GPU currently in favor, yet not advisable for immediate purchase
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, the flagship graphics card of 2025, is currently available for purchase. However, its price has been a point of contention among consumers, as it is selling above its Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) due to high demand and limited availability.
Pricing and Availability
On platforms like Amazon, the RX 9070 XT is available for prices ranging from $720 to $820. The cheapest option from Asus is available, but it still costs $120 more than the MSRP. Despite slight improvements in availability, the RX 9070 XT often maintains a price premium because it competes directly with GPUs like the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 4080, which can have fluctuating prices, creating a dynamic pricing environment.
Alternatives and Competition
For those seeking alternatives with similar performance but at lower price points, several options exist. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16GB, positioned close in performance to the RX 9070 XT, is currently seeing price reductions, making it $90-$100 cheaper in some markets than the RX 9070 XT.
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 (non-XT variant) is slightly less powerful but also cheaper, priced around $600. For more budget-friendly options in the mid-range, GPUs like the RX 9060 XT 16GB ($370) or the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB ($430) are recommended for 1440p gaming.
Performance and Ray Tracing
In both rasterization and ray tracing benchmarks, the Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers performance comparable to the RTX 5070 Ti. In ray tracing, it even beats the previous-gen flagship, the RX 7900 XTX. Compared to the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, the Radeon RX 9070 XT performs within 10% and up to 15% faster.
The RTX 5070 Ti, however, offers better ray tracing performance and grants access to Nvidia's latest DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation tech. Last-gen options like the RX 7900 XTX may offer worse ray tracing performance.
Budget Options
For gamers looking to add to their build on a budget, the Intel Arc B580 could be a consideration. However, if you're looking for something cheaper, it's recommended to choose AMD over Nvidia's 16GB RTX 5060 Ti, which is considerably pricier.
The Sapphire RX 9060 XT 16GB is available for $380, but make sure to buy the 16GB version and not the one with just eight gigs of VRAM. AMD's RX 9070 non-XT, RX 7800 XT, RX 7900 XT or GRE, and RX 7900 XTX are also options from AMD.
The Radeon RX 9070 XT is priced at $599, which is its MSRP. Despite the price, it offers a powerful and capable graphics solution for those seeking 4K-ready performance.
- The RTX 5070 Ti, priced lower than the Radeon RX 9070 XT, is an alternative with similar performance in some markets, offering a more budget-friendly option for 1440p gaming.
- The Radeon RX 9070 XT competes directly with gadgets like the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 4080, all of which are influenced by the ever-changing landscape of technology and pricing.
