Final words and conclusion
Final words
We conducted a series of comprehensive tests on the GALAX GeForce RTX 4070 Ti EX Gamer White edition, currently the smallest GPU model based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. While the card's performance is impressive, it falls a little short of the higher-end GeForce RTX 4080 model, although the performance gap is less pronounced at 1080p and 1440p resolutions compared to UHD If you plan to use the card for gaming at UHD resolution, it would be advisable to consider the RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 instead. So while we can not dispute that the GeForce 4070 Ti is a significant step down in performance from the 4080 (~25%) and 4090 (~55%), it is still a startling card as it is at 3090 Ti performance levels. Regarding raw shader performance, this product outperforms the previous gen product significantly. We should also mention the vast improvement in raytracing speed and the addition of raytracing capability. This time, though, NVIDIA is relying even more heavily on DLSS, with dramatically improved Tensor cores that aid DLSS 3.0, which now delivers a twofold performance improvement. NVIDIA claims a 3x or 4x performance improvement with the proper implementation of future titles, which are impressive numbers. There is debate over what the frame injections bring to the table other than more incredible framerates. But, in the end, it is the eye candy on your monitor that counts, and we are not at all displeased with the end result. NVIDIA's high-end class graphics cards face and contend with two obstacles, the first of which is pricing. Starting at $799 but most likely finishing at the 1000 EUR level, these cards have entered a price range that is still not attainable to most people. PC gaming has become increasingly expensive, driving end users to other solutions. Admittedly, the new power connector keeps raising concerns, with no clarity coming from NVIDIA. It's not that it's not a safe connector; it's just that bending them too close to the connector combined with sometimes poor quality can lead to precarious situations. If you need to bend that cable, do it 3-4cm above the connector level and make sure it's plugged in deeply and tightly. All and rally, ALL cards we have tested to date we have checked on connector level with FLIR imaging, and for us, none ever and whatsoever has shown an issue.
Performance
You've seen the numbers, and we've already let the cat out of the bag. It all comes down to gaming performance and, of course, rendering quality. Yes, the RTX 4070 Ti provides more value for the money than seen from the 4080. We're approaching raw performance levels enabling gaming at 4K resolution. Most enthusiast gamers play at UWHD, QHD, or UHD monitor resolutions. When comparing the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti EX with AMD's offerings, it is worth noting that the Nvidia GPU struggles to keep up with the Radeon RX 7900 XT in some instances. However, the card still has a lot of positive aspects. For instance, DLSS (3) and ray tracing features perform exceptionally well, and currently, AMD is not able to match Nvidia in this regard.
The old rasterizer engine breaks right through the previous limit of extreme performance. The RTX 40 series now has a new generation of Ray tracing and Tensor cores that are more powerful. So, do not let the specific RT and Tensor core counts fool you; it's all about how much performance one unit offers. Since they are close to the shader engine, they have become more efficient, which shows. Tensor cores are harder to measure, but from what we have seen, everything seems to be in good shape, as DLSS3 shows exciting values. Overall, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti makes sense at resolutions as low as 2K 2560x1440, and sometimes up to 4K (3840x2160).
Cooling & noise levels
Under heavy full load, the card tested uses about ~265 Watts (average). This Wattage is directly related to how much heat the GPU, which sits inside a closed case, gives off. The GALAX model in this review boasts a three-slot cooler that performed exceptionally well during our tests, effectively cooling the card's components. Furthermore, the card's fan stop mode is entirely silent in 2D applications. For acoustics, we reached ~40 DBa, which is an average acoustic value by today's standard. There's also a hum from the fans under load, which we disagree with. Expect the card to get close to 65-70°C when stressed. This value can increase depending on how well air moves through your chassis. FLIR imaging doesn't show anything scary. Also, keep in mind that if you go for a custom card from a board partner, the power consumption levels will likely be higher due to increased TGPs and stuff like RGB and liquid cooling pumps.
Energy consumption
We touched the topic a bit in the previous chapter; the power draw under intensive gaming for GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is moderate, especially when energy prices are soaring; this product isn't a good example. We measured it close to the 265 Watt range (TBP). This is the tradeoff for a bit more bite in performance for this graphics card model in particular. Gaming wise, that number will fluctuate a bit; however, 250 Watt will do in no time. We expect the board partner cards to show higher numbers as they get more TGP allowance. When looking at TGP we write down an average power consumption of 230W (TGP) at Ultra HD based on the reference test. The card's TDP of 265 watts is not much higher than its predecessor, the RTX 3070 Ti, yet the increase in performance is noticeable in all the games we tested.
Coil whine
Any GeForce RTX 4070 Ti can exhibit coil squeal. It's just a matter of how much exactly. Well, it's at a level you can hear when you hit high framerates. In a closed chassis, that noise would fade away in the background. However, you can hear the coil whine/squeal with an open chassis. Graphics cards all make this in some sort or form, especially at high framerates this can be perceived. It's as good as it can get, and we have not been bothered by it.
Pricing
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is set at an MSRP of USD 799, which is a lot for playing PC games. I feel that prices for a GPU should at least be under the price of a modern-age console. Premium AIB card designs will cost more, and the EX Gamer White edition sits at ~100 USD premium. Unfortunately, in EURO, that still means prices close to 900-1000 EUR.
Tweaking
The card tweaks reasonably. You receive a power limiter in Watts with the tested card, set at a +18% power limiter, so that's your first and quickest option to tweak. You get extra perf on the card's default power budget. The clock frequency can take a good +125~175 MHz extra. Apply it, and you'll see the GPU boost clock hovering at the 2900~3000 MHz domain (frequencies vary per game title as they are dynamic). The memory could be tweaked to 23 Gbps, so all these are excellent values that brought ~5% additional performance on challenging GPU situations, measured from reference performance.
Conclusion
Overall, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is an impressive graphics card, but its high cost may discourage potential buyers. When deciding between the RTX 4070 Ti and the Radeon RX 7900 XT, it is crucial to consider factors such as raytracing performance and DLSS3, which the RTX 4070 Ti excels at. However, the Radeon RX 7900 XT offers faster rasterizer engine performance backed by an additional L3 cache and has 12GB of memory, sufficient for most titles and Ultra HD. That makes the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is a strong contender for the RTX 4070 Ti, often outperforming it. While the price difference between these two cards is not significant. The RTX 4070 Ti features a converter that can turn 8-pin PCIe power connectors into a single 12-plus-four-pin 12VHPWR. This trend is likely to become the new norm, although the location of the power connector on this particular model is not ideal, with the large cooler making it challenging to access the retention clip when removing the cable. Besides that, we did not experience any issues with power delivery during our review. Video output options include three DisplayPort and one HDMI, with a modern finish on the backplate. The graphics card market would benefit from more affordable options. The EX Gamer White edition design is lovely, with enough cooling performance but has average acoustics compared to the competition offerings. Overall though, it could be an attractive option for those interested in a visually pleasing appearance in their chassis when going for that white-themed build. The added performance compared to baseline reference is minimal, but this is still a powerful enthusiast graphics card with plenty of oomph, which can also be mildly overclocked and as such comes recommended.
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