GeForce RTX 5090 vs GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

Winner:
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Main Difference:
Massive gap in vram capacity and total power draw between these high-end Blackwell cards.
Page Summary:
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the superior choice for most high-end gamers because it provides exceptional performance and 16GB of GDDR7 memory at a much lower $749 MSRP compared to the flagship.
Last updated:
January 31, 2026

The Essentials

GeForce RTX 5090

MSRP:
$1,999
See Current Price
Spec Sheet:
Core Count:
21760
Thread Count:
Base Clock:
2017 MHz
Boost Clock:
2407 MHz
Integrated Graphics:
VRAM:
32.0 GB
L3 Cache:
32.0 GB
TDP:
575 W
Socket:
512 bit
Bus Width:
512 bit
Release Date:
2025-01-30
Gaming Scores:
(Higher is better)
Resolution
Rasterization
Ray Tracing
1080p
100
100
1440p
100
100
4K
100
100
Gaming and Productivity Scores:
(Higher is better)
Gaming
Productivity

GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

MSRP:
$749
See Current Price
Spec Sheet:
Core Count:
8960
Thread Count:
Base Clock:
2295 MHz
Boost Clock:
2452 MHz
Integrated Graphics:
VRAM:
16.0 GB
L3 Cache:
16.0 GB
TDP:
300 W
Socket:
256 bit
Bus Width:
256 bit
Release Date:
2025-02-20
Gaming Scores:
(Higher is better)
Resolution
Rasterization
Ray Tracing
1080p
78.8
85
1440p
70.8
71.7
4K
58.7
62.4
Gaming and Productivity Scores:
(Higher is better)
Gaming
Productivity
Note about scores:
We measure this card's performance against the absolute best GPU currently available. The numbers show the percentage of performance you get compared to the market leader at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions, with the leader at 100. These scores are aggregated from a wide range of different games to create a reliable average. However, keep in mind that performance in specific titles may deviate from this average depending on how that game is optimized.
Note about scores:
We measure this processor's performance against the absolute best CPU currently available. The numbers show the percentage of performance you get compared to the market leader in both gaming and workstation tasks, with the leader at 100. These scores are aggregated from a wide range of different games and applications to create a reliable average. However, keep in mind that performance in specific software may deviate from this average depending on how that program is optimized.

Performance Deep Dive

GeForce RTX 5090
Gaming Analysis:

The GeForce RTX 5090 represents a massive leap in headroom for high-resolution setups. It makes standard high-definition displays feel like an afterthought because it provides a level of power that allows for fluid motion across the most demanding environments. If you are playing on a top-tier display, this card manages to maintain crisp, stable movement while avoiding the jagged edges or hitching that can occur when hardware gets pushed to its limit. It serves as a flagship enthusiast choice that stays smooth even when the onscreen action becomes incredibly crowded and chaotic.

A massive 32GB VRAM buffer paired with a 512-bit bus effectively removes the limitations that lead to blurry textures or sudden stutters. While cards with smaller memory pools might experience hitches when loading expansive open worlds, the GDDR7 memory on this card moves data with enough speed and volume to handle ultra-quality assets without struggle. You can dial up every setting and expect the system to handle the workload without the memory pressure warnings that sometimes affect older high-end hardware.

  • Ray Tracing Performance: With 170 dedicated RT cores, the Blackwell 2.0 architecture handles complex lighting and sharp reflections with ease. It turns heavy path-traced scenes into a responsive experience where shadows and light behave naturally.
  • DLSS Support: This hardware makes use of advanced upscaling and frame generation to ensure that even the most brutal titles remain playable at high resolutions. It provides a significant boost to responsiveness when you want to maximize visual fidelity.
  • Thermal Management: Despite the high power requirements, the physical design is built to manage heat density effectively across the massive cooling array. The card is substantial and heavy, but it stays relatively cool and quiet during extended sessions compared to less efficient designs.
  • Memory Bandwidth: The move to a wider bus and newer memory standards means the card is rarely bottlenecked by data throughput. This ensures that assets load instantly and frames remain consistent even as you move between different environments in a game.

