Right here for overview at the moment I’ve MSI’s RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio (opens in new tab). It is a card that brings Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace structure right down to a lower cost level, although the three phrases ‘lower cost level’ are very a lot relative. Nonetheless, it is a card that primarily matches the RTX 3090 (opens in new tab) in efficiency whereas costing much less. When seen in these phrases, the RTX 4070 Ti (opens in new tab) is not a foul proposition.
If you have not already learn it, now could be time to take a look at our Gigabyte RTX 4070 Ti overview (opens in new tab). The cardboard previously referred to as the RTX 4080 12GB is essentially an excellent graphics card that is nonetheless harm by its value.
It looks like each GPU article over the previous couple of years is framed by value speak. Given the middling spec of the RTX 4070 Ti, you get the sensation Nvidia has numerous room to drop costs. We’re nonetheless early within the life cycle of the Ada era of playing cards, I might think about that the complete GPU product stack from each AMD and Nvidia is due for a value correction. Although when that may happen is anybody’s guess.
However earlier than drawing too many conclusions (within the introduction no much less) let me introduce to you the MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio. It is the most recent iteration of MSI’s widespread mannequin, which sits above its Ventus sequence and under the Suprim sequence. The Gaming X Trio carries the distinctive styling of its predecessors, with a stylized and considerably angular aesthetic with dose of RGB lighting, a customized PCB and a manufacturing facility overclock.
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio overview and specs
(Picture credit score: Future)
Gaming X Trio specs
(Picture credit score: Future)
GPU: AD104-400-A1
Shader Models: 7,680
Increase clock velocity: 2,680MHz
Reminiscence capability: 12GB GDDR6X
Reminiscence velocity: 21Gbps
Outputs: 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1
Energy connectors: 1x 16-pin
Worth: $879 (opens in new tab)| £889 (opens in new tab) | AU$1,599 (opens in new tab)
The MSI, like all RTX 4070 Ti playing cards launched so far, is constructed across the third Ada Lovelace GPU to be launched, the AD104. It follows the AD102 discovered within the GeForce RTX 4090, and the AD103 that sits on the coronary heart of the GeForce RTX 4080. AD104 is a 4nm GPU with all of its options enabled, together with 7,680 cores, 60 RT Cores and 240 Tensor Cores. For its half, MSI has set the clocks of the Gaming X Trio at a lift clock of 2745MHz, a wholesome improve of 135MHz over the Nvidia reference velocity.
The cardboard comes with 12GB of 21Gbps GDDR6X reminiscence linked to a 192-bit bus. The ensuing 504.2GB/s of reminiscence bandwidth is not unhealthy, however it’s really lower than the 256-bit RTX 3070 Ti’s 608.3GB/s. I simply cannot get used to the concept of a card costing this a lot coming with a reminiscence bus like one you’d have gotten on a mid-range card from 10 years in the past.
The MSI board has a 285W TDP whereas energy is offered by a single 16-pin 12HPWR energy connector. Show outputs are the three normal DP 1.4 ports plus one HDMI 2.1 port. DP 2.0 is lacking from the Ada era, not like AMD’s newest GPUs.
The Gaming X Trio is an enormous triple slot card at 34cm lengthy, and truthfully, it is overkill for this class of card. Not that that is a foul factor! The shroud is usually black with grey highlights. It is obtained an RGB MSI emblem on the aspect, with further parts both aspect of the central fan. A full-length steel backplate resides on the rear of the cardboard.
MSI’s Gaming X Trio playing cards have a long-standing status for delivering a wonderful stability of low noise ranges and cooling potential. As a cooler constructed to deal with larger TDPs, it has no drawback holding the 285W AD104 GPU working cool and quiet.
The primary heatsink cools the GPU, reminiscence and VRM. There are six heatpipes used to switch warmth away into what looks like acres of fins. There’s additionally a small body separate from the primary heatsink to chill some further elements. It provides some rigidity to the cardboard too.
The PCB is a customized one. It features a 10-phase design with one other two for the reminiscence. In comparison with a number of the excessive VRMs we have seen on some RTX 4090 or AMD RX 7900 XTX (opens in new tab) class playing cards, the MSI 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio PCB is sort of worldly compared. The AD104 GPU merely doesn’t require a high-end VRM design.
The Gaming X trio comes with twin BIOS. The default setting is joined by a silent choice, which runs a much less aggressive fan curve. Nonetheless, the cardboard runs with so little noise anyway, I see no cause to interact the silent setting.
