On February 28, AMD lifted the curtain on its highly anticipated RDNA 4 GPUs during a detailed presentation brimming with insights into performance and pricing.
Admittedly, there was a part of me that feared AMD might drop the ball with RDNA 4, whether by setting unrealistic prices, showcasing underwhelming performance, or making unimpressive FSR 4 advancements.
The highlight for me was discovering that the RX 9070 XT closely rivals the RTX 5070 Ti, missing the mark by just 2% at 4K ultra settings without the aid of FSR 4 or DLSS 4 upscaling.
Curious if AMD set itself up for failure with competitive pricing again? Not this time!
The RX 9070 XT boasts an MSRP of $599, a full $150 cheaper than the RTX 5070 Ti’s MSRP—a price many consider more a fantasy than reality.
Given the RTX 5070 Ti hovers near $1,000 in the market—before scalpers get involved—AMD has a golden chance to scoop a bigger slice of the GPU industry pie.
Set for a March 6 release, AMD’s RDNA 4 lineup, including the $549 RX 9070, promises "wide availability."
If that promise sticks, I’m set on grabbing what AMD proudly claims as "the world’s best graphics card under $600." And here’s why.
AMD’s RDNA 4 GPUs Bring New Life to the Mid-Range Market
Many of us, myself included, have long yearned for an affordable mid-range GPU that can tackle today’s gaming challenges.
Yet, NVIDIA’s RTX 5000 "Blackwell" series devastated the mid-range GPU space, despite launching with an ostensibly mid-range MSRP.
With stock shortages, steep third-party prices, and scalpers, the RTX 5070 Ti now nears $1,000 despite the $749 MSRP, making it inaccessible for many.
The $599 RTX 5070, expected to debut soon, could be more available… but that’s anyone’s guess.
The RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, hitting shelves March 5, also face questions of supply. However, whispers of retailers preparing inventory stretch back to December 2024, alongside AMD’s "wide availability" assurance, suggest good prospects.
The addition of two next-gen GPUs to the mid-range segment bodes well for PC enthusiasts, providing much-needed competition for NVIDIA.
The RX 9070 XT matches NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti in raw performance, despite a $150 price gap, offering a 23% better performance-per-dollar deal according to AMD’s calculations.
If you’ve been in the market for a mid-range GPU for your rig, the RX 9070 XT might just be the top contender you’ve been awaiting.
NVIDIA Dominates Ray Tracing, but AMD Is Closing the Gap
While I’m not one to insist on ray tracing for every game, many gamers share my sentiment—it’s nice to have a GPU that doesn’t leave you hanging when ray tracing can’t be toggled off. The RX 9070 XT seems to tick that box.
Though AMD’s ray tracing prowess still lags behind NVIDIA’s, AMD clearly wasn’t twiddling its thumbs between RDNA 3 and RDNA 4.
During their presentation, AMD highlighted the RX 9070 XT’s 4K RT metrics, which showed it trailing NVIDIA’s 5070 Ti in only two games—Spider-Man 2 and Far Cry 6.
Compare that to the previous-gen RX 7900 GRE, and the RX 9070 XT shows a solid 66% enhancement in 4K ray tracing performance.
Down at 1440p, my gaming resolution of choice, the RX 9070 XT pushes its edge further, improving by up to 68% over the 7900 GRE.
I’m eager to see real-world results once RDNA 4 reviews start landing, though I doubt these findings will upend my plans to snag one.
FSR 4 Ushers in the Change I’ve Been Anticipating
AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is competing against NVIDIA’s DLSS, and it’s due for a major overhaul.
Moving to machine learning for FSR 4—breaking away from the spatial algorithms that characterized earlier versions—aligns with the AI-driven upscaling in DLSS.
Coupled with RDNA 4’s hardware upgrades, FSR 4 appears to be the leap I was hoping for.
With FSR 4 on the RX 9070 XT, AMD claims up to 4.4x performance gains at 4K.
Take Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, for instance; FPS jumps from 43 to 191 with FSR 4. Spider-Man 2 sees a similar boost, with a 4x increase from 48 to 192 FPS at 4K.
The fresh Monster Hunter Wilds snags a 3.5x kick, soaring from 42 to 147 FPS at 4K with FSR 4.
As highlighted by Hardware Unboxed after AMD’s CES 2025 showcase, FSR 4 isn’t just about FPS boosts.
FSR 3.1 struggled with fine details, especially at high resolutions, but FSR 4 seems to rectify this.
Enhanced quality and ample frames? Consider me convinced, even if DLSS 4 stays the king of upscaling.
NVIDIA Faces True Competition at Last
AMD’s reveal of the RX 9070 XT couldn’t be timelier, despite being a bit delayed.
In the interim, I’ve switched my allegiance from eagerly anticipating the RTX 5070 to favoring AMD for my next upgrade. Transitioning from an RX 6800 to an RX 9070 XT is going to be monumental, pairing seamlessly with my Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU.
Since launching the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, NVIDIA has been grappling with self-inflicted issues, giving ample reasons to bypass their RTX 5000 series.
From melting RTX 5090 cables to absent ROPs across the RTX 5000 range, along with prohibitive prices and scarce stock, NVIDIA has dimmed its appeal for many gamers.
Although Team Green continues to hold the crown for sheer power, AMD’s return with RDNA 4 marks a decisive victory for those eyeing a $600 price range.
Are you considering the RX 9070 XT? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