Fitting this card into a build requires a high-quality 1050W power supply and a case with significant internal clearance. It is a physically large component that will occupy a great deal of space and it usually justifies the use of a support bracket to protect your motherboard from its weight. This is a choice for those who want a system built around a single, massive core component that handles any modern title at the highest possible settings. Its launch MSRP of $1,999 reflects its position as a specialized piece of hardware for those who want to avoid any compromise in visual quality.

GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Gaming Analysis:

The GeForce RTX 5070 Ti acts as a heavyweight for high-resolution gaming, specifically designed to dominate the mid-to-high tier of performance. It handles the native resolution of enthusiast-grade displays with significant overhead, though it transitions into a more calculated role when pushing the extreme pixel counts of the highest resolutions. In those scenarios, the hardware maintains fluidity but relies more on its architectural efficiency rather than raw brute force. It settles into a comfortable rhythm where motion remains smooth and responsive without the sluggishness often found in lower-tier silicon.

The 16GB of GDDR7 memory provides a massive buffer for modern visual demands. You are largely protected from the stuttering and texture pop-in that can occur when a GPU runs out of room for high-quality assets. Modern titles with dense environments require heavy texture loads that can overwhelm cards with smaller capacities, but the 256-bit bus here allows you to push settings toward their maximum without hitting a wall. This VRAM capacity ensures that game worlds stay sharp and detailed throughout long sessions rather than dropping into blurry or low-quality placeholders.

  • Rasterization Performance. This card shows a clear lead over previous-generation mid-range options and stays competitive with older enthusiast-tier flagships in traditional rendering tasks.
  • Ray Tracing Capabilities. The Blackwell architecture handles complex lighting and shadow calculations with composure. Because it features 70 dedicated RT cores, you can enable advanced lighting effects and path tracing while maintaining a stable visual flow that avoids the choppy behavior of less capable hardware.
  • DLSS and Frame Generation. The inclusion of modern upscaling tech is a significant help at the highest resolutions. It allows the card to take a heavy native load and transform it into a fluid experience, which is especially useful when every detail is cranked to the limit.
  • High Resolution Considerations. While it matches elite previous-generation cards in ray tracing, the 256-bit bus width means it is most efficient when paired with upscaling if you intend to play at the highest possible resolutions with all effects active.

The transition to GDDR7 provides a substantial jump in bandwidth over the prior generation, which helps eliminate data bottlenecks and micro-stutter. This is a sophisticated piece of silicon that focuses on a clean and stable image. You are investing in the ability to keep visual features enabled without watching the experience degrade or become unplayable when the action on screen gets intense. If your goal is a 800W power-managed build that stays relevant as game engines become more demanding, this card fits that role well.

GeForce RTX 5090
Productivity Analysis:

While the gaming capability of this hardware is undeniable, the true strength of the GeForce RTX 5090 lies in how it functions as a heavy duty tool for professionals and creators. Transitioning from entertainment to a high pressure production environment reveals that the real value of the flagship Blackwell 2.0 architecture is the massive 32GB pool of GDDR7 memory. This enormous buffer acts as a safety net for those working with complex 3D geometry or high resolution video timelines that would cause lesser hardware to struggle or require assets to be moved to slower system RAM. You can load massive texture sets and millions of polygons without the hesitation or technical limitations that typically disrupt a fluid creative process.

The 512-bit memory bus provides a wide path for data that prevents the system from feeling sluggish when scrubbing through high bitrate video or navigating dense architectural visualizations. Choosing this hardware is often a decision based on the reliability of the established CUDA ecosystem because professional deadlines rarely leave room for software compatibility issues. When running local large language models or utilizing tools for generative tasks, the fifth generation Tensor cores handle complex math with a level of speed that makes previous enthusiast hardware feel noticeably dated. It is a workstation grade component that happens to share a lineage with consumer products, making it a viable insurance policy against memory related errors during critical renders.

