AMD’s latest graphics cards, the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, are generating a significant buzz in the gaming community, albeit amidst challenges of limited availability and price markups. For those fortunate enough to acquire them, the RX 9070 XT has demonstrated the potential to outperform Nvidia’s RTX 5080 in practical benchmarks, primarily through effective undervolting techniques.
Performance Gains Through Undervolting
Recent testing by prominent overclockers on YouTube, such as Der8auer and Alva Jonathan, revealed that both the RX 9070 and 9070 XT could achieve substantial performance improvements. By tweaking the power target and undervolting via software adjustments alone, both users observed a 10% increase in frames per second (FPS) while playing Cyberpunk 2077, without modifying the GPU’s clock speed offset. This increase in performance was attributed to the GPUs’ ability to boost clock speeds thanks to the undervolt, even with the clock speed offset remaining unchanged.
Comparative Testing Results
| Graphics Card | Avg FPS | GPU Clock Speed (GHz) | Max Power Draw (W) | Voltage Offset (mV) | Power Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RX 9070 XT (OC) (Der8auer) | 66 | 3.36 | 358 | -170 | 110% |
| RX 9070 XT (Stock) (Der8auer) | 60 | 2.90 | 339 | 0 | 100% |
| Nvidia FE RTX 5080 (Stock) (Der8auer) | 65 | 2.61 | 336 | 0 | 100% |
| RX 9070 (OC) (Alva Jonathan) | 60 | 3.00 | 270 | -125 | 110% |
| RX 9070 (Stock) (Alva Jonathan) | 54 | 2.60 | 244 | 0 | 100% |
It is important to note that the testing environments of Der8auer and Alva Jonathan were not identical; differences in their CPUs and memory configurations mean that the results for the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 should be viewed with caution. However, the RX 9070 XT was directly compared against the RTX 5080 under similar conditions.
Insights from Overclocking Tests
Der8auer utilized the PowerColor RX 9070 XT Red Devil for his tests, which represents one of the top factory-overclocked variants available. He discovered that enhancing clock speed offsets did not yield significant performance improvements, likely because the card was already operating at its factory limits. Additionally, attempts to increase the GPU’s VRAM clock speeds resulted in lower in-game performance due to built-in error correction mechanisms.
By increasing the GPU’s power target to 110% and applying a -170mV voltage offset, Der8auer was able to push the RX 9070 XT to 3.36 GHz, achieving a remarkable 10% FPS increase over similar models. Alva Jonathan’s approach with the ASRock RX 9070 Steel Legend mirrored these findings, also achieving a notable performance boost while prioritizing power efficiency to extend the GPU’s lifespan.
Market Position and Pricing
Despite the high price tags currently attached to these cards—$799 for the PowerColor Red Devil and $640 for the ASRock Steel Legend—these models offer superior performance compared to the RTX 5080 when considering their capabilities after performance tuning. In a theoretical market scenario where these GPUs are sold at their intended MSRP, the RX 9070 XT would be positioned $200 lower than the RTX 5080 while still providing competitive performance in games like Cyberpunk 2077. While Nvidia retains its lead in ray tracing and other software supports, AMD’s undervolting innovations challenge that dominance, showcasing the RX 9070 series as formidable competitors.