AMD also sends the slimmed -down RX 9070 into the race.
The big question:How much performance is left over the route compared to the XT version? And how does she do against the RX 7900 XT?
This test clarifies all of this.
Technical data in comparison
| RX 9070 XT | Sapphire Pulse RX 9070/RX 9070 (Referenz) | RX 7900 XT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphics chip | Navi 48 XT | Navi 48 XL | Navi 31 XT |
| Nuclear | 4.096 | 3.584 | 5.376 |
| TAKE (GAME/BOOST) | 2.400/2.970 MHz | 2.070/2.520 MHz | 2.025/2.394 MHz |
| memory | 16 GB GDDR6 (256 bit) | 16 GB GDDR6 (256 bit) | 20 GB GDDR6 (320 bit) |
| Memory transfer rate | 20 Gbps | 20 Gbps | 20 Gbps |
| Memory bandwidth | 640 GB/s | 640 GB/s | 800 GB/s |
| Power consumption | 304 Watt | 220 Watt | 300 Watt |
| RRP (market launch) | 689 Euro | 629 Euro | 1.049 Euro |
So I test
The test system
- Mainboard:MSI MPG X870E Carbon Wifi
- Processor:AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- Cooling:Corsair icue H150i RGB Pro XT
- RAM:2x 16 GByte DDR5-6000 Kingston Fury RGB
- Memory:1 TBYTE SOLIDIGM P44 for PCIe 4.0 NVME-SSD, 4 TBYTE Kingston Fury Renegade PCIe 4.0 NVME-SSD
- Power supply:MSI MEG AI3000P 1.300 WATCH
- Monitor:MSI MPG 321URXDE QD-OLED 4K 240 Hertz
driver
The latest drivers or special review drivers are used. In the case of AMD, version is 24.30.31.03 and at Nvidia version 572.50.
Synthetic benchmarks
3DMark Time Spy Extreme
- Graphic points
RX 9070 XT XFX QuicksilverAMD
14291
RTX 4080 SuperNvidia
14288
RTX 5070 TI MSI Wind 3X OCNvidia
13543
RX 9070 Sapphire PulseAMD
12577
RTX 4070 TI on MSI Wind 3X OCNvidia
11485
RTX 4070 Ti Gigabyte Gaming OCNvidia
10769
Rtx 3080 of theNvidia
10021
RTX 4070 SuperNvidia
9856
RTX 3080 Asus Rog Strix GamingNvidia
9257
Rtx 3070 of theNvidia
7265
RTX 4060 Ti 8GBNvidia
6099
RX 7600 XT XFX Speedster Quick309AMD
5291
RTX 4060 MSI Wind 2X OCNvidia
4923
RTX 2070 SuperNvidia
4724
- 0
- 5200
- 10400
- 15600
- 20800
- 26000
The Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 is located in 3DMark Time Spy Extreme and Steel NomadTwelve or 17 percent behind her big sister. With that it ranks in terms of performanceAt eye level with the RX 7900 XTa.
But Steel Nomad dances a bit out of line: Here the RX 9070 performs much better than the 7900 XT, but it is also clearer behind the XT version. And what does it look like in game practice?
Performance rating (rasterization)
Raster performance: 3,840 x 2.160
Average from Alan Wake 2, Stalker 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Enshrouded, Senua's Sage: Hellblade 2 and Forza Horizon 5
- 3.840 x 2.160 (Ø FPS)
- 3.840 x 2.160 1% Low (Ø FPS)
RX 9070 XT XFX QuicksilverAMD
66,2
57,8
RTX 5070 TI MSI Wind 3X OCNvidia
64,0
56,7
RX 9070 Sapphire PulseAMD
58,2
50,4
- 0,0
- 14,0
- 28,0
- 42,0
- 56,0
- 70,0
The practice check shows that the twelve percent gap from the benchmarks is confirmed in real games-at least in 4K. As expected, the Pulse RX 9070 approaches the XT version in lower resolutions.
After all, it is faster than the RX 7900 XT.Compared to the RTX 5070 Ti, it lacks around ten percent, while she depends clearly the RTX 5070.
Einzelbenchmarks
Alan Wake 2
Highest default
- 1.920 x 1.080 (Ø FPS)
- 2.560 x 1.440 (Ø FPS)
- 3.840 x 2.160 (Ø FPS)
Rx 7900 xtxAMD
124,6
85,8
48,8
RX 9070 XT XFX QuicksilverAMD
118,6
86,3
47,8
RX 7900 XTAMD
112,3
75,7
37,5
RTX 5070 TI MSI Wind 3X OCNvidia
111,0
79,3
43,7
RX 9070 Sapphire PulseAMD
107,4
73,7
39,2
RTX 5070Nvidia
88,2
62,2
34,3
- 0,0
- 26,0
- 52,0
- 78,0
- 104,0
- 130,0
Performance-Rating (Raytracing)
Performance-Rating (Raytracing)
Average from Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy and Indian Jones and the large circle
- 1.920 x 1.080 (Ø FPS)
- 2.560 x 1.440 (Ø FPS)
- 3.840 x 2.160 (Ø FPS)
RTX 5070 TI MSI Wind 3X OCNvidia
90,9
72,9
42,2
RX 9070 XT XFX QuicksilverAMD
84,4
60,8
32,7
RX 9070 Sapphire PulseAMD
77,8
55,2
29,8
RTX 5070Nvidia
76,8
54,4
30,9
Rx 7900 xtxAMD
72,5
55,8
31,2
RX 7900 XTAMD
64,7
48,8
27,3
- 0,0
- 20,0
- 40,0
- 60,0
- 80,0
- 100,0
In mattersRaytracingthe RX 9070 shows itself from an unusually muscular side:Despite only half as many RT cores, it clearly beats the RX 7900 XT.AMD has grown properly here, but Nvidia remains the top dog.
