Summary
The GeForce RTX 5070 only offers a minimal increase in performance compared to the GeForce RTX 4070 Super in classic raster graphics applications. The performance increase is only 2.5% in Full HD and around 2.6% in WQHD. A noticeable advantage is only achieved through the use of AI-supported technologies such as DLSS 4. In games that make optimal use of DLSS, the RTX 5070 can offer up to 10% higher performance on average (or significantly higher depending on the title with DLSS4). However, these advantages are not based on pure hardware performance, but on algorithmic optimization. In native Ultra HD resolution, on the other hand, the card falls short of expectations due to the limited VRAM and memory bandwidth and should not be used without supersampling.
This paradigm shift is particularly evident in games such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Alan Wake 2, which benefit massively from DLSS 4. Without AI support, the increase in performance compared to the RTX 4070 Super remains marginal. The RTX 5070 thus shows that NVIDIA is increasingly focusing on AI-supported rendering techniques to increase perceived performance instead of significantly increasing the raw performance of the hardware. But I already wrote a few lines explaining this in the introduction.
The GeForce RTX 5070 FE
The RTX 5070 Founders Edition relies on an air-cooled design with a compact cooling solution. However, the card is already operating at its thermal limit, whereby the clock rates are reduced after a few minutes under load to prevent overheating. This leads to possible performance throttling, which is particularly noticeable during long gaming sessions. In contrast to the GPU cooling, which operates at its limit, the memory cooling is just acceptable. The GDDR7 memory remains within the specified temperatures even under prolonged load, which contributes to the long-term stability of the card, but can hardly be overclocked. The GPU itself also shows significant temperature fluctuations, which is due to the dynamic adjustment of voltage and clock frequency.
The fans of the RTX 5070 Founders Edition operate at high speeds of around 2900 rpm under load, resulting in a clearly perceptible noise level of over 41 dB(A). This can be particularly unpleasant during long gaming sessions. In addition, a low-frequency peak occurs in the 300 Hz range, which differs acoustically from other cards and is perceived as unpleasant, at least by me. Coil beeping is also present in the RTX 5070 Founders Edition, but not quite as pronounced as in some predecessor models. It is particularly noticeable under high load and in scenarios with very high FPS values, as long as the fans don’t cover everything up.
Another problem with the Founders Edition is its behavior with PCIe 5.0. While previous generations did not have any major stability problems with riser cables or certain motherboards, the GeForce RTX 5070 FE tested here also experienced sporadic boot problems and individual black screens. For stable benchmarking, it was necessary to reset the PCIe version in the BIOS to Gen 4 in order to ensure permanent functionality. These issues could be due to the internal cable connection between the card’s motherboard and the PCIe connector, causing potential signal loss. This creates signal integrity challenges, especially at high transfer rates of PCIe 5.0. This design decision could lead to unexpected limitations for users with modern motherboards.
Conclusion
The GeForce RTX 5070 is a graphics card that relies heavily on NVIDIA’s current strategy: instead of a significant increase in classic raster performance, performance is mainly improved by AI-supported features such as DLSS 4. In native resolutions without upscaling, the performance increase compared to the RTX 4070 Super remains low, while there is a clear advantage in optimized games. The cooling solution of the Founders Edition works functionally, but quickly reaches its thermal limit, whereby the clock behavior changes after a few minutes under load. The volume of the card is high, which makes it difficult to use in quiet systems. In addition, problems with PCIe 5.0 can occur, which can lead to instability in certain system configurations.
The recommended retail price (RRP) of the GeForce RTX 5070 is 649 euros. In view of the only marginal increase in performance compared to the RTX 4070 Super, the question arises as to the actual added value of this card if you are not obsessed with DLSS4. The pricing does not seem quite optimal, especially in view of the limited native performance and the strong dependence on DLSS 4, even though the RRP is even 10 euros below the issue price of the GeForce RTX 4070 at the time.
While better performance is achieved in AI-optimized games, users who prefer classic raster graphics will hardly benefit from the new generation and will no longer be able to play games that still rely on older PhysX libraries. The RTX 5070 also competes with models from the previous generation, some of which are (still) available at lower prices, as well as with AMD alternatives, which offer better price-performance in some scenarios. For buyers looking for a GPU with long-term future security, the limited VRAM configuration of 12 GB could also be a relevant factor.
Ultimately, the RTX 5070 remains a GPU that relies heavily on software support and the user profile below Ultra HD. Those who are willing to engage in AI-supported optimizations will certainly get solid cards with modern architecture from the board partners. However, users who primarily rely on native raster performance or want to play an older game will hardly notice any advantages over the previous generation. Of course, it is always better than an RTX 3070, but anything above that will probably be a pure side-grade for most people.
- 1 - Introduction and details of the GB205-300
- 2 - Test system and equipment
- 3 - Gaming: Full-HD 1920x1080 Pixels (Rasterization Only)
- 4 - Gaming: WQHD 2560x1440 Pixels (Rasterization Only)
- 5 - Gaming: Ultra-HD 3840x2160 Pixels (Rasterization Only)
- 6 - Gaming: WQHD 2560x1440 Pixels, Supersampling, RT & FG
- 7 - Gaming: Ultra-HD 3840x2160 Pixels, Supersampling, RT & FG
- 8 - DLSS4 and MFG: Cyberpunk 2077 in detail
- 9 - DLSS4 and MFG: Alan Wake 2 in detail
- 10 - PCIe 5 problems, power consumption in theory and practice
- 11 - Load peaks native vs. DLSS4, PSU recommendation
- 12 - Cooler, temperatures, thermography, noise
- 13 - Summary and conclusion
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