Ever since I’ve developed an interest on testing older gear, I’ve decided to downgrade to my Nvidia RTX 3070 and test it for today, is it still a five star product that it was on launch? Did things change after the launch, especially with how Nvidia played their own partners in making it difficult for them to release their variant of the RTX 3070? Should you go buy the Founders Edition or are the others good as well? Is it worth buying today given the competition from newer and older generations of GPUs? We hope to answer all of those questions in the latest graphics card reviews looking at the Nvidia RTX 3070 review, should you buy it in 2023?
Table of Contents
Overview of the Nvidia RTX 3070 Graphics Card
Spec-vise, the Nvidia RTX 3070 Graphics cards looks quite favorable, with 5888 shaders, 184 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, you’d expect it to be able to do anything, even today in 2023 with multiple newer generations of Nvidia’s is fully in. Using it at 4K (because I don’t have an 8K monitor, nor do I expect it to perform very well with it) the RTX 3070 is marvelous and works brilliantly with any game or app we throw at it, from Elden Ring and Forza 5 to Adobe Premiere and Blender, the RTX 3070 does it all and at 4K.
Of course some settings had to be lowered when gaming, but the visuals are still stunning enough, especially for the money. Of course, that is all to be expected, since the RTX 3070 isn’t really that old (3 years). We’ve already talked about used graphics cards and will probably keep talking about them down the pipeline as we get hands on more GPUs from previous generations.
Bulletproof Software
Using the Ampere generation of Nvidia architecture, the Nvidia RTX 3070 crashes rarely (at least when software’s involved) and that makes it great even now in 2023. We can’t safely say whether or not Nvidia will keep giving it driver updates in the future, but for now, the RTX 3070 is looked after by the company, so that’s a plus.
Features and Technologies of the Nvidia RTX 3070
The RTX 3070 comes packing with some great hardware and software, but here is where we spot some of the first problems, especially if you’re like me, and bought the first 3rd party RTX 3070 you can find after release.
Nvidia RTX 3070 Hardware
The RTX 3070 hardware specifications are incredibly balanced and powerful enough for any Joe to enjoy. Unfortunately, the biggest problem would be the low 8GB of VRAM it has. This can be an enormous problem down the line as textures for video games take up more and more memory. The Founder’s Edition came with an amazing and intricate design that incorporates a semi-passive cooling system that uses a fan and passive coolers. It looks amazing and the temperature performance is great. Now, here’s the bad part.
I’ve bought an MSI Ventus RTX 3070 back in the day, and it was horrible. I saw the reviews of the RTX 3070 and wanted to cop one, and when I finally did, it was so useless that I got my previous gen 2070 TI back in the box. I can’t really blame MSI for this since Nvidia was the one to release their own card fully prepared while giving their partners little to no time to release their own before the deadline.
Now, after a few years, there are good 3rd party options like the Asus ROG Strix RTX 3070, but it was still a problem, and is something you should think about when looking for a used RTX 3070.
Nvidia RTX 3070 Software
Software of the RTX 3070 is great all across the board with it’s classic NVIDIA Control Panel, you can change every little setting to fit your preference and give you an increase in appearance or performance. There’s also the driver update software which helps keep the GPU in shape. The drivers are still being updated with constant tweaks to make it keep up with the times, so you’re not buying a ditched product by a long shot.
Performance and Benchmarking Results of the Nvidia RTX 3070
We’ve made a graphics card comparison charts comparing the Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU compared to the graphics card Radeon RX 6800, and the Nvidia cards, RTX 2080 TI, and the new Nvidia RTX 4070. We’ve compared many different games, but since there are a ton of similarities and the article would be too long with a million charts, here are the results of such a graphics card comparison across 3 games:
Fairly consistent graphics comparison chart, isn’t it? We’ve decided for 1440p since every GPUs technology can really shine in this resolution while keeping the game looking beautiful. I wasn’t much surprised by the results. While the RTX 4070 ran front the entire time, the second place being the RX 6800 is no surprise, especially with the amount of memory it came with and its muscles, it certainly aged better than the RTX 3070. That being said, the RTX 3070 as well as the RTX 2080 TI are still solid performers, so it honestly isn’t that big of a deal. RTX 3070 is especially good in the power consumption department, where it was extremely efficient.
Ageing Of The Nvidia RTX 3070
Not to sound like an AMD fanboy (I’ve always used Nvidia more than AMD) but the AMD GPUs do most often have better life support than Nvidia. Not only in the software department, but also the hardware department. Don’t get me wrong, the RTX 3070 GPU has the potential to outlast even some of its competitors due to the great design and software performance of the temperature control. With careful use, you can even use the RTX 3070 in the year 2030 with ease. What the main issue is when it comes to the Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU is the GDDR6 memory of only 8 gigabytes.
