NVIDIA’s RTX 4070 is an excellent graphics card geared towards 1440p gamers striving for high framerates in their favourite titles. The 12GB of VRAM and AD104 chip make this GPU perfect for modern titles, while coming in at a competitive price point that aligns well with alternatives. The RTX 4070 is a card that we believe to be a solid mid-range option, with our extensive testing demonstrating this within a number of different benchmarks. But which RTX 4070 is the best graphics card to buy?
In this article we’ve assessed a number of RTX 4070 graphics cards, to recommend a range of models that we believe are best suited to a range of different buyers.
Our Top Pick: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Founders Edition
The RTX 4070 Founders Edition is the best graphics card to buy within the set of RTX 4070 options. This card comes in at the all-important MSRP price point, making it a very tantalising option for those looking to secure the best priced RTX 4070. And while the restricted design is somewhat bland compared to some of the alternative cards on the market, the darker design should help it blend in well with most systems.
The Best RTX 4070 GPUs to Buy
1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition
NVIDIA’s Founders Edition cards generally tend to be the go-to option for those looking for the best value for money option. Due to the competitive pricing of these cards they’re a strong option compared to the range of expensive alternatives. The RTX 4070 is one of the first cards within the RTX 4000 series that offers a smaller footprint, minimising any clearance issues. The RTX 4070 Founders Edition comes in at a 244mm length making this GPU an ideal choice for compact systems.
Despite being a dual-fan card, the thermal capability of the RTX 4070 Founders Edition is great. The offset fan design, with one on each side of the card results in a push-pull configuration which allows air to easily circulate through the large heatsink seen across the shrouding.
| Key Specs | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition |
|---|---|
| Video Memory Capacity | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Bus Width | 192-Bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 1.92GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.48GHz |
| CUDA Cores | 5888 |
| RT Cores | 46 |
| Length | 244mm |
| Power Draw | 200W |
That being said, aesthetic is one of the main weaknesses of the RTX 4070 Founders Edition. While the more reserved industrial aesthetic will appeal to some, the lack of any additional bells and whistles, alongside the simplistic design is a bit disappointing. Those with a lighter themed build may find that this card doesn’t quite fit in compared to other cards on the market.
Pros
- Competitively priced
- Small footprint
- Decent thermals
Cons
- Lacklustre design
- Restrictive industrial theme
2. Palit RTX 4070 Dual
The Palit RTX 4070 Dual is a budget-oriented card offering somewhat similar thermals to the Founders Edition, with a slightly improved aesthetic in comparison. This card is a little bit bigger than the Founders Edition model, sitting at a length of 269mm, but this shouldn’t really affect case clearance.
Palit have opted for a dual-fan design, with an all-black shroud surrounding them. The Palit logos and metallic stripes on the card provide some additional flair for your PC build. Palit’s RTX 4070 Dual is also priced at MSRP, giving the Founders Edition model some competition. This card is an excellent alternative to the Founders Edition model for those looking to change up the aesthetic of their system.
| Key Specs | Palit RTX 4070 Dual |
|---|---|
| Video Memory Capacity | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Bus Width | 192-Bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 1.92GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.48GHz |
| CUDA Cores | 5888 |
| RT Cores | 46 |
| Length | 269mm |
| Power Draw | 200W |
Unfortunately, the Palit Dual variant is a rather dark card, which won’t be for everyone. While the black aesthetic will appeal to some, those with a lighter themed build may want to look at other options. However, the Palit RTX 4070 Dual is a solid options for the price conscious buyer.
Pros
- MSRP price point
- Sleek aesthetic
- Decent thermals
Cons
- Not ideal for darker systems
- Default boost speed
3. MSI RTX 4070 Gaming X Trio
The MSI RTX 4070 Gaming X Trio graphics card is a design that we’re quite big fans of. Packed with premium features the RTX 4070 Gaming X Trio design is a more luxurious option on the market, offering up additional flair, along with some RGB lighting for your PC build.
Boasting three fans, alongside their signature FROZR 3 cooling system, this card maximises airflow and assists with heat dissipation to keep temperatures low. The Gaming X Trio also has some RGB in the form of a diagonal strip that spans the height of the GPU, which looks great when placed into a gaming-oriented PC build. This card also features MSI’s signature black and grey look which will blend in well with other dark-themed components.
| Key Specs | MSI RTX 4070 Gaming X Trio |
|---|---|
| Video Memory Capacity | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Bus Width | 192-Bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 1.92GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.62GHz |
| CUDA Cores | 5888 |
| RT Cores | 46 |
| Length | 338mm |
| Power Draw | 215W |
However, there are some weaknesses that stop this design from being the clear frontrunner when looking at an RTX 4070 GPU for your next PC build. The RTX 4070 Gaming X Trio has a length of 338mm, which is significantly bigger than most RTX 4070 GPUs and can cause clearance issues in certain cases. Plus, the additional design features and improved cooling solution does result in a price increase. This aside, the extra cost will be worth it for many looking for an alternative aesthetic, or improved thermals.
Pros
- Solid thermal performance
- RGB lighting
- Sleek design
Cons
- Potential clearance issues
- Above MSRP price
4. Gigabyte RTX 4070 Gaming OC
The Gigabyte RTX 4070 Gaming OC variant brings higher clock speeds and improved thermals when compared to the Founders Edition model. The benefit of a higher clock speed, is that applications and games can see performance boosts. So if you’re looking to get the most frames possible out of your GPU, an overclocked card like the Gigabyte Gaming OC Edition is a worthwhile pickup.
Aside from the performance, this card is another triple-fan design offering strong thermals compared to alternative variants that we’ve previously mentioned. Plus, Gigabyte’s Gaming OC model features plenty of RGB lighting, enhancing the look and style of your PC build. This can all be customised in Gigabyte’s RGB Fusion software, which allows you to change lighting effects and colours freely.
| Key Specs | Gigabyte RTX 4070 Gaming OC |
|---|---|
| Video Memory Capacity | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Bus Width | 192-Bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 1.92GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.56GHz |
| CUDA Cores | 5888 |
| RT Cores | 46 |
| Length | 300mm |
| Power Draw | 205W |
Unfortunately, a characteristic of the Gaming OC variant, is that it sits at a higher price point in comparison to MSRP. The Gigabyte Gaming OC model is a pretty expensive option, and won’t be ideal for consumers on a tighter budget. Similarly, this modelss is quite large, and does impose concerns of clearance problems. With a length of 300mm, you may need to look at bigger case options to avoid any installation problems.
Pros
- Boost clock enhancement
- RGB lighting options
- Efficient cooling
Cons
- May cause clearance issues
- Expensive
How We Test GPUs
Informing product recommendations requires us to test a myriad of different graphics cards within a range of games at varying resolutions and settings. We do all this to make sure that all of our recommendations are the best they can possibly be, in line with the current market. All of the settings and data that we acquire is fully repeatable, to ensure fairness and reliability. We’ve published our full settings in our how we test graphics cards article, which provides an in-depth run down of our testing methodologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What PSU Do I Need for the RTX 4070?
The RTX 4070 requires 650W power supply or higher.
How Big is the RTX 4070?
The Founders Edition RTX 4070 sits at 244mm in length, while alternative models can sit at 340mm or higher dependent on the variant that you’ve chosen.
Is 12GB of VRAM Enough for Gaming?
12GB of VRAM should be enough for Esports and competitive titles, and will provide great legroom within triple A games too.
