AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Launch Sparks Frenzy, But Scalpers Strike Again | Image Source: www.ign.com
06 March 2025 - The expected release of AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards has taken the world of storm games, with initial shares that are sold in major retailers in record time. While these new GPUs promise exceptional performance at competitive prices, the reality of ensuring one in the MSRP proves to be a challenge for many players.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT vs. Nvidia: A new mid-range champion?
The latest AMD graphics cards directly challenge the Nvidia domain in the intermediate segment. The Radeon RX 9070 is a similar prize to the GeForce RTX 5070 from Nvidia, but exceeds it at several reference points of the game while offering 16 GB of VRAM compared to the 12 GB found in its counterpart Nvidia. The RX 9070 XT, on the other hand, is acclaimed as a game changer, exceeding Nvidia Ti’s RTX 5070 and costing $150 less.
According to IGN’s opinion, the RX 9070 received an 8/10 mark for its 1440p game star performance, while the RX 9070 XT won a perfect 10/10. Jacqueline Thomas d’IGN wrote:,
“PC Gaming has been in a decadent spiral since 2020, and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a reminder that it must not be like this. This graphics card has no problem at most any game that you launch at 4K, even with the tracking of activated rays, and it does it at a price that makes the competition look greedy. “
Where can you buy an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT?
Despite the promise of extensive AMD action, many players found themselves empty-handed in the minutes of the launch. Best Buy, Amazon and Nebegg saw their initial stock erased almost instantly, leaving many frustrated buyers. According to TechRadar, climbers have already started to register the GPU in auction sites on important brands.
Retailers such as Micro Center and Best Buy are still worth looking for sporadic restorers. Some buyers reported success using Best Buy’s chat service to locate shares in nearby stores. In addition, the UK retailer Scan continues to offer the RX 9070 for £529.99, although the XT variant is increasingly rare.
Climbers already reach prices
As expected, underwear did not waste time taking advantage of demand. According to PCWorld, many eBay lists are already inflating prices well above the original MSRP. A quick search reveals that RX 9070 XT models are sold for $800 or more, well beyond the launch price of $599.
Although AMD has promised greater availability compared to previous GPU launches, it appears that supply shortages remain a persistent problem. Many buyers who managed to get a card in the MSRP were forced to act in minutes of live sales.
Performance breakdown: parameters and improvements of FSR 4
AMD kept its promise. The RX 9070 XT not only exceeds the RTX 5070 Ti at several reference points, but also introduced FSR 4, the AMD response to Nvidia’s DLSS. According to TechRadar, FSR 4 significantly improves image quality in previous versions, although it has a low performance cost.
The main benchmarks are:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (4K, Extreme Settings, FSR 3.1 Performance Mode): RX 9070 XT – 134 FPS
- Cyberpunk 2077 (4K, Ray Tracing Ultra, FSR 3 Performance Mode): RX 9070 XT – 71 FPS, RTX 5070 Ti - 75 FPS
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (4K Max Settings): RX 9070 XT – 125 FPS, RTX 5070 Ti – 110 FPS
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage (4K Max Settings): RX 9070 XT – 163 FPS, RTX 5070 Ti - 146 FPS
These results show that AMD successfully delivered a competitive GPU that challenges Nvidia in gross performance, particularly in 4K resolution.
The reality of the MSRP: Is this just a marketing thing?
The frustration surrounding the GPU launches is nothing new. As PCWorld pointed out, the so-called ”retail price” for graphics cards often means very little when real stock at this price is almost impossible to find. Many of the RX 9070 XT models still available are high-end versions of third-party manufacturers, such as the XFX Mercury edition, which is valued at $849.99, a surprising 40% mark on MSRP.
Minors such as Overclockers UK initially had more than 4000 units in stock, but confirmed that MSRP models were limited to only a few hundred units. Once sales were sold, prices rose sharply. This raises concerns as to whether AMD’s pricing strategy has always been realistic in the first place.
What should I do if she’s lost?
If you have not managed to secure a Radeon RX 9070 XT at launch, all hope is not lost. Here are some tips to increase your chances of finding one at a reasonable price:
- Check Micro Center and Best Buy’s physical stores, as they sometimes receive additional stock not listed online.
- Set up stock alerts on Amazon, Newegg, and other major retailers.
- Avoid paying scalper prices—AMD may restock these GPUs in the coming weeks.
- Consider prebuilt gaming PCs, as some models still include the RX 9070 XT at reasonable prices.
As IGN’s Eric Song noted, Best Buy currently offers the Skytech Lian-Li O11 Vision AMD Ryzen 7,7700 RX 9070 XT Gaming PC for $1,879.99, which includes the RX 9070 XT at fair value.
Although the initial stock could have been depleted, patience could pay. It is expected that more inventories will arrive in the coming weeks, and with greater competition from future launches of Nvidia’s GPU, prices can stabilize over time.