Having only 8 gigabytes can mean real trouble down the pipeline as games continuously increase the memory demand with higher quality textures. At this point, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 certainly shows it with the results in our benchmarks. While it is a louder and more power-consuming package, it also carries with it more future-proof specifications. The AMD RX 6800 even beats the RTX 3070 TI (though slightly), but that’s a comparison for a future article.
Price And Value Of The Nvidia RTX 3070
The price and value of the Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU is one of the best in its category. It certainly beats the Nvidia RTX 2080 TI in the price comparison while offering similar power. There are other competitors for a similar price. If you pay a little more, you can find an RTX 3070 TI, which I would recommend over the regular version if you can find it for around 300 dollars.
The only product I might recommend over the RTX 3070 that has a similar price of graphics card and performance would be the 6700 XT. It has more memory and a similar price. If you can find one in your area, and it beats the price of the RTX 3070, you could try switching, especially if you have an AMD processor. We’ll have a future article on how you can speed your computer up exponentially if you have an AMD processor and GPU so stay tuned.
If you truly want the best power out there right now, you can buy the RTX 4080 graphics card or even the RTX 4090 graphics card, but we wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re willing to overpay for the not-so-large performance boost. When I get my hands on one, I’ll probably do a review, but hey, one at a time is my policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Nvidia RTX 3070 run 4K?
Yes, the Nvidia RTX 3070 can run 4K resolution while gaming, but the performance will vary depending on the specific game and its graphical demands. With its high number of CUDA cores and fast GDDR6 memory, the RTX 3070 can deliver solid frame rates at 4K in many games, especially when paired with a powerful CPU.
What are the specifications of the Nvidia RTX 3070?
The specifications of the Nvidia RTX 3070 are that it’s built on Nvidia’s latest graphics card GeForce Ampere architecture, it features 5888 CUDA cores, a base clock speed of 1.5 GHz, and a boost clock speed of 1.73 GHz. The RTX 3070 also has 8GB of GDDR6 memory running at 14 Gb/s, providing a total bandwidth of 448 GB/s. The GPU has a TDP of 220W and requires an 8-pin power connector. It also supports PCI Express 4.0 and features HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The RTX 3070 is also optimized for ray tracing and AI-based features.
What is the price of the Nvidia RTX 3070?
The price of the Nvidia RTX 3070 was 500 USD when it was released. Now, in 2023, you can buy one used for anywhere from 250-400 dollars. If you can get a bargain deal lower than 300 USD, you will have a graphics card that will last and provide you with high quality gaming up to 4K.
What are the benefits of the Nvidia RTX 3070?
The benefits of the Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU is that it has a decent price to performance ratio and its wattage and temperatures are very good. It’s good at gaming and great with work software such as Blender or anything from Adobe. The only downsides would be the 8GB of VRAM and its potential longevity.
What power supply do I need for the Nvidia RTX 3070?
The power supply you need for the Nvidia RTX 3070 is in the range of 650 Watts if you have a powerful processor as well. If not, even a 600 watt can handle the RTX 3070 and its rated 220 Watt TDP. Still, better safe than sorry, and acquiring a more powerful supply can ensure upgradability in the future, so bigger is better!
What are the dimensions of the Nvidia RTX 3070?
The dimensions of the Nvidia RTX 3070 vary depending on the brand and model, but the reference design measures 242mm in length, 112mm in height, and 2-slot width. Some models may be longer or thicker due to custom cooling solutions or additional features. This is for the Founders Edition, 3rd party sizes will vary.
Is 3070 better than 3080 for 4K gaming?
Comparing the Nvidia RTX 3070 and 3080 graphics cards, while both are capable of 4K gaming, the 3080 is generally considered to be better suited for 4K gaming due to its higher number of CUDA cores and faster memory bandwidth. The RTX 3080 has 8704 CUDA cores, compared to the RTX 3070’s 5888, and it also has 10GB more GDDR6X memory running at a faster 19 Gb/s.
Should I Buy An RTX 3070 In 2023?
You should buy an RTX 3070 in 2023 if you get it for around 300 dollars and its in a good condition. If you already have an RTX 3070 and are satisfied with it, you should wait for a while longer and not waste your hard-earned money on a nearly pointless upgrade. Don’t get me wrong, the RTX 3070 is not the best thing on the market right now by price or power, but it has an above average balance of both.
How Long Does An RTX 3070 Last?
An RTX 3070 can last even over 10 years with proper use. Making sure not to overheat it or use it at a 100 continuously will ensure its survival for years to come. Most GPUs have the ability to age quite a while, and you can be certain that the RTX 3070 can with its incredible temperature management both in the hardware and software sense.
Conclusion
The Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card is a great component that could be great value in your more budget-oriented setup. Any problem it had post launch was fixed, making it great value in the market today. Despite the visual random access memory of it being on the low-end (8GB), it’s a great GPU with a potential to last a very long time. When buying a used GPU such as an RTX 3070, always make sure to personally test how it works and check it out aesthetically as well. Till next time.
