AMD’s eagerly anticipated RDNA 4 GPUs were finally showcased in a detailed reveal on February 28, complete with all the juicy performance stats and pricing details enthusiasts have been keenly waiting for.
I’ll admit, there was a bit of apprehension on my part regarding AMD’s RDNA 4 announcement. Concerns ranged from the possibility of overly optimistic pricing, subpar performance, to unimpressive FSR 4 enhancements.
But amongst all the highlights, what really grabbed my attention was how the RX 9070 XT’s performance stacks up against the RTX 5070 Ti. In tests run at 4K ultra settings, it falls short by just 2%. And that’s without any upscaling boosts from FSR 4 or DLSS 4.
Now, the burning question is: Did AMD falter in the realm of competitive pricing once again? Not at all.
The RX 9070 XT debuts with an MSRP of $599, which is a whopping $150 less than the RTX 5070 Ti. And let’s be honest, the RTX 5070 Ti’s listed price feels more like a pipedream these days.
With NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti prices soaring towards the $1,000 mark in the current market—even before scalper premiums—AMD has carved out a golden opportunity to snatch a larger slice of the GPU market share.
The RDNA 4 lineup—featuring the RX 9070 XT and the slightly more affordable $549 RX 9070—launches on March 6 and is promised to have “wide availability.”
If AMD delivers on that promise, I plan to be among the first to snap up what they boldly claim as “the world’s best graphics card under $600.” Here’s my take on why it might just be true.
AMD’s resurgence in the mid-range GPU segment with RDNA 4 is a refreshing change. For many, including myself, a decently-priced GPU capable of handling the latest gaming titles efficiently is essential.
The RTX 5000 series “Blackwell” generation from NVIDIA inadvertently devastated the mid-range market despite its initial mid-range pricing.
Due to scarce stock, inflated third-party prices, and reseller games, the RTX 5070 Ti’s price soared close to $1,000, far exceeding its $749 MSRP and stifling many PC gamers’ dreams.
As for the $599 RTX 5070, its release was delayed to March 6. Whether it will be readily available remains uncertain.
The same questions linger for the RX 9070 XT and its counterpart launching on March 5. However, reports of retailers stocking up on RDNA 4 GPUs as far back as December 2024 and AMD’s confidence in their wide availability buoy optimism.
The addition of two robust mid-range GPUs is a boon for PC enthusiasts and ensures NVIDIA faces much-needed competition.
The RX 9070 XT’s raw performance is in line with NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti but at a $150 saving. As AMD pointedly notes, that’s a compelling 23% improvement in performance per dollar.
So, if you’ve been holding out for a stellar mid-range GPU for your setup, the RX 9070 XT seems primed to impress.
While NVIDIA has traditionally been the go-to for ray tracing, AMD is catching up. I’m comfortable without constant ray tracing, as long as the games requiring it run smoothly. The RX 9070 XT meets those criteria.
Though AMD’s capabilities still trail behind NVIDIA, it’s evident that AMD has been refining its approach to ray tracing between RDNA 3 and 4 architectures.
The 4K ray tracing performance shared in AMD’s presentation placed the 9070 XT just a notch below the 5070 Ti in only two games—Spider-Man 2 and Far Cry 6.
However, when compared to the RX 7900 GRE from the last-gen, the RX 9070 XT delivers a staggering up to 66% uplift in ray tracing capability at 4K ultra settings.
At 1440p, my preferred gaming resolution, the performance boost jumps even higher, offering as much as a 68% improvement over the 7900 GRE.
I’m keen to see how these figures pan out in practical tests once RDNA 4 reviews hit the shelves but remain positive they won’t deter my purchase plans.
AMD’s FSR, a counterpart to NVIDIA’s DLSS, is about to undergo its most significant transformation yet.
The shift to machine learning for FSR 4 marks a strategic change from the previous spatial algorithm approach, putting it on par with DLSS’s AI-driven upscaling.
Paired with the new RDNA 4 hardware, FSR 4 is setting the stage for a leap in performance.
AMD claims that turning on FSR 4 with the RX 9070 XT can offer up to a 4.4x performance boost at 4K resolution.
Take Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, where frame rates soar from 43 FPS to an impressive 191 FPS with FSR 4 engaged. Spider-Man 2 also sees a hefty 4x increase, jumping from 48 FPS to 192 FPS at 4K.
Even Monster Hunter Wilds, freshly launched, benefits from a 3.5x upswing, elevating performance from 42 FPS to 147 FPS at 4K.
As uncovered by Hardware Unboxed shortly after AMD’s (pulled) CES 2025 reveal, FSR 4 is not solely about pumping higher frame rates.
Previous versions, like FSR 3.1, struggled to maintain fine detail quality, especially at higher resolutions. FSR 4 seems to iron out these wrinkles.
With quality frames in abundance, I’m on board, even if DLSS 4 keeps the upscaling crown.
The unveiling of the RX 9070 XT couldn’t have been timed better, even after nearly two months of anticipation.
Within this waiting period, my excitement for the RTX 5070 shifted to a resolute choice for AMD as my next upgrade. The leap from my RX 6800 to an RX 9070 XT is set to be monumental, perfectly complementing my Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU.
NVIDIA’s recent track record after launching RTX 5090 and 5080 this January hasn’t done it any favors—providing ample reasons to rethink buying an RTX 5000 GPU.
From power cable issues with the RTX 5090, shortages, glaring ROP exclusions from RTX 5000 series, to exorbitant prices and elusive stocks, NVIDIA appears to be losing its sheen with PC gamers.
Despite still reigning supreme with high-end GPUs, AMD’s RDNA 4 return signals a significant stride for anyone aiming to upgrade near the $600 mark.
So, are you ready to embrace the RX 9070 XT? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
