Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti evaluation – midrange GPU by title, not nature

The Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti is a graphics card I by no means anticipated to really see arrive this early. But, right here it’s, whirling away inside my gaming PC, pumping out excessive body charges at 4K with extremely settings enabled. Sounds nice, proper? Effectively, not fairly, as whereas it packs a good next-gen punch for lots lower than the RTX 4080, value nonetheless prevents it from being the midrange GPU gladiator I need it to be.

Like a phoenix, the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti rises from the ashes of the RTX 4080 12GB – a launch day graphics card that was swiftly shelved following fanatic backlash. Like its Lovelace siblings, the newest version to the inexperienced group’s lineup wields an awesome massive bag of GPU methods, like DLSS 3 and Body Technology, however is available in at a value level that’s normally occupied by premium playing cards.

For our Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti evaluation, we’ll be trying out a Gigabyte Eagle OC variant, as a Founder’s Version mannequin isn’t a factor this time round. That’s not essentially a nasty factor, as perks like a manufacturing facility overclock will little doubt give the AD104 GPU an edge. Nonetheless, excessive efficiency all the time comes at a value, and the 4070 Ti’s decrease MSRP solely applies to non-overclocked playing cards.

Specs

On paper, the RTX 4070 Ti boasts the identical specs as its cancelled counterpart. Armed with 7,680 CUDA cores, 60 RT cores, and 12GB GDDR6X VRAM, it sits properly beneath the cardboard featured in our Nvidia RTX 4080 evaluation, however is designed to commerce blows with earlier Nvidia frontrunners.

Not like the RTX 3090, the 4070 Ti isn’t a GPU glutton, as you’ll have the ability to satiate its 285W TDP with a 700W PSU. Choosing up the greatest energy provide with PCIe 5 help will show you how to ditch the cardboard’s required twin 8-pin adapter, however I wouldn’t exit of your option to improve except you completely should.

Ignoring VRAM, The 4070 Ti specs place it in the identical ring as each the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT and XTX, even when the latter offers the RTX 4080 a run for its cash. Look, I do know it’s bizarre pitting one thing with a 70-series badge in opposition to the crimson group’s high GPUs of the second, however till Nvidia stops slapping foolish mannequin names on its RTX 4000 graphics playing cards, that is the way it needs to be.

Design

Somebody ought to inform the RTX 4070 Ti to choose on somebody its personal measurement, because it’s a lot chonkier than its RTX 3000 predecessor. That type of is sensible, particularly because it’s probably not a 70-class graphics card while you delve beneath the floor. Nonetheless, should you’re used to choosing up mid-range graphics playing cards with a Ti oomph, you’ll be taken again by this Lovelace card’s stature and sheer girth. It’s barely smaller than the RTX 4090 and 4080, however that’s hardly a boon when you think about the monstrous measurement of each.

Nvidia isn’t giving the RTX 4070 Ti the Founder’s Version remedy this time round, so that you’ll have to make do with customized fashions, like Eagle OC. Sadly, my hopes of a chic Lovelace GPU have been dashed but once more, as Gigabyte’s customized shroud is unapologetically brutalist. Admittedly, it isn’t fairly as ugly because the Asus TUF Gaming card featured in our RTX 4090 evaluation, but it surely’s nonetheless only a cumbersome hunk of steel.

In fact, all junk contained in the RTX 4070 Ti’s trunk serves a objective, and Gigabyte’s thicc shroud helps sap up a variety of warmth. Its triple fan setup additionally contributes to frosty temps below load, however I can’t assist however really feel the association is borderline overkill. Below load, the cardboard barely creeps above 80 °C,  which leads me to consider the setup might have been slimline a bit of.

Like most customized graphics playing cards, Gigabyte’s RTX 4070 Ti bears an RGB brand – one thing that provides a much-needed sprinkling of color. I nonetheless suppose Nvidia’s Founder’s Version strategy is a winner in relation to lighting, however the Eagle OC’s illumination is sufficiently subtle to please minimalists whereas considerably appeasing mild present lovers.

Efficiency

As all the time, the proof is within the efficiency pudding in relation to greatest graphics card contenders, and the RTX 4070 Ti isn’t a runt inside the Lovelace litter. Certain, its boots are firmly on the bottom whereas it watches the RTX 4090 soar by the body charge sky, however benchmarks recommend it hovers someplace between the RTX 3090 and 4080.

