I'm considering upgrading my GPU mainly for gaming at 1080p or 1440p settings, and I want something that will be future-proof. Although I'm leaning towards the RTX 4070, I've noticed that the RTX 5070 is sometimes priced the same or even cheaper, which confuses me since I don't know much about the GPU market.
Currently, the RTX 4070 is priced around $600-$900 and the RTX 5070 is between $500-$700. Here are my PC specs for context:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12700F
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4
- Motherboard: MSI MAG Infinite S3 (H610 chipset)
- Current GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1660 SUPER
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD + 1TB SATA HDD/SSD
- Power Supply: not sure, but it's a 500W 80+ Bronze OEM unit.
I'm not super tech-savvy about PC hardware, so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
3 Answers
I personally run a 5070 with an i5 on a 500W PSU and I can confirm it’s not ideal! My PSU has struggled when both the CPU and GPU are under load. You’ll definitely want to downgrade the settings or undervolt the GPU if you stick with a 500W unit. I’d recommend upgrading to at least 800W to maintain stability. Plus, make sure to measure your case to ensure the 5070 fits, as it’s longer than previous models.
First off, your 500W power supply isn’t going to cut it for either the 4070 or 5070. You really should upgrade to at least an 800W model to avoid instability, especially since you're running an Intel i7.
As for the cards, the RTX 4070 is priced higher than its MSRP because it’s being phased out. If the RTX 5070 is available at the same price, you should seriously consider it—it’s newer and has better features like PCIE 5.0 support. Just keep in mind some stability issues might pop up, particularly with driver updates in 2025 since it’s a brand new card. You can look up PSU recommendations from manufacturers too!
Gotcha! I’m planning to upgrade my PSU before getting a new GPU. Thanks for the heads up!
Absolutely go for the RTX 5070 since it's the latest card for about the same price as the 4070. Just a heads-up: if you look into the RX 9070, it might be cheaper in some places and worth considering too. Regardless, you should upgrade your power supply for stability—you could risk damaging your components if the GPU and CPU demand peak power at the same time. Check out some reviews online for further insight before you decide!
Thanks for the tip! I’ll double-check if it'll fit my case before buying. Hoping it works out!