Radeon RX 9070 XT Surges Ahead of RTX 5070 Ti Thanks to AMD Driver Optimizations

In a notable development for the graphics card market, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has demonstrated significant performance gains since its launch, primarily driven by consistent driver updates. New testing from Hardware Unboxed reveals that these optimizations have not only boosted the 9070 XT's capabilities but have also pushed it ahead of NVIDIA's RTX 5070 Ti, particularly at 1440p resolution. This resurgence highlights the ongoing importance of software support in maximizing hardware potential.

Radeon RX 9070 XT sale on Amazon

RTX 5070 Ti sale on Amazon

Key Takeaway: The AMD RX 9070 XT has received substantial performance boosts from driver updates since launch, resulting in an average 9% gain at 1440p across 16 games. This improvement has allowed it to surpass the NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti in overall 1440p performance, making it a highly competitive and often more affordable option for gamers.

The Impact of Driver Updates: A 9% Leap at 1440p

Hardware Unboxed re-evaluated the Radeon RX 9070 XT's performance against its launch-day benchmarks using the latest drivers and a consistent system configuration across sixteen different games. The results were compelling:

Across all 16 titles at 1440p resolution, the RX 9070 XT showcased an impressive average performance increase of 9% since its release.
In contrast, the NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti, while also re-tested, saw only a modest 2.5% average gain over the same period.

This significant disparity in performance growth means that the Radeon RX 9070 XT, which initially trailed the RTX 5070 Ti by about 2.5% at 1440p, now stands approximately 3% ahead overall at this resolution.

Game-Specific Triumphs and Resolution Nuances

While some gains can be attributed to general game patches, AMD's dedicated driver optimizations played a crucial role in these improvements. Several popular titles saw dramatic boosts for the 9070 XT:

Spider-Man Remastered
Hogwarts Legacy
Counter-Strike 2

These games, in particular, demonstrated performance gains of up to 27% for the 9070 XT, frequently allowing it to overtake the 5070 Ti in those specific benchmarks.

However, the performance narrative shifts at higher resolutions. At 4K resolution, the gains for both the RX 9070 XT and the RTX 5070 Ti were less pronounced, with both GPUs delivering roughly similar performance. This indicates that while driver optimizations have significantly enhanced 1440p gameplay for the 9070 XT, the raw horsepower required for demanding 4K experiences remains a shared challenge in this performance tier.

Market Implications: Value and Competitiveness

The improved performance of the AMD RX 9070 XT is particularly impactful when considering its market position. The article notes that the 9070 XT is often significantly cheaper than the RTX 5070 Ti in various regions. This combination of enhanced performance and a more attractive price point makes the Radeon card a much more compelling and competitive option for gamers, especially those targeting high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming.

This development serves as a strong reminder that initial launch performance isn't always the full story for graphics cards. Ongoing driver support and optimization from manufacturers like AMD can unlock substantial additional performance, reshaping the competitive landscape months after a product's release. For consumers, it underscores the importance of considering long-term driver support when making purchasing decisions.