AMD Radeon RX 9070 & 9070 XT GPUs: Release Date, Specs, Pricing, and Performance Deep Dive
The GPU market is heating up in 2024, with AMD’s latest Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT taking center stage. These mid-to-high-tier graphics cards promise to deliver exceptional performance for gamers and creators alike, leveraging AMD’s cutting-edge RDNA 3.5 architecture. In this blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know about these GPUs, including their release date, specs, pricing, and how they stack up against the competition. Let’s dive in!
Release Date: When Did the RX 9070 Series Launch?
AMD officially unveiled the Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT at its Radeon Horizon event in March 2024 , with a global retail launch following in April 2024 . This release aligns with AMD’s strategy to counter NVIDIA’s RTX 4070 and RTX 4070 Super, offering gamers a compelling alternative for 1440p and 4K gaming.
Key milestones:
March 15, 2024 : Initial announcement at Radeon Horizon.
April 3, 2024 : Pre-orders open for custom AIB (Add-In Board) partner models from ASUS, MSI, Sapphire, and PowerColor.
April 10, 2024 : Global availability begins.
While AMD’s reference designs (featuring blower-style cooling) hit shelves first, custom variants with advanced cooling solutions and factory overclocks trickled out in the weeks following the launch.
Specifications: RDNA 3.5 Powerhouse
The RX 9070 series is built on AMD’s RDNA 3.5 architecture , a refined version of the RDNA 3 design found in the RX 7000 series. Key improvements include enhanced ray tracing efficiency, AI-driven upscaling via FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 3.1 , and better power efficiency.
RX 9070 vs. RX 9070 XT: Key Differences
Compute Units (CUs)
54 CUs (3,456 stream processors)
60 CUs (3,840 stream processors)
Base Clock
1.8 GHz
2.0 GHz
Boost Clock
Up to 2.4 GHz
Up to 2.6 GHz
VRAM
12GB GDDR6
16GB GDDR6
Memory Bus
192-bit
256-bit
Bandwidth
432 GB/s
672 GB/s
TDP
225W
260W
Ray Accelerators
2nd Gen
2nd Gen
Notable Features
RDNA 3.5 Architecture :
Improved chiplet design with 5nm process for compute cores and 6nm for the memory/cache complex.
Higher IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) for better performance per watt.
FSR 3.1 :
AMD’s answer to NVIDIA’s DLSS, offering AI-driven upscaling with minimal quality loss.
Supports frame generation for smoother gameplay in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2 .
Dual Media Engine :
Accelerated AV1 encoding/decoding for content creators.
8K60 HEVC encode/decode support.
Infinity Cache :
64MB of high-speed cache (up from 32MB in RX 7000 series) reduces memory latency.
Pricing: How Much Do the RX 9070 GPUs Cost?
AMD has positioned the RX 9070 series as a premium mid-range offering, with pricing that undercuts NVIDIA’s RTX 4070 Super by ~10–15%.
MSRP Breakdown
RX 9070 : $449 (12GB model)
RX 9070 XT : $549 (16GB model)
Custom AIB Variants
Third-party models often come with higher price tags due to advanced cooling and overclocks:
ASUS ROG Strix RX 9070 XT OC : $629 (factory overclocked, triple-fan cooler).
MSI Gaming X RX 9070 : $529 (custom RGB lighting, dual-fan design).
Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT : $579 (balanced performance and thermals).
Market Trends
Early adopters faced slight price premiums ($50–$100 over MSRP) due to high demand, but prices stabilized by mid-2024. Bundled deals (e.g., free games like Starfield or Assassin’s Creed Mirage ) are common during launch periods.
Performance Analysis: How Do They Compare?
Gaming Benchmarks
In 1440p Ultra settings:
RX 9070 XT : Matches the RTX 4070 Super in rasterization, trailing by ~10–15% in ray-traced titles.
RX 9070 : Slightly outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti, with a 20% lead in non-ray-traced games.
AI and Content Creation
FSR 3.1 boosts performance in supported games by up to 2x without compromising image quality.
AV1 Encoding : The dual media engine makes the RX 9070 XT a solid choice for streamers and video editors.
Power Efficiency
Both GPUs are more efficient than their predecessors, with the RX 9070 XT drawing ~30W less than the RTX 4070 Super under load.
Conclusion: Are the RX 9070 GPUs Worth Buying?
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT are stellar options for gamers seeking high 1440p performance and future-proofing. The RX 9070 XT , with its 16GB VRAM and 256-bit bus, is particularly appealing for ray tracing and content creation, while the RX 9070 offers excellent value for rasterization-focused gamers.
Who Should Buy Them?
1440p Gamers : Both cards excel here, especially with FSR 3.1.
Streamers/Creators : AV1 encoding and ample VRAM make the XT a top pick.
Budget-Conscious Buyers : The RX 9070 undercuts the RTX 4070 Super by $100–$150.
Alternatives to Consider :
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super : Better ray tracing but pricier.
AMD RX 7900 GRE : Slightly cheaper but older architecture.
FAQs
1. When did the RX 9070 series launch?
April 10, 2024 (pre-orders began April 3).
2. How does the RX 9070 XT compare to the RTX 4070 Super?
The XT matches NVIDIA in rasterization but lags in ray tracing. It’s $100 cheaper and more power-efficient.
3. Is 12GB/16GB VRAM enough for future games?
Yes. 12GB suffices for 1440p, while 16GB future-proofs for 4K and AI-enhanced workloads.
4. Can I upgrade from an RX 6000 series GPU?
Expect a ~40–50% performance boost over the RX 6700 XT.
5. Are these GPUs available globally?
Yes, though initial stock varied by region. Check retailers like Newegg, Best Buy, and Amazon.
6. What power supply do I need?
650W for RX 9070, 750W for RX 9070 XT (ensure an 8-pin PCIe connector).