Top Four Reasons Gamers Prefer the RTX 5070 to RX 9070 Despite Lower VRAM and Slightly Slower Raster Performance

Despite its impressive gaming performance for $549, AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 struggles to capture the attention of gamers. Nearly six months post-launch, this RDNA 4 GPU has seen little movement off store shelves, as consumers gravitate instead towards the GeForce RTX 5070, which shares its price point.

This phenomenon is puzzling given that the RX 9070 not only offers slightly superior speed but also boasts a greater VRAM capacity. However, the GeForce RTX 5070’s sales figures reveal a different reality, with it consistently outpacing the RX 9070 and dominating sales charts across various global markets.

So, what factors contribute to the RX 9070’s lack of popularity? Below, we explore three primary reasons why gamers prefer the RTX 5070 over AMD’s offering.

Superior Upscaling Technology

NVIDIA’s upscaling technology enhances visual quality in games.

Modern gaming increasingly relies on upscaling technologies from both AMD and NVIDIA. AMD has made strides with its FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 4, yet NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 4 remains the dominant force, not only in visual fidelity but also in the breadth of game support.

While FSR 4 works efficiently with almost all FSR 3.1 DX12 titles, the roster of games supporting DLSS 4 is nearly double. Additionally, NVIDIA’s capability to support older cards with advanced features further strengthens its position in the market. For instance, DLSS 4 is available across all RTX models, while FSR 4’s compatibility does not extend to AMD’s RX 7000 series. This trend suggests that users adopting the RTX 5070 can expect continued enhancements through updated DLSS versions.

Dominance in Ray Tracing Performance

Red Dead Redemption — RTX 5070 outshines RX 9070 in ray tracing capabilities.

While the RX 9070 performs well, it struggles to match the RTX 5070’s ray tracing capabilities. The performance gap may not be vast, but it is significant enough, especially as more gamers are drawn to titles that utilize ray tracing technology. The RTX 5070 consistently outperforms the RX 9070 by approximately 10-15% in ray tracing scenarios, which can greatly impact gameplay smoothness.

With the growing number of games integrating DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation (MFG), users of the RTX 5070 enjoy substantial gains in performance and fluidity, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

Leadership in Content Creation

Unreal Engine 5 — NVIDIA GPUs excel in productivity workloads, particularly in content creation.

NVIDIA GPUs have established a stronghold in the realm of content creation and productivity tasks. The RX 9000 series, including the RX 9070, often fails to outperform even older RTX cards in critical productivity applications, a significant consideration for many users.

NVIDIA’s CUDA ecosystem remains the preferred choice for creative workflows. Software platforms such as Blender and Adobe are optimized for CUDA, giving RTX cards like the 5070 a marked advantage in applications ranging from 3D rendering to video editing. Creative professionals seeking a dual-purpose GPU for gaming and productivity will find the RTX 5070 to be a superior option.

The Impact of Branding and Trust

NVIDIA’s “GeForce”branding carries immense weight in the gaming community, often swaying gamer preferences towards their products instinctively. This persistent brand recognition has historically enabled NVIDIA to outperform AMD in sales, even when pricing and performance align closely.

Given the comparable performance between the RTX 5070 and RX 9070, it appears unsurprising that the RTX 5070 secures markedly higher sales. The added ray tracing capability and substantial productivity benchmarks further solidify its desirability.

Despite the RX 9070’s higher VRAM, the RTX 5070 triumphs due to multifaceted advantages.

In summary, while the RX 9070 boasts superior raster performance and a slight VRAM advantage at the same price, the powerful combination of branding, enhanced features, and overall performance keeps the RTX 5070 at the forefront of consumer choice. As games become more demanding, the RTX 5070’s advantages in performance and features overwhelmingly resonate with knowledgeable gamers.

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