I'm considering buying a graphics card from the used market and I've found a 7900XT for $475 and a 5070 for $425. I understand that the 7900XT generally performs about 10-15% better in raw performance, but the 5070 excels in ray tracing and DLSS compared to FSR 3 (and potentially FSR 4 if I use an optimization scaler). However, I'm a bit concerned about the 12GB of VRAM on the 5070 since I'm planning to game at 1440p—could that be an issue, or is it overhyped? The games I want to play include Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk, Outer Wilds, The Last of Us, Bioshock, RE4, and occasionally lighter games like Marvel Rivals.
5 Answers
Honestly, the VRAM thing on the 5070 is overstated. At 1440p, you typically won't hit issues with 12GB, especially for most current titles. Most people fearmonger without actual benchmarks. That said, it's still smart to pay attention to what games you plan to play in the future when making your choice.
For those games you're interested in, I think the 5070's Ray Tracing capabilities could be a plus, especially for titles like Cyberpunk. But if you're more into raw performance and aren't too keen on those features, the 7900XT is a beast with great performance across the board too. Just make sure to weigh your priorities between raw power and features!
Where are you finding a 5070 for $425? That sounds like a solid deal if it’s in good condition! It's hard to pass up a price like that.
It really depends on your gaming style. I have a 7900XT and it's fantastic for max settings at 1440p; it handles everything smoothly. The extra VRAM actually helps with future-proofing—it's a solid choice if you don't care about ray tracing. But if you're going to play games that heavily utilize ray tracing features, then the 5070 might serve you better.
But you also have to remember the games I want to play! I'm not too interested in ray tracing myself, so maybe the 7900XT still makes sense.
I'd go with the 5070 without a doubt! DLSS 4.5 is game-changing, while FSR3 doesn't really hold a candle to it. Plus, Nvidia cards usually get better support in the long run compared to AMD, especially given the recent drama around AMD not updating their older cards. Really, for ray tracing and future-proofing, the 5070 is the better option here.
Totally agree! AMD has been dropping the ball lately with driver support and FSR updates. I'd feel safer investing in the 5070.
Yeah, it seems like most titles run fine. But there are cases where things can get tricky with higher settings—like that Indiana Jones game has been shown to choke if you max it out with ray tracing.