The Radeon RX 9070 XT has experienced significant performance improvements, especially at 1440p resolution, thanks to recent driver optimizations, now outperforming the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti in many games while maintaining parity at 4K. Despite these gains, both GPUs offer similar gaming experiences, with the 9070 XT currently being more affordable, reinforcing AMD’s “FineWine” reputation for driver-driven performance enhancements over time.
The video revisits the Radeon RX 9070 XT to compare its current performance using the latest display drivers against the data collected during its initial day-one review. The presenter also includes the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti in the comparison to determine whether observed performance gains are due to driver updates or game patches. A total of 16 games are retested with the same settings on a consistent test system to ensure an accurate comparison. Some games were excluded due to invalid replay data or stability issues.
The results show that the Radeon RX 9070 XT has seen significant performance improvements in several titles, especially at 1440p resolution. Notable gains include a 27% increase in Marvel Spider-Man Remastered, an 18% uplift in Hogwarts Legacy, and double-digit improvements in games like Counter-Strike 2, Delta Force, Call of Duty Black Ops 6, and Stalker 2. These improvements, largely attributed to driver optimizations, have shifted the performance balance, making the 9070 XT competitive or even faster than the 5070 Ti in many cases.
At 4K resolution, however, performance gains are more modest, with fewer games showing significant improvements. Most titles saw small or no changes, maintaining a very close performance parity between the two GPUs. This suggests that the earlier RDNA4 drivers were less efficient at lower resolutions, and the recent driver updates have helped close the gap, especially at 1440p where the 9070 XT previously lagged behind despite its hardware advantages.
Overall, across the 16 games tested, the 9070 XT averaged a 9% performance improvement with the latest drivers and game updates, compared to a 2.5% gain for the 5070 Ti. This resulted in the 9070 XT moving from being slightly slower to about 3% faster than the 5070 Ti at 1440p, while 4K performance remained essentially equal. Despite these changes, both GPUs remain highly competitive and deliver very similar gaming experiences, with the final purchasing decision likely influenced more by price.
Regarding pricing, the Radeon RX 9070 XT is currently more affordable than the RTX 5070 Ti in both the US and Australia, with the 5070 Ti commanding a roughly 30% higher price premium. The presenter concludes that while the 9070 XT’s performance improvements reinforce the “AMD FineWine” narrative of driver-driven gains over time, the overall competitive landscape remains balanced. He promises to continue monitoring GPU performance progress and encourages viewers to subscribe for future updates.