In a significant push to challenge NVIDIA's dominance, AMD has unveiled its latest mid-range GPUs, the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT. These new additions bring enhanced capabilities in ray tracing and AI upscaling, offering competitive performance at more affordable price points. The Radeon 9070 series aims to provide gamers with robust options for both 1440p and 4K gaming experiences. While not perfect, these GPUs represent a substantial improvement over previous AMD offerings, particularly in terms of value and performance. With prices starting at $549 and $599 respectively, the Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT offer compelling alternatives to NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti, especially considering their superior VRAM capacity and potential for future enhancements.

The Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT are built on AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture, marking a significant upgrade from earlier models. This new platform features more powerful and efficient compute units, third-generation ray tracing accelerators, and second-generation AI processors. The RX 9070 comes equipped with 56 compute units, while the 9070 XT boasts an additional eight compute units and 16 more AI processors. The XT model also operates at higher clock speeds and consumes more power, drawing 304W compared to the 220W of the standard 9070. Both cards come with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM, providing a notable advantage over NVIDIA’s RTX 5070, which only offers 12GB of memory.

The design of the Radeon 9070 series is sleek and efficient. The XFX Swift GPUs, reviewed here, feature an elegant frost white case with three large fans and substantial heatsinks. Despite their size, these GPUs remain remarkably cool during extended gaming sessions, maintaining temperatures below 65°C under load. Their cooling efficiency allows for quieter operation, making them suitable for home setups where noise levels are a concern. Moreover, the cards do not require complex power dongles, relying instead on two PSU connections, with a recommended minimum of 800-watt power supplies for optimal performance.

Performance-wise, the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT deliver impressive results. In 4K ray tracing mode, the RX 9070 averages 60 fps in games like Cyberpunk 2077 when using FSR 3 upscaling, a significant improvement over the Radeon 7900XT’s 50 fps. At 1440p, the experience is even smoother, averaging 117 fps. The XT model further enhances this performance, reaching 68 fps in 4K and 130 fps in 1440p. While these numbers don’t match the raw frame rates of NVIDIA’s RTX 5070, they provide a highly playable experience that is difficult to distinguish from higher-end GPUs in real-world scenarios. The introduction of FSR 4, though currently less supported, shows promise in delivering higher-quality graphics over pure frame rate boosts.

Despite these advancements, there are areas where AMD still lags behind. FSR 4, for instance, requires a somewhat cumbersome setup process and is not yet widely supported across all games. Additionally, the technology’s multi-frame generation capabilities need refinement to catch up with NVIDIA’s DLSS 4. However, the Radeon 9070 series’ larger VRAM capacity positions it well for handling future games with more demanding textures. For now, AMD’s focus on mid-range GPUs seems strategic, as it targets a market segment where consumers seek balance between performance and affordability.

Ultimately, the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT represent a meaningful step forward for AMD. They offer solid performance for 1440p gaming and respectable 4K capabilities, all at competitive prices. The inclusion of advanced ray tracing and AI upscaling technologies, along with ample VRAM, makes these GPUs attractive options for gamers looking to future-proof their setups. While NVIDIA’s DLSS remains ahead in certain aspects, AMD’s efforts with the 9070 series demonstrate a commitment to innovation and competitiveness in the mid-range GPU market. As support for FSR 4 grows and the technology matures, these GPUs could become even more appealing to a broader audience.