Nvidia GeForce 5070 Criticized by Reviewers, Yet Remains Scarce
Nvidia’s New Graphics Card: The GeForce RTX 5070
Introduction
At CES 2025, Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang made an exciting announcement that many in the tech community wanted to hear. He claimed that the new GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card would not only be budget-friendly, priced at just $550, but would also outperform last generation’s top card, the RTX 4090, which cost $1,600. This bold claim immediately grabbed attention; however, reality has shown a different story.
Performance Expectations vs. Reality
After the RTX 5070 was launched, several reviews revealed that Huang’s statement could not be supported by actual performance tests. Many technology reviewers found that the new card does not measure up to the 4090, and some called the comparison “flat-out lie.” For instance, the popular YouTube channel Gamers Nexus compared the two cards and concluded that the RTX 5070 fell short of expectations. Their video pointed out that there is a significant gap between the RTX 4090 and the 5070, debunking Nvidia’s claim of equivalency.
Similarly, Linus Tech Tips, another widely-respected tech channel, humorously titled their review “This is a 4090 Killer… and I’m a Liar.” In more formal reviews, platforms like Ars Technica expressed disappointment, stating that the RTX 5070 might not offer a substantial upgrade over the previous generation’s 4070 Super card, which means gamers might not see the worth in upgrading.
Technical Performance
Tests conducted by different tech sites showed that while the RTX 5070 has some improvements, its performance was only slightly higher than last year’s model, the 4070 Super. This is notable because the 5070 consumes significantly more power. One of the few areas where Nvidia can claim an improvement is through its new DLSS Multi-Frame Generation technology. This feature enhances fps rates by generating three additional frames for every rendered frame. While this sounds good, it can lead to issues such as slow game responses and visual imperfections in graphics, particularly in games like Cyberpunk 2077.
Availability and Pricing Issues
Even if the RTX 5070 were a breakthrough product, the chaotic state of the graphics card market has complicated availability. Since the launch, finding the RTX 5070 at the advertised $550 price has proven difficult. Reports indicate that the official stock was almost immediately sold out, if it was ever genuinely available at that price.
As highlighted by PC Mag, individuals hoping to buy the RTX 5070 often faced inflated prices, with many listings for the cards starting at $650 and going even higher. Scalpers have driven prices into the thousands, showcasing the ongoing struggle within the market for graphics cards.
Competition and Alternatives
With the current challenges in acquiring Nvidia’s new card, many shoppers are turning their attention to other options. AMD has recently launched its Radeon RX 9070 line, which has received positive reviews and appears to have better availability. While it is also priced above its official $550 to $600 range, it may be less difficult to acquire compared to Nvidia’s offerings.
When examining the broader landscape of the graphics card market, the ongoing trade wars and the competition sparked by AI advancements are factors that will play significant roles moving forward. Despite the setbacks with Nvidia’s new launch, the presence of strong competitors like AMD offers hope for consumers who are eager for quality graphics cards without such inflated prices and availability issues.
Summary
In summary, Nvidia’s launch of the GeForce RTX 5070 has sparked a lot of debate within the tech community. While the company’s claims about the new graphics card were bold, reality has shown a different performance picture. The card’s actual capabilities do not meet the hype, leaving many disappointed. Coupled with challenging market conditions regarding availability and pricing, consumers are exploring alternative options, such as AMD’s Radeon RX 9070. As the market evolves, it remains to be seen how Nvidia will navigate these criticisms and competition going forward.