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio benchmarks and efficiency
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The RTX 4070 Ti is priced across the stage of the RX 7900 XT (opens in new tab). How do they stack up in opposition to each other?
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If you happen to take a look at the cooling outcomes, you could be stunned to see the MSI Gaming X Trio working hotter than a number of the different playing cards.
Check rig
CPU: Intel Core i9 12900K
Motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Apex
RAM: 2x 16GB G.Talent Trident-Z DDR5-6000 C36
Storage: 2TB Seagate FireCuda 530
Cooling: Cooler Grasp PL360 Flux 360mm AIO
PSU: Corsair AX1000
It is a deliberate selection by MSI, and its one I largely agree with. At this temperature, the RTX 4070 Ti’s increase clocks are allowed to achieve their most, but the cooler is all however silent. There’s merely no level to working the fan speeds any larger as all it does is add noise for no efficiency profit.
When taking a look at pure energy consumption numbers, the RTX 4070 Ti actually stands out. It beats out the RX 7900 XT however simply as importantly, completely smashes the RTX 3080 Ti (and subsequently the RTX 3080 all the best way as much as the RTX 3090 Ti) The RTX 4070 Ti is not an ideal card however when it comes to energy consumption, it is wonderful.
Artificial gaming efficiency
1440p Gaming Efficiency
4K Gaming Efficiency
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio evaluation
(Picture credit score: Future)
Let’s ignore the pricing for a minute and deal with relative efficiency. The RTX 4070 Ti is an excellent 1440p card, hitting the bottom 60 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 even with out enabling DLSS voodoo. It pulls forward of each the RTX 3080 Ti and RX 7900 XT in benchmarks with ray tracing enabled.
The tables are turned with regards to conventional rendering the place the RX 7900 XT pulls out a wholesome lead. All of it comes again to the enduring query: Do you worth ray tracing and DLSS? Each playing cards have their strengths and weaknesses.
At 4K the RTX 4070 Ti seems to lose a little bit of efficiency. That is most likely a results of a reminiscence bandwidth bottleneck. It is nonetheless able to 4K gaming however the likes of the RTX 3080 and Ti stay potent rivals.
Apparently, the MSI card was blissful to persistently run at as much as 2,850MHz. Nvidia (and MSI) deserve credit score for extracting such a clock velocity with out dropping the plot on energy consumption.
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio verdict
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You get the sensation Nvidia is making severe cash on every RTX 4070 Ti offered.
So, the RTX 4070 Ti is a potent 1440p card and greater than able to 4K gaming with the ever-impressive DLSS enabled, however it would not exist in a vacuum, and which means pricing comes again into the equation. In comparison with the RX 7900 XT it isn’t unhealthy, however that is a way more sophisticated design. You get the sensation Nvidia is making severe cash on every RTX 4070 Ti offered. All we will do is hope that it’ll ultimately ship some reduction to avid gamers who’ve had little to cheer about lately with the pandemic, provide chain points and mining demand to deal with.
Getting again to the MSI Gaming X Trio, and I am happy to say MSI has once more achieved a stellar job. The cooler is tuned good, permitting the GPU to achieve its highest increase states with out compromising on noise ranges.
It appears good, it is obtained high quality PCB, twin BIOS and its Afterburner software program at all times will get a positive point out, although its future perhaps isn’t completely sure (opens in new tab).
Whether or not the RTX 4070 Ti is the correct card for you comes right down to what you might have in your rig proper now. If you happen to’re upgrading from a GTX card or RTX 20 sequence card, you may take pleasure in a surprising efficiency uplift, plus take pleasure in the advantages of a lot improved ray tracing efficiency and DLSS. However in the event you’ve obtained an RTX 30 or RX 6000-series card, the beneficial properties aren’t anyplace close to as dramatic, particularly given the associated fee concerned.
If you happen to do resolve to seize an RTX 4070 Ti, the MSI taste is an effective one. It blends efficiency cooling capability and construct high quality right into a well-balanced package deal. It is not overly costly in comparison with the high-end Asus Strix or MSI Suprim, and that is particularly vital when you think about these playing cards actually are overkill for what is basically a mid-range GPU.
Knock 100 off the worth Nvidia, after which the RTX 4070 Ti turns into one thing totally different, one thing extremely potent.