I'm considering upgrading my RTX 3070 to an RX 9070 XT for about $685. I could probably sell the 3070 for around $150–$200, making the upgrade cost roughly $485–$535. The 3070 isn't causing any major problems, but I'm worried GPU prices could get even worse and I'd like a card that will last several years. My system has a Ryzen 7 7700X, MSI Pro B650-P motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, and a 27-inch 1440p 165Hz monitor. I've also started playing more demanding, story-driven games. Would this be a worthwhile upgrade, and does the card's manufacturer matter much? The model I'm considering is from XFX.
5 Answers
That’s a reasonable price for a 9070 XT, and the upgrade should be substantial at 1440p. You may also be able to get closer to $200 for a working RTX 3070, which makes the effective upgrade cost lower.
I made the same move from an RTX 3070 to a 9070 XT and have been very happy with it. The extra VRAM and much higher performance make a big difference, particularly in newer games. It’s a strong choice for 1440p high-refresh gaming and should last for years. The main caveat is ray tracing: the 9070 XT can handle it, but Nvidia generally performs better there. For rasterized performance, the upgrade is excellent.
Yes, especially if you plan to keep the rest of the platform for a while. Buying the stronger GPU now means you’ll already be set when you eventually upgrade the CPU or other components.
I upgraded from a 1080 Ti to a 9070 XT and the difference was far bigger than expected. My performance went from roughly 100 FPS to around 240 FPS in some games, with even higher results using frame generation. The value depends on what you play, but demanding modern games are where the upgrade makes the most sense.
XFX is generally a perfectly reasonable brand. The specific cooler, noise levels, warranty, and price are more important than the logo itself. Check reviews for the exact model, but you don’t need to avoid it just because it isn’t an Nvidia-branded card.
That helps. I mostly play at 1440p and have been moving toward more graphically intensive single-player games, so I’m leaning toward making the upgrade.