The anticipation surrounding Nvidia’s latest graphics card, the GeForce RTX 5070, was palpable during its unveiling at CES 2025. Marketed as the least powerful yet significant addition to the newly launched 50-series, the RTX 5070 is already stirring conversations and influencing expectations among gaming enthusiasts. With promises of performance comparable to Nvidia’s previous top-tier model, the RTX 4090, at a much more accessible price of $549, the RTX 5070’s performance claims have captured the attention of tech journalists and gamers alike.
While Nvidia’s CEO, Jen-Hsun Huang, proclaimed on stage that the new RTX 5070 could deliver “RTX 4090 performance at $549,” the real-world results, unveiled shortly after the launch, present an intriguing narrative filled with both promise and complexity. According to reports from tech outfit PCGamesN, which tested the card in various scenarios, the RTX 5070 not only matched but often exceeded the performance metrics of the RTX 4090 when playing recent titles like *Marvel Rivals*.
In an environment designed explicitly for performance comparison at CES, journalist Ben Hardwidge noted a remarkable output—around 240 frames per second (fps) for the RTX 5070 versus the 180 fps average for the RTX 4090. Such observations set a high bar for the new graphics card. However, these findings are punctuated with caveats that could temper the excitement.
What truly differentiates the RTX 5070 from its predecessor isn’t merely raw performance but rather the incorporation of advanced technological features. The new architecture introduces enhanced Tensor Cores which lend substantial support to Nvidia’s recently launched Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 4, particularly its Multi Frame Generation capabilities. This technology utilizes artificial intelligence to generate additional frames between actual rendered images—potentially offering enhanced gaming experiences and making GPU-hungry titles achievable on more modest setups.
DLSS 4 can create up to three generated frames for every rendered frame, a notable upgrade that allows the RTX 5070 to edge out the performance of the RTX 4090 in certain scenarios. While this technological leap is groundbreaking, it raises questions about the sustainability of performance when played outside of heavily optimized titles or a benchmarking context.
Despite the impressive numbers presented during the CES demonstration, there remains skepticism about the RTX 5070’s capabilities across a broader range of games. Many in the tech community note that *Marvel Rivals* may be specially optimized for the RTX 5070, raising concerns about how well it performs in less tailored environments. In practical terms, the performance gap between the RTX 5070 and RTX 4090 seems to narrow significantly when tested on a broader spectrum of titles, pointing to a reality where the new card’s advantages might not be universally applicable.
Furthermore, PCGamesN’s comparison did not clarify other crucial components like the CPU utilized during the tests, hence maintaining ambiguity about the replicability of such exceptional frame rates in standard consumer setups. This lack of transparency leaves gamers and buyers questioning if the performance they witnessed is achievable in typical gaming conditions.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 appears poised to make a significant impact within the gaming community, especially considering its ability to offer competitive performance at a lower price point. However, the realities of its performance are tempered by the dependence on cutting-edge technologies and the specific optimization of tested titles.
While the potential for delivering RTX 4090 levels on a budget is undeniably exciting, consumers must approach this narrative with a nuanced understanding. The eventual rollout of the series in February will clarify these ambiguities, allowing full performance evaluations in a more diverse gaming landscape. Until then, Nvidia’s RTX 5070 remains an intriguing but cautious step forward in the evolution of graphics performance.