Nvidia RTX 5070: Overpriced, Overhyped, and Already Sold Out | Image Source: arstechnica.com
LOS ANGELES, California, March 7, 2025 – Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5070 is officially here, but its release was anything but smooth. While CEO Jensen Huang says he delivers the performance of ‘RTX 4090-level for only $550’ turned out to be an exaggeration, which did not prevent the new graphics card from being sold almost instantly. However, early reviews suggest that it is far from the game change Nvidia hype until it is.
Is RTX 5070 as powerful as a 4090?
The biggest controversy surrounding the RTX 5070 is taken from Huang’s bold statement in CES 2025, where he suggested that this medium-range map correspond to the performance of the latest generation of $1600 RTX 4090. According to several independent reviews, this allegation is not maintained. Technical critics like Ars Technica and Gamers Nexus pointed out that while the 5070 offers improvements in the Super 4070 last year, it does not approach the raw rendering energy of the 4090.
Linus Tech The advice was particularly critical in his review, including the video: He’s a 4090 killer… and I’m a liar. The hard reality is that Nvidia’s claim only makes sense if you take into account your latest multigeneration technology DLSS (MFG). This technique interpolates additional frames to increase apparent performance, but introduces input offset and visual artifacts, making the gaming experience lazy in some titles like Cyberpunk 2077.
What are the actual returns?
Compared to last year’s models, the RTX 5070 offers only marginal improvements. According to Ars Technica’s reference parameters, the map is about 13% faster than the Super 4070 in the traditional rendering, but this is done at the cost of higher energy consumption. This makes it possible to compare the specifications:
- CUDA Cores: 6,144 (vs. 5,888 on the RTX 4070)
- Boost Clock: 2,512 MHz
- Memory Bus Width: 192-bit
- Memory Type: 12GB GDDR7
- Power Consumption: 250W (up from 200W on the RTX 4070)
Although the new Blackwell architecture and the fastest memory of the GDDR7 contribute to performance gains, it is clear that improvements are evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
The scalp problem: Why is it impossible to find him?
Despite mixed opinions, RTX 5070 has been exhausted everywhere. According to PCMag, major retailers such as Best Buy, Neregg and Amazon had almost no inventory available at the launch, leading to a ramp climb. The eBay lists show the 5070 they sell for over $1,000, almost double their supposed MSRP.
The situation reflects previous Nvidia launches, where limited initial supply and high demand increase secondary market prices. Some analysts believe that Nvidia deliberately subdues the stock to create an artificial shortage and maintain the hypocrite. Whatever the cause, it is clear that the average player will find it difficult to get his hands on this card at a fair price.
Is AMD Radeon RX 9070 a better alternative?
For those frustrated by the rise in RTX 5070 prices, the next AMD Radeon RX 9070 series could be considered. Initial tests suggest that 9070 offers a performance comparable to a similar price, and although it also faces a stock shortage, it seems to be a little more available than the Nvidia offer.
Competition in the GPU market has been very necessary, especially since Nvidia continues to dominate with high prices and aggressive marketing. If AMD can maintain its stable supply chain, the RX 9070 could offer a convincing alternative to people lost in 5070.
Should you buy the RTX 5070?
For those lucky enough to find one in their $550 MSRP, the RTX 5070 is a decent mid-range update. It offers a solid play performance of 1440p and remains the Nvidia entry level option for 4K games, provided you trust the DLSS increase.
However, for those who already have a RTX 4070 or 4070 Super, the update is difficult to justify. Performance gains are lower, and unless you’re looking specifically for DLSS 4 and MultiFrame Generation, you better wait for the next generation or explore AMD alternatives.
At the end of the day, Nvidia’s RTX 5070 release was another example of the company that overcomes and is in the process of delivery. Although not a bad card, marketing overruns and limited actions left many players frustrated. With climbers driving prices to an absurd territory, the best move right now could be to wait for the market to stabilize or consider an AMD card instead.
