I recently returned a defective RX 9060 XT and bought an RTX 5070 a few days ago for $880 including tax. I've now found a PowerColor RX 9070 XT Reaper 16GB for $699 at my local retailer. That would save me a substantial amount while potentially offering better performance, but I'm a little nervous about trying AMD again after the problems with my previous card. Does anyone have experience with PowerColor, and would this be a worthwhile swap?
4 Answers
PowerColor cards generally have a solid reputation, and owners of their higher-end models have reported good experiences. Unless you specifically need Nvidia features or have a strong preference for its software, the 9070 XT looks like the smarter purchase at this price.
My own 9070 XT has been reliable since launch, including with fairly heavy gaming, so the previous 9060 XT may simply have been defective. For the cleanest transition, use DDU in Safe Mode to remove the old drivers, or consider a fresh OS installation if you run into problems.
The RTX 5070 is a rough deal at $880. At $699, the RX 9070 XT offers much better value, so I’d return the 5070 while it’s still within the return period.
If the RX 9070 XT is genuinely cheaper than what you paid for the RTX 5070, the swap seems like an easy choice. You’d be saving money and getting stronger overall performance for the price.
I paid $880 for the 5070 after tax, so I went ahead and ordered the 9070 XT. Hopefully this one gives me a better experience than the 9060 XT did.
I’m still a little nervous about going with AMD again, but I’ll keep the 5070 available until I know the new card works properly. It’s reassuring that both cards are still within their return windows.