This is particularly evident when you use the RTX 5070 as a comparison: it is significantly inferior in terms of grid performance, but when raytracing, it is suddenly at eye level with the 9070.
FSR 4
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Highest default
- 1.920 x 1.080 (Ø FPS)
- 2.560 x 1.440 (Ø FPS)
- 3.840 x 2.160 (Ø FPS)
For performanceFSR 3.1
170,8
139,8
92,4
For performanceFSR 4.0
164,8
131,7
85,2
For qualityFSR 3.1
149,4
116,4
73,3
For qualityFSR 4.0
145,2
112,6
70,3
NativeTAA
124,6
92,1
52,9
- 0,0
- 36,0
- 72,0
- 108,0
- 144,0
- 180,0
Already in the test for the RX 9070 XTFSR 4 as a huge leap forwardproven. It costs minimally more performance thanFSR 3.1, but the significantly improved image quality compensates for this. If you can make friends with upscaling, you get a really good package here.
Here you can see FSR 4 compared to FSR 3.1 (both in modePerformance
) In Spider-Man: Miles Morales with an increase of 300 percent:
FSR 4 FSR 3.1In the picture gallery you can also see how the new FSR 4 cuts off compared to the native resolution and DLSS 3.7.10:
Performance consumption and efficiency
Performance consumption (grid performance)
Average from Alan Wake 2, Stalker 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Enshrouded, Senua's Sage: Hellblade 2 and Forza Horizon 5
- 3,840 x 2,160 Ø Watt
RTX 4070 SuperNvidia
202,7
RX 9070 Sapphire PulseAMD
219,5
RTX 4070 Ti Gigabyte Gaming OCNvidia
243,5
RTX 5070 TI MSI Wind 3X OCNvidia
276,8
RX 9070 XT XFX QuicksilverAMD
303,7
- 0,0
- 96,0
- 192,0
- 288,0
- 384,0
- 480,0
The RX 9070 Pulse treats itselfIn 4K on average 220 wattsFrom six games tested. That is a whopping 28 percent less than the RX 9070 XT!
But the actually impressive is the ratio of performance to consumption: twelve percent fewer FPS, but over a quarter less power consumption? That ensures oneEfficiency that puts all other cards in the shade in the test field.
Nvidia had the front for a long time, but AMD is now pulling at least the same.
volume
The Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 is one of the quietest cards in the test field. In my open structure, I measure just 35 decibels from a distance of 30 centimeters - and that under full load.
It is so quiet that I have to move my ears close to the graphics card to hear the fans at all. But well, I'm not the youngest anymore!
Price-performance ratio
Price-performance ratio (total)
Status of the prices: 24.02.2025 (FPS basis: Performance rating 3,840 x 2.160)
- Euro pro FPS
RX 9070 XT (reference)RRP market launch: 689 euros
10,41
RX 9070 Sapphire PulseRRP market launch: 629 euros
10,81
RX 9070 XT XFX QuicksilverRRP market launch: 789 euros
11,91
RX 7900 XTthat. 700 euros (neu)
12,22
RTX 5070RRP market launch: 649 euros
13,24
Rtx 4070 of theapprox. 700 euros (used)
13,36
Rx 7900 xtxthat. 900 euros (neu)
13,45
RTX 4070 Superapprox. 700 euros (used)
14,77
RTX 4070approx. 600 euros (used)
14,78
RTX 5070 TI MSI Wind 3X OCthat. 1,200 euros (neu)
18,75
RTX 4090approx. 1,900 euros (used)
22,33
RTX 5090that. 3,900 euros (neu)
36,76
- 0,00
- 8,00
- 16,00
- 24,00
- 32,00
- 40,00
The RX 9070 also belongs to the top with the price-performance ratio and is only minimally behind the RX 9070 XT (reference), at least with a view to the RRP.
How much of it in the end remains in the trade must still be seen.
Conclusion of the editorial team
Alexander Köpf
@Nebulamutara
The Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 stands out in the test field - but not solely due to its consumption, but due to its impressive efficiency. No other card delivers FPS per ten watt power consumption. Chapeau, AMD!
In addition, there are only twelve percent fewer frames per second in 4K compared to the XT variant, a solid ray tracing upgrade compared to the previous generation and a whopping 16 GB graphics memory-sufficient for 4K in most scenarios. Nevertheless, she feels most comfortable in WQHD.
With an RRP of 629 euros, however, it may be a bit too close to the RX 9070 XT (689 euros) in order to be really attractive. Although the price and performance scale almost linearly, the RX 9070 would have to be more priced from its big sister in my opinion.
Nevertheless, the RX 9070 already offers an excellent price-performance ratio. Especially in the classic rasterization, she makes the direct competition from Nvidia, the RTX 5070, clear and is at eye level when it comes to ray tracing. However, NVIDIA retains the upper hand in the UPSCaling and (Multi) frame generation.
