Upgrading to the Nvidia RTX 5070: A Cost-Effective Powerhouse
January 1, 2026
Image credit: Nvidia
Upgrading your graphics card is always an exciting milestone for any avid PC gamer, and earlier this year, I finally made the leap from an Nvidia RTX 3090 to the new RTX 5070. While swapping out what many considered Nvidia’s flagship of its generation might seem counterintuitive, the differences are more nuanced than raw specs suggest.
A Closer Look at the Differences
Image credit: Future / John Loeffler
The RTX 3090 boasted 24GB of VRAM, with the 5070 offering 12GB—half of its predecessor. The 3090 stood atop Nvidia's lineup at launch in 2022, but the 5070 moves down a few tiers in the hierarchy—about four steps, including Ti variants. Yet, despite being older and less VRAM, the 5070’s price makes it an intriguing option. I purchased mine for £540 (roughly $725 / AU$1,100), compared to the 3090’s original launch price of £1,399 ($1,499 / AU$2,249). Three years of technological advancements have surprisingly narrowed the performance gap.
Performance in Practice
Image credit: CD Projekt Red
My primary gaming resolution is 1440p, and I found the RTX 3090 to be overkill for everyday use. However, I decided to test the 5070 on a 4K monitor to see how it held up. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5800X3D processor and 32GB of RAM, I ran a series of benchmarks. Excluding frame-generation features, I observed roughly 15% better performance with the 5070 across various titles, compared to the 3090. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K Ultra with DLSS enabled, the new GPU comfortably maintained 60 fps—an improvement over the nearly 50 fps with the 3090.
Nvidia’s Latest Features: DLSS and MFG
Image credit: Nvidia
The RTX 5070 supports advanced Nvidia software like DLSS 4 (resolution upscaling) and Multi Frame Generation (MFG). While I remain skeptical about MFG's 4x mode—finding it inconsistent depending on the game—I did notice that 2x mode is quite stable and offers a noticeable performance boost. DLSS continues to impress, providing stable high-quality game performance across most titles.
Real-World Gaming Experience
During my recent gaming sessions—playing Warframe, The Alters, and DOOM: The Dark Ages—I observed tangible improvements. Warframe, in particular, saw a 20 fps increase at maximum settings. Doom, already highly optimized, maintained high frame rates, while Warframe’s performance leapt notably, demonstrating the GPU's benefit in demanding scenarios.
Is the RTX 5070 Worth It?
Image credit: Digital Extremes
For anyone still relying on aging GPUs and looking for a cost-effective upgrade, the RTX 5070 is an excellent choice. Its competitive pricing, combined with solid performance at both 1440p and 4K, rivals or surpasses older flagship models. If you want a powerful, modern GPU that won't break the bank, the 5070 deserves serious consideration.
Final Thoughts
If your GPU is starting to show its age, and you're seeking a balanced upgrade, the Nvidia RTX 5070 offers impressive performance without the premium price. Its support for the latest Nvidia features makes it especially compelling for gamers looking to get maximum value for their money.
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Christian, TechRadar’s UK-based Computing Editor, continues to explore the world of high-performance hardware, advocating for better tech access and supporting causes close to his heart.