB-C port would enhance flexibility, the current setup meets the needs of most users.
FSR 4
-----For years, AMD has sought a competitive AI upscaling solution to rival Nvidia's DLSS. With the Radeon RX 9070 XT, AMD introduces FSR 4, addressing previous issues like ghosting and fuzziness seen in earlier FSR versions. FSR 4 uses AI accelerators within the Compute Units to upscale lower-resolution images to native resolution, improving image quality over FSR 3.1, albeit with a potential performance cost.
In testing, games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 4K with Extreme settings showed a performance drop from 134 fps with FSR 3.1 to 121 fps with FSR 4, a 10% decrease, but with noticeable improvements in image quality. Similarly, in Monster Hunter Wilds, the frame rate dropped from 94 fps to 78 fps when switching to FSR 4, a 20% reduction. Despite the performance hit, the enhanced image quality is particularly beneficial for single-player games where visuals are paramount.
FSR 4 is an opt-in feature that can be easily toggled off in the Adrenalin software, allowing users to choose between performance and image quality based on their preferences.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks
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Performance
-----------AMD has made a strong statement with the Radeon RX 9070 XT. Priced at $599, it undercuts the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti by 21% while delivering a 2% performance advantage on average. The RX 9070 XT outperforms the RX 7900 XT by 17% and maintains a lead at 4K resolutions, making it an excellent choice for entry-level 4K gaming, even with ray tracing enabled.
Testing was conducted using the latest drivers available, ensuring a fair comparison across all graphics cards. In 3DMark benchmarks, the RX 9070 XT showed an 18% improvement over the RX 7900 XT in Speed Way, and a 26% jump in Steel Nomad, even surpassing the RTX 5070 Ti by 7%.
In specific game tests, the Radeon RX 9070 XT demonstrated superior performance in titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Red Dead Redemption 2, while facing challenges in games like Total War: Warhammer 3. The card's performance in Cyberpunk 2077 and Metro Exodus was competitive, showcasing its versatility across different gaming scenarios.
The Radeon RX 9070 XT's performance in Black Myth Wukong and Forza Horizon 5 further highlighted its capabilities, especially in handling intense ray tracing effects and delivering smooth gameplay.
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, announced quietly at CES 2025, feels like a strategic move by AMD to offer a compelling alternative to Nvidia's high-end offerings. At $599, it brings a sense of balance to the graphics card market, providing flagship performance without the exorbitant price tag. While it may not match the raw power of the RTX 5080 or RTX 5090, it offers a more accessible and practical solution for the majority of gamers, reminiscent of the value and performance seen with the GTX 1080 Ti in 2017.