  • Enhanced Render Throughput: The 170 dedicated RT cores are designed for high speed viewport performance which means you get clean and accurate previews of lighting and shadows in seconds rather than waiting for long processing cycles.
  • Superior Data Bandwidth: With a memory bandwidth of 1790 GB/s, the card moves data with enough volume to ensure that texture heavy projects and 8K video files do not create a bottleneck during ingestion or playback.
  • Multi Engine Encoding: The presence of multiple dedicated hardware encoders allows for the simultaneous processing of high quality video exports and can significantly reduce the time spent waiting for a project to finish.
  • Advanced Compute Performance: The architecture provides massive tflops of processing power across its 21760 shading units which allows for rapid noise reduction and complex physics simulations that usually require server grade equipment.
  • Hardware Requirements: This is a heavy and power hungry component that demands a high quality 1050W power supply and a case with enough airflow to manage the heat generated during a marathon export or bake.

There is an unavoidable physical reality to using a card this powerful because it generates a significant amount of heat that can warm up a small office during intense workloads. Building a system around this GPU requires a commitment to a high quality infrastructure of power delivery and cooling to ensure the hardware remains stable under constant load. It represents a significant investment with an MSRP of $1,999, but for those whose income depends on render times and project stability, the cost is often justified by the hours saved and the frustration avoided. It remains a specialized piece of equipment for those who refuse to compromise on the speed or scale of their professional output.

GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Productivity Analysis:

While this hardware dominates high-resolution gaming, moving into a professional workspace shifts the focus toward reliability and thermal endurance. In a workstation environment, the Blackwell architecture moves from providing entertainment to serving as a tool that handles prolonged rendering loads. The 16GB of GDDR7 memory provides a significant buffer for professional tasks that was often missing in previous mid-tier hardware. If you are working with large texture sets in 3D applications or handling high-resolution video projects, this expanded memory pool helps maintain system stability by providing the necessary space for complex assets to reside without overflowing into slower system memory.

Choosing this hardware also secures access to the CUDA ecosystem, which remains a standard for many industry-standard plugins and rendering engines. This technical foundation means that software updates and professional tools often prioritize stability and performance for this specific architecture. The 896 GB/s memory bandwidth on a 256-bit bus contributes to a responsive experience when navigating complex project timelines. There is a noticeable lack of friction when dragging a playhead across a dense production file, as the hardware keeps pace with your manual inputs rather than forcing a wait for the interface to catch up.

  • Video Processing. Dual ninth-generation encoders provide hardware acceleration for modern codecs like AV1 and high-depth 10-bit formats, which reduces the heavy lifting usually required from the processor.
  • Rendering Efficiency. With 70 dedicated RT cores, the card processes path-tracing calculations significantly faster than its predecessors and allows for more frequent iterations on lighting and materials.
  • Compute Resources. The 43.9 TFLOPS of compute performance drives localized AI tools and denoising features, ensuring these background calculations do not lock up the user interface during heavy use.
  • Data Movement. High memory bandwidth serves as a quiet strength for three-dimensional work, moving massive 8K material files into VRAM quickly enough to prevent the micro-stuttering found on slower memory architectures.

Managing the thermal output of a 300W part is a requirement for maintaining the longevity of the silicon under constant render pressure. When the hardware is engaged in a full production cycle, it generates consistent heat that requires a case with high-volume airflow to prevent the clock speeds from dropping as a safety measure. For a stable build, a high-quality 850W power supply ensures the system has enough headroom to manage power spikes during intense computational bursts. This is a sophisticated component that prioritizes the ability to leave a project running through the night and find it completed without errors in the morning. It handles heavy lifting with a level of competence that justifies its position as a serious production tool for those who rely on their hardware for consistent results.

GeForce RTX 5090
Feature Analysis:

A staggering 575W TDP means this card functions much like a high output heater inside your case and it will aggressively saturate the air in any small room during a heavy rendering or gaming session. You are committing to a specific thermal infrastructure that necessitates a high airflow chassis with significant mesh spacing to prevent the heat from lingering around sensitive components. If you attempt to trap this hardware in a restricted glass box without sufficient exhaust, the system will likely struggle to maintain its peak clock speeds as internal temperatures climb. Physical integration is a demanding process that requires you to prioritize heat displacement over almost every other aesthetic consideration to ensure long term stability.

