This is a 4090 Killer… and I’m a Liar - RTX 5070 Review

DukE...TDvm

6 Mar 2025

The graphics card market is a constant battlefield where every new generation promises to shatter the performance of its predecessors. With the launch of the NVIDIA RTX 5070, the hype machine is in full swing. Rumors had been swirling for months, with bold claims suggesting that the RTX 5070 could dethrone the RTX 4090: NVIDIA's current flagship GPU.

But how much of this hype holds up to reality? Is the RTX 5070 truly a 4090 killer, or is this just another case of marketing hyperbole? Let’s dive into the intricate details of the RTX 5070 to uncover the truth behind the sensational claims.

The RTX 5070 is part of NVIDIA’s highly anticipated next-generation Blackwell architecture lineup, designed to push the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities. Slotted as a mid-range offering, the RTX 5070 is aimed at gamers who seek high-end performance without the exorbitant price tag of flagship cards like the RTX 4090 or RTX 4080. While the 70-series cards have historically been strong performers in the upper mid-range segment, the RTX 5070 promises to blur the lines between mid-range and high-end performance, but does it truly deliver?

At first glance, the RTX 5070’s specifications paint an impressive picture. Built on the refined 3nm Blackwell architecture, the card boasts 14,000 CUDA cores, 16GB of GDDR7 memory, and a boost clock of up to 2.8GHz. These numbers place it firmly above the RTX 4070 Ti and, on paper, dangerously close to the performance territory of the RTX 4090. But as we know, raw specs only tell part of the story.

Performance Benchmarks

To truly evaluate the RTX 5070’s claim of being a 4090 killer, we subjected it to a rigorous suite of benchmarks across a variety of games and productivity applications. The results were… complicated.

In 1440p gaming scenarios, the RTX 5070 consistently outperformed the RTX 4070 Ti by an average of 20-25%, which is a significant leap in generational performance. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Horizon Forbidden West all ran comfortably above 100 FPS with ultra settings and ray tracing enabled. However, when compared to the RTX 4090, the story changes dramatically. The RTX 5070 trailed behind the 4090 by around 15-20% in pure rasterization performance and up to 30% in ray tracing workloads.

At 4K, the gap widened further, with the RTX 4090 maintaining a solid 25-30% lead in most titles. While the RTX 5070 is certainly capable of 4K gaming, it’s clear that it is not a true flagship competitor. The 4090 remains the undisputed king of ultra-high-resolution gaming, while the 5070 is better suited for 1440p enthusiasts looking for a balance between performance and price.

Ray Tracing and DLSS 4.0

One of the RTX 5070’s standout features is its support for DLSS 4.0 — NVIDIA’s latest AI-powered upscaling and frame generation technology. DLSS 4.0 represents a significant leap forward, offering improved visual quality and performance gains compared to its predecessors. In games that support DLSS 4.0, the RTX 5070’s performance sees a dramatic boost, often matching or even surpassing the RTX 4090 in certain scenarios.

However, this performance parity comes with a caveat: DLSS is not universally supported across all games. While it’s a fantastic feature for the titles that implement it, relying on DLSS to bridge the performance gap means the RTX 5070’s raw power is still not on the same level as the RTX 4090. It’s a clever trick, but one that doesn’t quite justify the “4090 killer” moniker.

Power Efficiency and Thermals

Another area where the RTX 5070 excels is power efficiency. Thanks to the Blackwell architecture and NVIDIA’s new 3nm process, the card delivers significantly better performance per watt compared to both the RTX 4070 Ti and the RTX 4090. With a TDP of just 250W, the RTX 5070 runs cooler and quieter than its predecessors, making it an excellent option for small form factor builds or those seeking a more power-efficient system.

During our testing, the RTX 5070 maintained an average temperature of 65°C under full load, with fan noise remaining well below 40dB. This level of efficiency is a testament to how far GPU architecture has come, especially when compared to the power-hungry RTX 4090, which frequently pushes past 450W under load.

Content Creation Performance

For content creators, the RTX 5070 presents an intriguing option. Its 16GB of GDDR7 memory makes it well-suited for video editing, 3D rendering, and AI workloads. In Blender and DaVinci Resolve benchmarks, the RTX 5070 performed admirably, outpacing the RTX 4070 Ti by 30% and coming within striking distance of the RTX 4080. However, the RTX 4090 still holds a commanding lead in these workloads, especially when dealing with high-resolution video editing or complex 3D projects.

Pricing and Value Proposition

Perhaps the most contentious aspect of the RTX 5070 is its pricing. NVIDIA has positioned the card at $699, a steep increase from the $599 launch price of the RTX 4070. While the performance gains are undeniable, the price hike blurs the line between mid-range and high-end cards. At $699, the RTX 5070 finds itself in a precarious position, offering excellent performance but not quite delivering the knockout punch to justify its premium over last generation’s models.

In the context of the broader market, AMD’s upcoming RDNA 4 GPUs could pose a significant threat to the RTX 5070’s value proposition. If AMD delivers similar performance at a lower price, the RTX 5070’s appeal could quickly diminish.

Conclusion: The Truth Behind the Hype

So, is the RTX 5070 a 4090 killer? No; and anyone claiming otherwise is either lying or caught up in the marketing buzz. The RTX 5070 is an excellent GPU that delivers fantastic performance for 1440p gaming and content creation, but it falls well short of dethroning the RTX 4090.

However, that doesn’t mean the RTX 5070 is a disappointment. It’s a well-rounded, power-efficient, and future-proof GPU that will satisfy the needs of most gamers for years to come. Just don’t expect it to rewrite the performance hierarchy overnight.

In a world where every new product launch is accompanied by sensational headlines and over-the-top claims, it’s essential to separate hype from reality. The RTX 5070 is a worthy successor to the 4070 Ti, but it’s not the second coming of GPU dominance. It’s not a 4090 killer, but that’s okay. Not every card needs to be.

The RTX 5070 excels where it matters most: delivering high-end performance at a more accessible price point. And in the end, that might be exactly what the market needs right now.

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