AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 3DMark Benchmarks: Let’s Get Honest About What This GPU Can Do
Alright, let’s talk GPUs. Specifically, Radeon RX 9070 XT 3DMark benchmarks. You’re here because you’ve seen the hype—“mid-range killer!” “Beats NVIDIA for less!”—but you’re tired of marketing fluff. You want to know if this thing performs or if it’s just another overpromised, underdelivered piece of silicon. Buckle up. We’re diving into the 3DMark numbers, but I’ll keep it real. No robots, no jargon—just straight talk.
Time Spy Extreme: Where This Card Earns Its Keep
Score: 14,591
Here’s the deal: Time Spy Extreme tests raw gaming muscle at 4K. And guess what? The RX 9070 XT barely outpaces NVIDIA’s RTX 4080 SUPER (14,443). Let that sink in. A card that’s $300+ cheaper than beating NVIDIA’s “premium” option? That’s like a Honda Civic lapping a Ferrari. Sure, AMD’s own RX 7900 XTX (15,114) is still faster, but who’s dropping a grand on a GPU right now? If you’re sane, this card is the sweet spot.
Speed Way: Ray Tracing? More Like “Ray…Pass”
Score: ~6,345
Let’s not sugarcoat it—AMD still can’t hang with NVIDIA in ray tracing. The RTX 4080 SUPER smokes it here (7,331). Games like Cyberpunk with max path tracing? You’ll be choosing between “pretty” and “playable.” But hey, it’s on par with AMD’s last-gen flagship (RX 7900 XTX: 6,280). So… progress? Sort of. If you’re Team Red and need ray tracing, maybe wait for RDNA 5. Or just buy an RTX card.
Time Spy (Standard): Teamwork Wins
Scores: 27,482 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D) / 25,825 (Ryzen 7 7700)
Pair this GPU with AMD’s latest X3D CPU, and it’s a beast. But even with last year’s Ryzen 7 7700, it’s no slouch. Translation: Don’t pair it with your kid brother’s hand-me-down CPU. Treat it right, and it’ll treat you right.
The Nitty-Gritty: What You’re Actually Buying
- Price Tag: 599–799. For context, that’s roughly the cost of three PlayStation 5 games. Or a decent used car. Your call.
- Thermals: Stays under 55°C. Partner cards like Sapphire’s Nitro+? Cooler than your attitude after three coffees.
- Power Draw: 304W. Not terrible, but don’t expect this thing to sip electricity. Your power bill will be noticed.
Who’s This For? (And Who Should Walk Away)
Buy It If:
- You’re upgrading from something older than your Netflix password (looking at you, GTX 1080 holdouts).
- You play games where frames > flashy shadows (Fortnite, Call of Duty, Elden Ring).
- You’re allergic to NVIDIA’s pricing.
Avoid It If:
- You’re a ray tracing fanatic. (Just… don’t.)
- You’re waiting for NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti. (But let’s be honest—you’ll wait forever.)
The Bottom Line
The RX 9070 XT is like that underdog sports movie protagonist: scrappy, affordable, and punching above its weight. It’ll crush 1440p and 4K gaming, keep you cool doing it, and won’t make you regret your life choices. But ray tracing? AMD’s still stuck in the minor leagues here.
And hey, if this card forces NVIDIA to lower prices, we all win. Until then? This might be the best bang-for-your-buck GPU this year.