RX 5700 XT vs RTX 3070: Which Should You Actually Buy?
Head-to-head: RX 5700 XT vs RTX 3070. Side-by-side specs, real-world performance, price-to-performance and a clear buy recommendation for 2026.
RX 5700 XT vs RTX 3070: Which Should You Actually Buy?
A head-to-head comparison of the RX 5700 XT and the RTX 3070. AMD 8 GB GDDR6, ~225 W. Last updated 2026-01-14.
RX 5700 XT vs RTX 3070: the short version
Two strong options in the same gpu class, aimed at different buyers. Below is a clean side-by-side, the real performance gap, and a no-nonsense recommendation so you stop second-guessing and buy the one that fits your build and budget.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | RX 5700 XT | RTX 3070 | | --- | --- | --- | | Vendor | AMD | NVIDIA | | Tier | high | high | | Released | 2019 | 2020 | | VRAM | 8 GB GDDR6 | 8 GB GDDR6 | | Board power | 225 W | 220 W |
Real-world performance (estimated)
Estimated average FPS from a tuned config — your CPU, resolution and settings shift these, but the gap between the two holds:
| Model | 1080P Low | 1080P Med | 1080P High | 2K Med | 4K Med | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | RX 5700 XT | ~161 | ~129 | ~100 | ~72 | ~35 | | RTX 3070 | ~161 | ~129 | ~100 | ~72 | ~35 |
Head-to-head: who wins what
- Performance: RX 5700 XT and RTX 3070 trade blows by workload. RX 5700 XT has the edge where its stronger 8 GB GDDR6 and 225 W of headroom matters; RTX 3070 wins the rest.
- Efficiency: RTX 3070 draws less power and is easier to cool and power.
- Value: Same-class rivals shift price constantly — check current street pricing and let the cheaper one at your target resolution decide value.
- Our pick: Buy RX 5700 XT if you want the outright ceiling and can cool/power it. Buy RTX 3070 if you want lower power, lower cost, or a feature the other lacks. (Plan for ~225 W board power plus the rest of the system.)
Confirm headroom before you commit
A limit you cannot see will eat your gains. Run the GPU FPS Estimator to confirm the pair fits your build before you buy either.