I'm choosing between a used RTX 3070 and RX 6700 XT at the same price. I mainly want to play single-player games and competitive titles at 1080p, and I'm hoping the card will remain usable through 2027 or 2028.
The RTX 3070 generally delivers higher FPS and supports DLSS, but it has 8 GB of VRAM. The RX 6700 XT has 12 GB, though it sometimes falls behind in newer demanding games. In the benchmarks I checked, the 3070 usually stayed above 60 FPS, while the 6700 XT struggled in a few titles. However, the 6700 XT could handle ultra settings in some games where the 3070's 8 GB limit caused problems.
At the same price, which card is the better long-term choice for 1080p? Will 8 GB be enough on the RTX 3070, or will the 6700 XT's extra VRAM matter more over the next few years?
4 Answers
Don’t focus only on ultra presets. On cards in this performance class, medium-to-high settings are usually the sensible target. Lowering textures one step can greatly reduce VRAM usage, so the 3070 should remain playable at 1080p, provided the used card is in good condition.
For 1080p, I’d lean toward the RTX 3070. It is generally the faster card, and 8 GB is still workable if you avoid ultra texture settings in the most demanding games. DLSS can also help extend its usable performance.
The RX 6700 XT is the safer choice if you want to keep the card for three or four years and prefer high or ultra textures. Some modern games already exceed 8 GB of VRAM at 1080p, so the 12 GB buffer may age better even though the GPU itself is a little slower.
It mostly depends on the games and settings you care about. Look at side-by-side benchmarks for your actual favorites rather than average results. The 3070 is better when you want higher FPS, while the 6700 XT gives you more room for texture-heavy games.
That’s what makes the choice difficult. The 3070 has better average performance, but I don’t want to lower textures constantly in newer games.