RTX 5070 will have the power for the RTX 4090
Updated: Jan 7, 2025 3:38 am
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At CES 2025, Nvidia unveiled its groundbreaking RTX 50 series GPUs powered by the new Blackwell architecture. Promising an unprecedented leap in performance, these GPUs use AI at their core, delivering generational improvements in efficiency, ray tracing, and raw computational power. Most notably, Nvidia has positioned these GPUs at competitive prices, ensuring accessibility across the lineup, from the RTX 5070 to the flagship RTX 5090.
Not only that but DLSS 4 has been confirmed, with Jensen stating that the technology can render and predict up to three frames ahead of the current. But the RTX 50 series is definitely the star of this show. That and Jensen’s new snake-skin style leather jacket. It was certainly something to behold.
A new GPU era with RTX Blackwell
The Blackwell architecture is a marvel of modern engineering, boasting 92 billion transistors, G7 memory, and a staggering 1.8 TB/s memory bandwidth, doubling the bandwidth of Ada Lovelace GPUs. Nvidia has also integrated a dedicated AI management processor, which optimises performance. The generational improvements are clear:
- 4,000 AI TOPS, triple the AI throughput of the Ada generation.
- 380 RT TFLOPS, doubling ray tracing capabilities.
- 125 Shader TFLOPS, a 1.5x increase over Ada.
These advances are not just numbers on paper. Nvidia emphasized that the AI-driven enhancements allow the RTX 50 series to achieve new heights of performance, particularly in ray tracing-heavy workloads and AI-assisted rendering.
The Lineup: Power meets affordability
Nvidia announced four GPUs in the Blackwell lineup: the RTX 5070, 5070 Ti, 5080, and 5090. Each card offers significant performance improvements over its predecessor, with the RTX 5070 alone matching the performance of the current flagship RTX 4090, thanks to its AI-accelerated capabilities.
Here’s how the lineup stacks up in terms of pricing and AI performance:
- RTX 5090: $1,999 – 3,400 AI TOPS
- RTX 5080: $999 – 1,800 AI TOPS
- RTX 5070 Ti: $749 – 1,400 AI TOPS
- RTX 5070: $549 – 1,000 AI TOPS
The RTX 5090 is the undisputed flagship, offering unparalleled performance for enthusiasts and creators, while the RTX 5080 and 5070 Ti cater to gamers seeking high-end experiences without breaking the bank. Meanwhile, the RTX 5070 emerges as a standout, offering flagship-level performance from the previous generation at a mid-range price.
Nvidia confirmed that the RTX 50 series will be available starting in January, maybe suggesting that the releases of each GPU could still be staggered (as some rumours suggested). There has been no official date set for any SKU, but one thing is for sure: the competitive pricing has got gamers everywhere excited.
Competition in the crosshairs
With these announcements, Nvidia has set the stage for fierce competition with AMD and Intel. AMD’s RDNA 4 GPUs, also expected this year, will need to deliver exceptional performance to match the AI-driven innovations of Blackwell. Meanwhile, Intel’s Arc GPUs are still playing catch-up (though they are fantastic), and the RTX 50 series could widen the gap further.
It’s also worth noting that Nvidia’s aggressive pricing strategy leaves little breathing room for competitors. The RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti, in particular, undercut AMD’s typical pricing for mid-range GPUs while delivering flagship-level performance from the previous generation.
AI takes centre stage
Nvidia’s focus on AI is unmistakable. With triple the AI throughput of Ada Lovelace, the Blackwell GPUs are designed to excel in workloads that leverage AI, from DLSS advancements to real-time AI-enhanced ray tracing. resulting A smoother, more efficient gaming experience, even in the most demanding titles (presumably, we weren’t shown any benchmarks).
Nvidia’s CES presentation made one thing clear: the Blackwell generation is a testament to the transformative power of AI in GPU design. By integrating AI management processors and optimizing every aspect of the architecture for AI-driven workloads, Nvidia has redefined what’s possible in gaming and creative applications. Jensen even said that none of this would have been possible without AI and that DLSS 4 renders up to 3 whole frames ahead of the current frame.
New GPU generation, new jacket for Jensen
We just wanted to take a moment to appreciate the new jacket that Jensen was rocking on stage. The Nvidia CEO and founder are famous for his leather jackets, but we never expected the keynote to look so… fabulous in 2025.
Final word
The RTX 50 series Blackwell GPUs represent a significant step forward for Nvidia, combining cutting-edge performance with competitive pricing. With the RTX 5070 delivering RTX 4090-level power, the new generation sets a high bar for competitors. As the GPUs hit the shelves later this year, the gaming and creative communities have much to look forward to. Nvidia has once again proven that innovation when paired with accessibility, can redefine the industry.
