The early-2025 graphics card landscape is heating up, with Nvidia’s RTX 50 series already making waves and AMD’s RDNA 4 GPUs poised to enter the arena. Stock availability and fluctuating prices add to the intrigue, raising questions about how these new cards will stack up against each other. While definitive answers await hands-on testing and the lifting of embargoes, we can offer some informed speculation on this anticipated showdown. Let’s take a closer look at the potential RTX 5080 vs. RX 9070 XT matchup.
Price and Availability
The RTX 5080 launched on January 30th with an MSRP of $1,000. However, severe stock shortages and lingering tariffs have inflated prices significantly. Currently, finding these cards at major retailers is nearly impossible, and prices on secondhand markets like eBay are often double the MSRP.
AMD’s RX 9070 XT is expected to launch in early March, with rumors pointing to March 6th, though no official date has been confirmed. Pricing rumors suggest a target of around $750, placing it closer to the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti than the 5080.
Specifications
The table below outlines the rumored and confirmed specifications for both cards. It’s important to note that the RX 9070 XT specifications are still subject to change.
| Feature | Nvidia RTX 5080 | AMD RX 9070 XT (Rumored) |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics Cores | 10,752 | 4,096 |
| RT Cores | 84 (4th Gen) | 64 |
| Tensor Cores | 336 (5th Gen) | N/A |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3 GHz |
| Memory Size | 16GB GDDR7 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 30 Gbps | 19.5 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 960 GBps | 624 GBps |
| TBP | 360W | 260W |
AMD has remained tight-lipped about the RDNA 4 architecture powering the RX 9070 XT. We do know it will feature second-generation AI accelerators integrated into the graphics cores, unlike Nvidia’s dedicated Tensor Cores. Built on TSMC’s 4NP node, the RX 9070 XT should be comparable to the RTX 50 series in terms of manufacturing process. It also boasts 3rd generation RT accelerators, promising a substantial boost in ray tracing performance. Based on current information, the RTX 5080 appears to hold an advantage in terms of memory speed, bandwidth, and core count. However, AMD’s potential pricing strategy could make the RX 9070 XT a compelling alternative.
Performance Projections
The RTX 5080 offers good performance, surpassing the previous generation 4080 Super, but falling short of the RTX 4090 and the new flagship RTX 5090.
AMD has hinted at performance similar to the RX 7900 XT for the 9070 XT, which would place it around the RTX 4070 Ti, a noticeable step down from the RTX 5080. However, official benchmarks and independent testing are necessary for a conclusive comparison.
Waiting for the Full Picture
AMD’s relative silence on the RX 9070 XT raises hopes for an impressive reveal that challenges Nvidia’s mid-range dominance. A more realistic expectation might be a modest upgrade for users of older RX 5000 or 6000 series cards, with a significant improvement in ray tracing performance. FSR 4 with frame generation could also be a game-changer. If AMD can deliver a comparable feature to Nvidia’s multi-frame generation and maintain reasonable stock levels, the RX 9070 XT could prove a winning contender. For now, we must wait and see.