The power delivery requirements represent a significant logistical factor that requires careful planning before you begin the assembly. You should look toward a 1050W power supply to safely handle the electricity demands and ensure the system remains stable under the heavy transient loads common with flagship hardware. Using older cable adapters can lead to unnecessary clutter and potential connection issues, so a native 16-pin cable is the preferred method for supplying the massive amount of current this architecture requires. Modern building with such a power hungry flagship demands a level of electrical scrutiny and cable management that was rarely necessary in previous hardware generations.

  • Memory Headroom: The 32.0 GB GDDR7 buffer serves as the ultimate insurance policy against the memory overflows that cause sudden hitches in high resolution gaming or total crashes in complex 3D production suites.
  • Connection Integrity: Utilizing a single 16-pin power connector simplifies the cable path but requires careful routing to ensure the plug is fully seated and the cable is not bent too sharply near the shroud.
  • Interface Bandwidth: The native PCIe 5.0 x16 interface ensures you are utilizing the maximum data paths available on the newest enthusiast motherboards which can be helpful as textures and assets grow in size.
  • Physical Presence: This is a heavy and substantial component that occupies a significant amount of space, often requiring a dedicated support bracket to prevent the weight from putting stress on the motherboard slot.
  • Thermal Density: The Blackwell 2.0 architecture concentrates a massive amount of power into the silicon, making high static pressure fans a necessity for pushing air through the dense fin stacks of the cooler.

There is a reality to owning this class of hardware that involves managing the environment around the PC as much as the internal components. It is an unapologetic statement of overkill that provides a level of peace of mind for those who simply want to set every slider to the maximum and never worry about technical limitations again. While the $1,999 MSRP positions it as a significant investment, it functions as a workstation grade tool that eliminates the friction often found in high pressure creative or gaming environments. Success with a build of this scale depends entirely on the quality of the supporting parts and your willingness to provide the necessary airflow and power foundation it requires to operate at its full potential.

GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Feature Analysis:

Managing the 300W thermal output of the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti constitutes the primary build challenge for any mid-to-high tier enclosure. This Blackwell silicon generates concentrated heat that requires a case with high-volume airflow and multiple intake fans to prevent the hardware from dialing back its clocks during heavy use. While the base minimum power specification sits at 700W, a high-quality 800W power supply provides the necessary electrical buffer to handle sudden spikes in demand without triggering a system shutdown or causing long-term component fatigue. The card utilizes a single 16-pin power connector, which requires a firm and fully seated connection to ensure stable power delivery and long-term reliability across various load cycles.

The 16GB of GDDR7 memory acts as a safety net against the texture-heavy demands of modern high-resolution gaming and professional creative suites. Having this capacity on a 256-bit bus prevents the visual hitches and asset pop-in that can occur when a GPU is forced to cycle data out of its local buffer. Because the card supports the PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, it communicates at the highest possible speeds with modern motherboards, though it maintains full compatibility with older hardware generations. You are investing in a sophisticated hardware environment that demands quality power and cooling to maintain its performance floor over years of use.

  • The 300W typical power draw exerts significant pressure on internal case temperatures and requires a thoughtful fan curve.
  • A 16GB memory buffer ensures the card remains comfortable at high resolutions where smaller 12GB capacities might require compromises.
  • Native PCIe 5.0 x16 support provides a wide lane for data movement on the latest platform architectures.
  • The MSRP of $749 positions this hardware as a serious investment for those who prioritize architectural efficiency over budget-tier alternatives.
  • Transitioning to the 16-pin power standard simplifies cable management in modern ATX 3.1 builds but requires careful clearance for the cable bend.

