Radeon RX 6700 XT Vs RTX 4070
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
- Architecture of the AMD Radeon RX 6700 Series: RDNA 2
- Placement: upper mid-range 1440p GPU Objective: Aim for high settings at 60–90+ frames per second.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- Design of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070: Ada Lovelace
- Placement: High-end mid-range GPU Objective: Provide entry-level 4K and high-end 1440p performance with DLSS 3.
Comparison of Features
Ray Tracing & AI Acceleration
- Because it lacks AI acceleration and has fewer RT cores, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT struggles at high resolutions even though it supports ray tracing. It does not have hardware support for DLSS or other upscaling solutions.
- Third-generation RT cores make the RTX 4070 a great ray tracer. DLSS 3 with Frame Generation boosts performance and smoothness, especially in demanding games.
Increasing Technology
- Open-source and compatible with all GPUs, AMD FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) has worse quality than DLSS 3, particularly FSR 1.0 and 2.0.
- DLSS 3: Enhances responsiveness and frame rate in compatible games by combining frame generation and super resolution. The RTX 4070 makes the most of this.
Effectiveness
Because of NVIDIA’s 5nm Ada Lovelace design, the RTX 4070 is far more power-efficient even if it has higher power.
AV1 Encoding
- AV1 hardware encoding is supported by the RTX 4070, making it ideal for YouTubers and streamers.
- Only decoding, not AV1 encoding, is supported by the RX 6700.
Gaming Performance
1080p Video Games
- At 1080p, both GPUs function incredibly well.
- With raster performance closer to that of the RTX 3070, the RX 6700 XT is a great choice for gaming at high refresh rates.
- In terms of RT and DLSS-enabled titles, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 remains at the top.
1440p Gaming
- In the majority of games, the RTX 4070 offers an average frame rate that is 15–25% higher than the RX 6700 XT.
- Even with ray tracing turned on, it can effortlessly push 100+ frames per second when DLSS is enabled.
- Most games run at 1440p High/Ultra on the RX 6700 XT, but more recent AAA games with RT cause the frame rate to drop below 60.
4K video games
- It wouldn’t recommend the RX 6700 XT for 4K gaming.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is best for 1440p but can support 4K with DLSS in many games.
Ray-Tracing Benchmarks
| Game (1440p, Ultra + RT) | RX 6700 XT | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (no DLSS) | 35 FPS | 55 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (DLSS/FSR) | 42 FPS | 85 FPS (DLSS 3) |
| Control | 45 FPS | 70 FPS |
| Minecraft RTX | Unplayable | Playable (with DLSS) |
Content Creation & Productivity
The RTX 4070 excels at rendering and encoding in:
- Workflows that support CUDA and Blender
- Adobe Premiere Pro (support for AV1 and NVIDIA encoder)
- AI-powered assignments (DaVinci Resolve, Topaz)
Streaming
- With the NVENC + AV1 encoder, the streaming RTX 4070 performs noticeably better.
- The RX 6700 XT supports H.264 and H.265, but it does not support the more recent codecs.
Price-to-Performance Ratio
- If DLSS and ray tracing are not used, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT offers superior raw value.
- Particularly for individuals that broadcast, edit, or appreciate DLSS 3 & RT quality, the RTX 4070 provides a high-end experience.
Power, Thermals & Noise
| Metric | RX 6700 XT | RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Average Power Draw | ~220–230W | ~190–200W |
| Idle Power | ~15W | ~10W |
| Typical Load Temps | 70–80°C | 60–70°C |
| Noise Levels | Slightly louder | Quieter overall |
Use Case Recommendations
| Use Case | Best Choice | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p Competitive Gaming | RX 6700 XT | Great raster performance for less |
| 1440p Gaming (Balanced) | RX 6700 XT | Solid value without extras |
| 1440p/4K + RT + DLSS | RTX 4070 | DLSS 3 & ray tracing edge |
| Streaming + AV1 + Encoding | RTX 4070 | AV1 encoder, NVENC is superior |
| Game Dev / AI / ML | RTX 4070 | CUDA + Tensor cores |
| Budget-Build PC | RX 6700 (non-XT) | Best performance under $300 |
Advantages RX 6700 Vs RTX 4070
RX 6700 and RX 6700 XT Pros:
- Excellent performance in unprocessed gaming
- More affordable and accessible
- RT-free, solid 1440p card
Cons:
- Ray tracing performance is poor.
- No DLSS or AV1 encoding
- Older and less effective architecture
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Pros
- Excellent in 1440p and playable in 4K
- Ray tracing and DLSS 3 are revolutionary.
- Excellent content production and encoding
- Quiet and power efficient
Cons:
- More expensive
- Reduced performance per dollar for raw raster
Pricing & Value (2025 Market Context)
Current Prices (May 2025) (approximate market values):
| GPU | Average Street Price |
|---|---|
| RX 6700 (non-XT) | $250 – $280 |
| RX 6700 XT | $290 – $330 |
| RTX 4070 | $530 – $600 |
AMD Radeon RX 6700 Vs RTX 4070 Specs
| Specification | AMD RX 6700 XT | NVIDIA RTX 4070 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 2 | Ada Lovelace |
| CUDA / Stream Processors | 2560 (Stream) | 5888 (CUDA Cores) |
| VRAM | 12 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | ~384 GB/s | ~504 GB/s |
| Base Clock | ~2321 MHz | ~1920 MHz |
| Boost Clock | ~2581 MHz | ~2475 MHz |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 40 Ray Accelerators | 46 RT Cores (3rd Gen) |
| AI Cores | None | 184 Tensor Cores (4th Gen) |
| Power Consumption (TDP) | 230W (XT) | 200W |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| DLSS / FSR Support | FSR 2.0+ | DLSS 3 with Frame Gen |
| MSRP at Launch | $479 (XT), $369 (non-XT) | $599 |
Conclusion
For affordable 1080p/1440p gaming without ray tracing, the RX 6700 or XT is ideal.
An economical, future-proof GPU with great RT, DLSS 3, and streaming performance, the RTX 4070 is a fantastic long-term investment. This is especially true for creative and competitive gamers who are concerned about latency and visual quality.