It is always a difficult task to choose the components when you are building a PC. That is because there are just too many. One of the more confusing choices someone has to make during this process is the GPU or the graphics card.
The audience for discrete GPUs is people who are into heavy gaming, digital content creation, and other graphic-intensive tasks. Just so you know, the difference between discrete GPUs and in-built GPUs is that the former type is more powerful and suitable for heavy workloads, while the latter is not. So, it becomes necessary to pick out one that suits your needs.
RTX 4070 vs RX 7800 XT: Comparison
If you are looking for one of the latest graphics cards, otherwise known as discrete GPUs, you might have heard of the Nvidia RTX 4070. Recently, AMD has also launched the Radeon RX 7800 XT GPU.
This may have left you in a dilemma about choosing one. And we are here with this comparison article to help you decide. So, without further ado, let us dive right in.
1. Clock Speeds
The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT offers a base clock speed of 2124 MHz. On the other hand, the Nvidia RTX 4070 starts at 1920 MHz, which is slightly lower than its competitor.
However, things take a turn regarding the boost clock speed. The Nvidia card goes up to 2475 MHz, while its AMD counterpart goes up to 2430 MHz, which is slightly lower.
2. Memory
As for the memory, the Nvidia card comes with 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM, whereas the AMD one comes with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM. For some context, GDDR6X offers higher memory speeds than GDDR6. It is 21 Gbps for the Nvidia RTX 4070 and 19.5 Gbps for the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT.
However, AMD takes the lead regarding the memory frequency with 2425 MHz (as per leak). The Nvidia card has a memory frequency of 1313 MHz, just above half of what the AMD one offers.
In layman’s terms, more and faster VRAM helps render images more quickly than lesser and slower VRAM. And that means that the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is better than the Nvidia RTX 4070 in this regard, except for the memory type.
3. Thermal Design Power
One thing that the Nvidia graphics card has significantly better than its AMD competitor is the TDP or the Thermal Design Power. The former has a TDP of 200 Watts, while the latter is 263 Watts. TDP is the power drawn under very heavy workloads.
So, the RTX 4070 is more power efficient than the RX 7800 XT because it is based on a newer, more efficient architecture.
4. Real World Performance
We cannot comment on the real-world performance difference between both graphics cards since the AMD one has not been launched yet. However, AMD claims (via Anandtech) to have conducted tests between the two in their labs.
And according to them, their product has proven to be better in the games they tested. Here are some of the numbers released by them about the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT:
- 23% better performance in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- 9% better performance in Dying Light 2
- 15% better performance in Hogwarts Legacy
- 18% better performance in Doom Eternal
Before you make a final decision, you should note that only time will tell how much truth these numbers hold.
5. Software Based Technologies
As absurd as it may sound to you if you are a newbie in this field, discrete GPUs offer software-based enhancements. It is called artificial frame generation. Both Nvidia and AMD have different names for it. Nvidia calls it Deep Learning Super Sampling, or DLSS for short.
The latest version of this technology available is DLSS 3.5. On the other hand, AMD calls their iteration of this technology FidelityFX™ Super Resolution, or FSR for short. The third generation is called FSR 3.
For the unaware, this technology uses artificial intelligence to generate extra frames in supported games. In addition to providing better framerates in games, this also reduces the load on the GPU. That, in turn, results in better overall performance and smoother gameplay.
Both the AMD RX 7800 XT and the Nvidia RTX 4070 support AV1 encoding. AV1 is a new video codec that is designed to be more efficient than the older H.264 codec. This makes AV1 ideal for streaming and other applications where bandwidth is limited.
Conclusion
The Nvidia RTX 4070 and the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT are premium mid-range graphics cards. Both cards have their own strengths and weaknesses, so the best one for you will depend on your individual needs and budget.
If you are looking for the best possible performance in ray tracing games, the RTX 4070 is the better choice. However, if you are on a budget or you are not interested in ray tracing and want raw rasterization performance, then the RX 7800 XT is a great option.
As for the price, RX 7800 XT will be priced at $499. That is a bit cheaper than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, which costs $599.
The 7800 XT isn’t ‘A bit cheaper’; it’s significantly cheaper. the price to performance ratio blows Nvidia out of the water. The 4070 offers no competition at all; the 7800 XT is the obvious choice. For people where budget doesn’t matter, they aren’t even looking at midrange.
You’re talking about a card that a) isn’t even out yet, so you’ve no idea of what you’re saying, and b) The AMD is not going to be “significantly cheaper”, as it’s looking right now the cheapest of the 4070’s is likely to be cheaper than the 7800xt. “No competition at all” = how to tell us you’re an AMD fanboi without telling us you’re an AMD fanboi.
Not everywhere. For example in Poland they are priced exactly the same.