AMD RX 7700 XT vs Nvidia RTX 3070 comparison – Is Navi 32 worth the upgrade?

AMD RX 7700 XT vs Nvidia RTX 3070 comparison – Is Navi 32 worth the upgrade?
Rosa Fryer Updated on by

Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more

We are taking a look at a comparison between RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3070 to help you pick your next graphics card.

The RX 7700 XT is AMD’s new 1440p champion has a release date due extremely soon. With support for the upcoming FSR 3 and Hyper-RX, the RX 7700 XT at just $450 launch price is a very tempting deal. Nvidia hasn’t been helping itself recently with its ungenerous VRAM and exortionate prices for its 40-series – which is why many people are keen to see AMD succeed with the RX 7700 and 7800 XT. With that in mind, we’ve made a predicted release time for the RX 7700 XT and listed where to buy the RX 7700 XT at launch too.

The RTX 3070 was released in late 2020 and has maintained its position as an excellent 1440p choice. Even though it lacks NVIDIA’s DLSS 3 and all the other latest bells and whistles, it is still a worthy opponent for the RX 7700 XT, especially since the card can be found for a lower price than its MSRP. 

The real question is, do you want the latest graphics card for futureproofing, or do you want to save some bucks and enjoy 1440p gaming for what it is now?

RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3070 – architecture

Architecture is an essential factor to consider when buying a graphics card. It determines how well the GPU is built to perform, how efficient it is, and how future-proof it will be.

The RX 7700 XT is based on AMD’s latest RDNA 3.0 architecture – which is known for its world-first GPU chiplet design. This unified chiplet means all RX 7000-series graphics cards, including the RX 7700 XT, are up to 50% more power efficient than their predecessors. The RDNA 3.0 also has dedicated AI acceleration for the first time and 2nd gen Raytracing, which makes the RX 7000-series cards some of the best GPUs for ray tracing. All of this means the RX 7700 XT supports AMD’s latest and upcoming features, including FSR.

The RTX 3070 is built using Nvidia’s Ampere technology. This isn’t the latest architecture from Nvidia anymore, as it has been replaced by Ada Lovelace. As a result, the RTX 3070 features 3rd gen Tensor and 2nd Gen RT cores. While the RTX 3070’s DLSS 2 makes it a huge improvement over its predecessor, the lack of DLSS 3.0 support means the performance is not the best by today’s standards. 

Overall, the RX 7700 XT’s architecture is definitely stronger. It is not only better in performance, but being the latest architecture means it is also more efficient and future-proof. 

RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3070 – spec comparison

SpecsRX 7700 XT RTX 3070 
GPU ArchitectureRDNA 3.0Ampere
Cores34565888
Base clock1900 MHz1500 MHz
Boost clock2544 MHz1730 MHz
Die Size346 mm²392 mm²
Memory12 GB GDDR68 GB GDDR6
Bandwidth432 GB/s448.0 GB/s
TGP245 W220 W

From the specs listed above, it is as clear as day that the RTX 3070 benefits a lot from its significantly higher core count, which is one of the main reasons why the GPU can handle AAA titles at 1440p even today. However, the RX 7700 XT takes the lead in clock speeds and the VRAM, both of which are very important factors in judging a GPU’s performance. 

It is also worth paying attention to the TGP, which shows the RX 7700 XT will be consuming 25W more power. A 25W difference is not a huge deal, and it shouldn’t affect your purchase decision. Similarly, the RTX 3070 also has a slightly better memory bandwidth, but since it is 4 GB short in overall VRAM capacity, the extra bandwidth becomes pale in comparison.

RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3070 – performance

If you’re choosing between RX 7700 XT and RTX 3070, then you’ll want to know which GPU will give you higher framerates in your favourite game. Since the RX 7700 XT has not been released yet, we don’t have its gaming benchmarks. However, after going through its architecture and specifications, we can expect some pretty solid 1440p performance from it. The card has all the numbers like 12 GB VRAM and the latest features like FSR behind it to handle AAA titles without any issues.

Similarly, the RTX 3070 can handle 1440p gaming like it’s a walk in the park, too. In fact, it even manages quite well in some 4K games as well. Thanks to its excellent performance, we have featured it as one of the best GPUs for 1440p. However, the lack of DLSS 3 and other features means it can’t give you the best framerates at upscaled resolution.

In short, both graphics cards are good for 1440p gaming. But, the real performance difference lies in how long they can maintain their position as 1440p champs, especially in AAA titles. Since the RX 7700 XT comes with the latest technology and architecture, it will stand the test of time far better than the RTX 3070, which is already a generation older. 

RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3070 – price comparison

Even though gaming performance matters a lot, you cannot just ignore the pricing. After all, it is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a graphics card. Well, the RX 7700 XT comes with a list price of $450. As such, its AIB variants will be priced similarly as well. It would have been better if it was priced near $400 to $420. But $450 is not too bad either.

As for the RTX 3070, you can find a premium variant in the $500 ballpark, with budget options going for as low as $400. For the best recommendations, make sure you go through our guide on the best RTX 3070 graphics card. It explores different options that you may like.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 

Memory

8GB

PCIe

4.0

Memory Interface

256-bit

Bandwidth

448GB/s

Regardless, when it comes to value for money, the RX 7700 XT comes out on top. That’s because the $400 RTX 3070 variant will be renewed, and if you want anything better than that, you’re looking at a $480 to $500 hit. On the other hand, the RX 7700 XT will be around $450, and given its latest features and support for future performance, it is the better deal.

RX 7700 XT vs RTX 3070 – final word

All things considered, the choice is simple. If you want the latest hardware that offers excellent 1440p performance and will not let you down for years to come, then the RX 7700 XT is the way to go. On the other hand, if you want a tried and tested graphics card that is known for its 1440p benchmarks regardless of how it turns out later, then the RTX 3070 should be your choice.