RTX 5070 vs RX 9070 XT: which should you buy in Australia?
NVIDIA's RTX 5070 against AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT for 1440p gaming, with today's cheapest card of each at Australian stores, plus where the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 fit.
In this guide
These are the two graphics cards most people building a 1440p gaming PC end up choosing between. They're close in price in Australia, they're both excellent, and they win in different ways.
Today's prices
| GPU | Cheapest in stock today | Price | Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| RX 9070 | Gigabyte Radeon RX 9070 Gaming 16G OC Graphics Cardat PLE Computers | $999 | 3 |
| RTX 5070 | ASUS GeForce RTX 5070 Dual 12G OC Graphics Cardat Mwave | $1,299 | 32 |
| RX 9070 XT | Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB GDDR6at Mwave | $1,329 | 18 |
| RTX 5070 Ti | ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5070 Ti OC 16G Graphics Cardat Mwave | $1,899 | 26 |
Each row is the cheapest in-stock card with that GPU at the stores we check today; "Models" is how many different cards (brands and versions) are available.
The short answer
- Buy the RX 9070 XT if you want the most raw gaming performance for the money, and 16GB of video memory for future games and high-resolution textures.
- Buy the RTX 5070 if you value NVIDIA's features (DLSS with frame generation, the best ray tracing, NVIDIA Broadcast, wider support in creative apps), lower power draw, or a smaller card.
Specs that matter
| RTX 5070 | RX 9070 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Video memory | 12GB GDDR7 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Upscaling | DLSS 4 (with multi frame generation) | FSR 4 |
| Typical board power | around 250W | around 300W |
| Best at | Ray tracing, DLSS, efficiency | Raster performance, memory |
Performance
In traditional (rasterised) games at 1440p, independent reviews generally put the RX 9070 XT ahead of the RTX 5070, closer to the more expensive RTX 5070 Ti. With heavy ray tracing, the gap narrows or flips toward NVIDIA. With DLSS frame generation turned on, the RTX 5070 can show higher frame rates, though generated frames don't reduce input lag the way real ones do.
Video memory
12GB is enough for 1440p today, but some newer games already use more than that at the highest texture settings. 16GB gives the RX 9070 XT more headroom over the years you'll own it.
Power and size
The RTX 5070 uses less power and many versions are compact two-fan cards, which suits small cases. RX 9070 XT cards are often larger, three-fan designs; check your case clearance and that your power supply has the right connectors and capacity (a quality 750W unit is a comfortable choice).
The cards either side
- RX 9070 (non-XT): a little slower than the XT, often a little cheaper, and more efficient.
- RTX 5070 Ti: faster than both and 16GB, at a higher price. Worth it for high-refresh 1440p or entry 4K.
Where to buy
Graphics cards are cheapest most often at the PC specialists. See where to buy PC parts, the gaming PC build guide, and the graphics card buying guide. Every card is on the graphics cards page.
