RX 9070 vs RTX 5070
The RX 9070 and the RTX 5070 are two different answers to the same upper-midrange graphics card brief, each with its own set of priorities. The numbers lean one way: the RX 9070 comes out ahead in 2 of the 2 areas we compared, with its clearest lead in the memory category. Below, each area gets its own look, with the raw numbers in the tables.
At a glance
- Memory RX 9070 wins
- Power & Thermals RX 9070 wins
- Price Tie
- GPU & Performance4.9
- Memory7.5
- Power & Thermals6.1
- GPU & Performance5.0
- Memory4.5
- Power & Thermals4.7
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The RX 9070 has 4 GB more VRAM
Put simply, the RX 9070 is far ahead here: 16 GB compared with 12 GB. At high resolutions or with texture packs, running out of VRAM can hurt more than a small speed gap.
-
The RX 9070 has 30 W lower board power
The RX 9070 wins this narrowly, 220 W against 250 W, which makes it more of a bonus than a reason to buy. Lower board power means less heat, quieter cooling and a smaller impact on your electricity bill.
-
The RX 9070 has a wider 256-bit memory bus
The RX 9070’s 256-bit leaves the RTX 5070’s 192-bit well behind, so if this spec matters to you, the choice is easy. The RX 9070’s wider bus supports higher bandwidth, which helps most at high resolutions.
-
The RTX 5070 has 5% more memory bandwidth
The RTX 5070 has a modest edge on memory bandwidth: 672 GB/s against 640 GB/s for the RX 9070. The RTX 5070 has more bandwidth to work with, helping it hold up in memory-heavy games.
Design & Size
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | RX 9070 | RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | N/A (not specified) | 9.53 in |
| Slot width | N/A (not specified) | 2 slots |
| Display outputs | N/A (not specified) | 3x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1x HDMI 2.1b |
GPU & Performance
This area doesn’t reduce to a single number. The table shows the gpu & performance details for both, so you can judge what matters to you.
Memory
RX 9070 leads
The RTX 5070 is outclassed on memory; the RX 9070 leads by a clear margin. The RX 9070 gives you 4 GB more VRAM. More VRAM lets the card hold higher-resolution textures and bigger scenes without stutter. On its side, the RTX 5070 has 5% more memory bandwidth. In short, the RX 9070 is the better-equipped card for memory.
VRAM
RX 9070: 16 GB RTX 5070: 12 GB Newer games tend to ask for more video memory, so the RX 9070’s extra VRAM helps the card age better.
Memory bus
RX 9070: 256-bit RTX 5070: 192-bit Large on-chip caches can make up for a narrower bus, so bandwidth is the more telling number.
Features
For features, the differences are in the specifics (component names and types), so the table is the place to look.
Power & Thermals
RX 9070 leads
By a small margin, the RX 9070 is the stronger of the two in this area. The RX 9070 delivers 30 W lower board power. Higher board power often comes with higher performance, so the RTX 5070’s appetite may be part of the price of its speed. That makes the RX 9070 the natural choice for buyers focused on power & thermals.
Total board power
RX 9070: 220 W RTX 5070: 250 W The RX 9070 draws less power, which makes it easier to cool in compact cases.
Full Specifications
GPU & Performance
| Spec | RX 9070 | RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 4 | Blackwell |
| GPU die | Navi 48 | GB205 |
| Process | TSMC N4P | TSMC 4N |
| Shader units | 3,584 | 6,144 |
| Ray tracing units | 56 | 48 |
| Base clock | N/A (not specified) | 2,325 MHz |
| Boost clock | 2,520 MHz | 2,512 MHz |
| FP32 computeTheoretical peak; AMD counts dual-issue, so compare within a brand only | 36.1 TFLOPS | 30.9 TFLOPS |
Memory
| Spec | RX 9070 | RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 16 GB (winner) | 12 GB |
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR7 |
| Memory bus | 256-bit (winner) | 192-bit |
| Memory bandwidth | 640 GB/s | 672 GB/s (winner) |
Features
| Spec | RX 9070 | RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling | FSR 4 | DLSS 4 Super Resolution |
| Frame generation | FSR Frame Generation, AFMF 2 | DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (up to 4x) |
| PCIe interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
Power & Thermals
| Spec | RX 9070 | RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| Total board power | 220 W (winner) | 250 W |
| Recommended PSU | 650 W | 650 W |
| Power connector | N/A (not specified) | 1x 16-pin (12V-2x6) |
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | RX 9070 | RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | N/A (not specified) | 9.53 in |
| Slot width | N/A (not specified) | 2 slots |
| Display outputs | N/A (not specified) | 3x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1x HDMI 2.1b |
Price
| Spec | RX 9070 | RTX 5070 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price (MSRP) | $549 | $549 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
With matching launch prices, you’re choosing purely on what each one offers.
Launch prices in the US as of March 2025; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the RX 9070 if…
- you play at high resolutions with high-quality textures (16 GB vs 12 GB VRAM)
- you care about your power bill and a quieter case (220 W vs 250 W)
- you want the wider memory bus (256-bit vs 192-bit)
Choose the RTX 5070 if…
- you want more memory bandwidth (672 GB/s vs 640 GB/s)
- you already know your way around NVIDIA’s products
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the RX 9070 or the RTX 5070?
The RX 9070 wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless you specifically want 5% more memory bandwidth, where the RTX 5070 has the edge.
Does the RX 9070 perform better than the RTX 5070?
Performance is driven by RDNA 4 in the RX 9070 and Blackwell in the RTX 5070; the spec table below shows the rest of the hardware.
Executive Summary
If it were just about the brand, you wouldn’t be here. So let’s talk about the RX 9070 and the RTX 5070 on their merits. For me, the deciding factor is that only the RX 9070 gives you 4 GB more VRAM. A second reason: the RX 9070 comes with 30 W lower board power. Don’t write off the RTX 5070 entirely: it has 5% more memory bandwidth.
Your priorities do the choosing here: memory points to the RX 9070, memory bandwidth to the RTX 5070.
My pick: the RX 9070 gets my vote, but the RTX 5070 is the right call if your top priority is 5% more memory bandwidth.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.