A build featuring this hardware succeeds when the environment matches the sophistication of the silicon. It is not a component for cramped cases with poor ventilation because of the thermal requirements of the Blackwell architecture. Once you have resolved the airflow and power supply requirements, the card operates with a level of stability that allows you to focus on the task at hand rather than troubleshooting hardware limits. It represents a modern approach to power-dense computing where the quality of your cooling solution directly influences the consistency of your experience.

GeForce RTX 5090
Full Tech Specs:
Feature Specification
Name GeForce RTX 5090
MSRP $1,999
Release Date 2025-01-30
Manufacturer NVIDIA
Memory Size 32 GB
Memory Type GDDR7
Memory Bus 512 bit
Memory Clock 1750 MHz
Memory Bandwidth 1790.0 GB/s
Base Clock 2017 MHz
Boost Clock 2407 MHz
Shading Units 21760
Ray Tracing Cores 170
TMUs 680
ROPs 176
Pixel Rate 423.6 GPixel/s
Texture Rate 1636.8 GTexel/s
Compute Power (FP16) 104.8 TFLOPS
Compute Power (FP32) 104.8 TFLOPS
Compute Power (FP64) 1.6 TFLOPS
Architecture Blackwell 2.0
Process Size 5 nm
Interface PCIe 5.0 x16
Power Connectors 1x 16-pin
TDP 575 W
Suggested PSU 1050 W
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Full Tech Specs:
Feature Specification
GPU Model GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
MSRP $749
Release Date 2025-02-20
Chipset Manufacturer NVIDIA
Memory Size 16 GB
Memory Type GDDR7
Memory Bus 256 bit
Memory Clock 1750 MHz
Memory Bandwidth 896.0 GB/s
Base Clock 2295 MHz
Boost Clock 2452 MHz
Shading Units 8960
Ray Tracing Cores 70
TMUs 280
ROPs 96
Pixel Rate 235.4 GPixel/s
Texture Rate 686.6 GTexel/s
Compute Power (FP16) 43.9 TFLOPS
Compute Power (FP32) 43.9 TFLOPS
Compute Power (FP64) 686.6 GFLOPS
Architecture Blackwell 2.0
Process Size 5 nm
Interface PCIe 5.0 x16
Power Connectors 1x 16-pin
TDP 300 W
Suggested PSU 800 W

Final Verdict

Choosing between these two hardware tiers is a matter of checking your power supply and your actual needs for large-scale data processing. The GeForce RTX 5070 Ti stands out because it delivers a tier of performance that handles modern titles with incredible fluidness without requiring a specialized electrical setup or a massive case with exotic airflow. With its 16GB of GDDR7 memory and efficient Blackwell architecture, it sits at a $749 MSRP that feels approachable for a flagship-class experience. While it cannot match the sheer raw compute of the top-tier card, it offers a much more balanced profile for enthusiasts who want high settings and fast frame rates without spending thousands of dollars on a single component.

The GeForce RTX 5090 is a different beast entirely and serves a very narrow slice of the market. It features a massive 512-bit memory bus and 32GB of VRAM which is frankly unnecessary for standard gaming but essential for researchers or professionals working with massive 3D textures and local AI model training. This extra headroom comes with a significant $1999 MSRP and a power draw that mandates a heavy-duty power supply and serious cooling. For anyone not focused on extreme professional workloads, the extra cost is difficult to justify when the smaller card is so capable. The performance gap is wide but the price gap is even wider. Buy GeForce RTX 5070 Ti if you want a powerful modern GPU that handles every game with ease and fits in a standard high-end build. Buy GeForce RTX 5090 if you are a professional or an enthusiast with a massive budget who requires the absolute maximum amount of VRAM for complex rendering tasks or AI development.

  • Power Efficiency: The 5070 Ti runs much cooler and fits into systems with a 700W power supply while the flagship demands much more.
  • Memory Utility: Having 16GB on a 256-bit bus provides plenty of bandwidth for high-resolution textures in modern gaming.
  • Architectural Features: Both cards support the latest Blackwell era features including improved ray tracing and frame generation technologies.

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