I'm planning a GPU upgrade and want to replace my GTX 1070 Ti, which has served me well but is starting to struggle with newer games. My current system has a Ryzen 5 7600, 32 GB of DDR5 memory, a 128 GB SATA SSD, a 1 TB NVMe SSD, a 1 TB hard drive, and an 800 W power supply.
My main target is 1080p at 60 FPS for newer AAA games, preferably at high settings, while still reaching 144 FPS in older titles because I have a 144 Hz monitor. I'd like the upgrade to remain useful for roughly five years without spending more than necessary. The RX 9070 GRE feels somewhat expensive, so I'm wondering whether it offers good value at 1080p or whether a cheaper card such as the RX 9060 XT 16 GB, RTX 5060 Ti, or a used RTX 4070 would make more sense.
3 Answers
If you’re trying to keep the cost down, the RX 9060 XT with 16 GB of VRAM is worth considering. It should be a strong 1080p card and may offer better value for your actual target. A reasonably priced used RTX 4070 could also be an option, assuming you’re comfortable buying second-hand.
The 9070 GRE makes sense if it’s substantially cheaper than the RX 9070 and you want extra performance for future games. However, its 12 GB of VRAM is the main concern for a five-year purchase. Some current games already use around 9–10 GB at 1080p, so a 16 GB card could age more comfortably, even if the 9070 GRE is faster today.
The RX 9070 GRE is more than capable for 1080p. It should handle well over 60 FPS in most games and can also perform nicely at 1440p, so it gives you plenty of headroom. That said, it may be more GPU than you really need for a 1080p60 target.
The VRAM concern is what makes me hesitate. Right now the 9070 GRE seems noticeably faster than the RTX 5060 Ti, but I’m unsure whether newer games over the next few years will start demanding more than 12 GB.