In Hitman 3, the RTX 4070 Ti pulls of 94fps at 4K with settings cranked as much as extremely, with ray tracing chopping issues all the way down to 30fps. These figures indicate that the 4070 Ti can nearly boop the 4080 on the benchmark nostril, edging ever so barely forward of the 3090 with RT settings enabled.

Whole Conflict: Warhammer 3 is likely one of the greatest technique video games round, but it surely additionally helps make graphics playing cards sweat throughout benchmarking. Whereas the RTX 4080 can enhance fps past that ever-lucrative 60fps threshold, the 4070 Ti falls brief when dealing with 4K extremely settings with a 55fps common.

Cyberpunk 2077 is considerably of a problematic poster youngster for the advantages of DLSS 3, however let’s first speak about uncooked efficiency within the RPG. The 4070 Ti can preserve an 80fps common, round 16% fewer frames than the 4080, and simply misses the 60fps mark with ray tracing shenanigans turned on. Not too shabby contemplating the MSI RTX 3090 Suprim X produces comparable outcomes, however Nvidia’s newcomer nonetheless has a means of leaving Ampere within the mud.

DLSS 3

Including a sprinkle of Nvidia DLSS 3 pixie mud into the combination makes one hell of a distinction, and we’ve already witnessed its potential with the RTX 4090 and 4080. Body Technology helps elevate the 4070 Ti’s skills in the identical style, with the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 receiving a 30fps enhance.

In F1 2022, Body Technology ramps up ray tracing body charges from 44 to 145fps – up from the 114 offered by simply Nvidia DLSS on its lonesome. For those who’d reasonably ditch that latter function altogether, you may use FG by itself and are available out swinging with body charges over 60fps, all whereas avoiding typical AI upscaling caveats.

The 4070 Ti can churn out round 60fps in A Plague Story: Requiem with out DLSS 3, however taking full benefit of Nvidia’s graphical witchcraft nearly doubles body charges. Once more, utilizing simply Body Technology is an choice, and also you’ll nonetheless find yourself with over 80fps in your display.

RTX 4070 Ti 8K efficiency

Can the RTX 4070 Ti run video games at 8K? The reply is sure, however you’ll should commerce away tracing and seize onto DLSS with each fingers. As earlier than with my RTX 4080 benchmarks, I made a decision to make use of Dynamic Tremendous Decision (DSR) to simulate an 8K monitor setup, and managed to keep away from slideshows.

Throughout testing, I used to be in a position to get Hitman 3 working at 8K 60fps with extremely settings enabled, which appears like an unbelievable feat. Naturally, this was solely attainable due to DLSS, as the identical benchmark runs beneath 30fps with out it. You possibly can swap all choices to low and add in ray tracing as an alternative, however choosing lesser-quality belongings most likely isn’t your jam, significantly should you’re the sort to purchase the greatest gaming monitor of tomorrow.

Admittedly, 8K gameplay most likely isn’t the RTX 4070 Ti’s struggle, and I most likely wouldn’t recommend actively utilizing the RTX 4080 for that objective both. Shiny new RTX 5000 graphics playing cards will possible arrive on the scene by the point the decision turns into a normal, even when AMD is actively utilizing it as a Radeon RX 7900 XTX promoting level. Nonetheless, it’s enjoyable to fiddle, and you may technically play current video games on Nvidia’s newest card at acceptable body charges.

Verdict

For those who’re searching for a less expensive option to arm one of the best gaming PC with a Lovelace GPU, the RTX 4070 Ti might be your greatest wager. It pains me to explain it as inexpensive, because it nonetheless prices greater than I’m personally snug with. That stated, it’s nonetheless $400 lower than the RTX 4080 whereas performing the identical DLSS methods, albeit on a decrease scale.

In an ideal world, the Nvidia RTX 4070 would exist already, boasting comparable specs and a a lot lower cost tag. Which may nonetheless find yourself occurring, particularly if an AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT rolls as much as the midrange scene. However, it appears like Nvidia continues to be dancing away on the premium efficiency occasion, and the RTX 4070 Ti is the most cost effective option to get in on the motion.