As NVIDIA continues to roll out its RTX 40 and 50 series graphics cards, the competition between mid-range GPUs is heating up. Today, we’re putting two strong contenders head-to-head: the NVIDIA RTX 5070 and the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB.
While both cards offer excellent performance for gamers targeting 1440p resolutions, there are key differences in terms of VRAM, power, and pricing that could determine the right choice for your next build. In this article, we’ll walk you through real-world gaming benchmarks, ray tracing capabilities, and where each card shines.
VRAM Considerations – A Role Reversal?
The RTX 5070 comes with 12GB of VRAM, while the RTX 5060 Ti (16GB variant) offers more at 16GB. This is somewhat unusual, as you’d typically expect the newer or higher-numbered card to carry more memory. While there is also an 8GB version of the 5060 Ti, it’s not recommended unless you’re playing specific, less memory-intensive titles.
VRAM is crucial for modern titles, especially those with large textures or using advanced rendering techniques like ray tracing. So even though the RTX 5070 delivers more raw horsepower, the extra VRAM on the 5060 Ti 16GB can be more future-proof depending on the games you play.
Performance Comparison Across Games
🎮 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Settings: Very High Preset | DLSS set to Quality
- The RTX 5070 leads significantly in frame rate over the 5060 Ti. This difference is most noticeable on high refresh rate 1440p monitors. If you’re targeting smooth gameplay beyond 120Hz, the 5070 will be more satisfying.
🕷️ Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Settings: Very High Preset | No Ray Tracing
- Again, the 5070 delivers significantly higher FPS (233 vs 177). However, for single-player experiences, this performance gap may not be noticeable to the average gamer.
🔫 Call of Duty: Warzone 2
- Settings: High/Ultra Mix | DLSS Quality
- This is where the RTX 5070 starts to shine more. For competitive multiplayer players with high-refresh monitors, the extra frames can make a difference.
🚀 Starfield
- Settings: Ultra | DLSS Quality
- Interestingly, the performance gap narrows here, with both GPUs performing decently. VRAM usage stays within safe limits, so either card is a solid choice for this slower-paced RPG.
🌄 Horizon Forbidden West
- Settings: Very High | DLSS Quality
- A 40 FPS gap exists, favoring the 5070. But if you play with a controller at 60Hz, the difference may be negligible unless you’re future-proofing.
Ray Tracing Tests
🔁 Returnal
- With Ray Tracing On
- Both GPUs handle the game well (89 FPS vs 118 FPS), showing that they can manage older ray-traced games. The 5070 still has a clear edge, though.
🧙 Hogwarts Legacy
- With Ray Tracing
- This title is poorly optimized on PC. The 5060 Ti dips below 60 FPS, making the 5070 the better choice here. Disabling ray tracing or adjusting DLSS settings can help performance on both cards.
💀 Cyberpunk 2077
- Settings: Ray Tracing Enabled | DLSS Transformer
- Cyberpunk is well-optimized for NVIDIA GPUs, but both cards struggle at ultra ray-traced settings. The 5060 Ti starts to fall short, making the 5070 preferable — but even then, some visual compromises are necessary.
🐉 Black Myth: Wukong
- Settings: Full Path Tracing (not maxed out)**
- The RTX 5060 Ti is out of its depth here. Frame rates are poor, and the experience is not smooth. The 5070 also struggles somewhat but fares better. This game is a benchmark of future visuals — neither card is fully ready for it at max settings.
Conclusion – Which GPU is Right for You?
Both the RTX 5070 and the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB are excellent cards, but they cater to slightly different audiences:
- Choose the RTX 5070 if:
- You mostly play fast-paced, competitive multiplayer games.
- You use a high-refresh-rate 1440p or even 4K monitor.
- You don’t mind the slightly lower VRAM (12GB).
- You want slightly better value per frame at the time of writing.
👉 Learn more: NVIDIA RTX 5070 – Official Page
- Choose the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB if:
- You prefer single-player, story-rich games.
- You value VRAM for texture-heavy games and future titles.
- You’re on a tighter budget and can find it at a lower price.
- You want a well-rounded GPU for varied use, not just gaming.
👉 Learn more: NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti – Official Page
There’s no wrong choice here — just make sure your decision aligns with your gaming style and future needs.
Powering Your Build: Corsair Shift PSUs
For easier builds and cable management, consider upgrading to a Corsair Shift power supply. These PSUs feature side-mounted connectors, Type-5 MicroFit cables, and a zero-fan mode for silent operation under low loads.
🔗 Explore: Corsair Shift PSUs
Tags:
RTX 5070, RTX 5060 Ti, NVIDIA graphics cards, GPU comparison, DLSS performance, ray tracing, 1440p gaming, best GPU 2025, Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty Warzone 2, Returnal, Starfield PC, gaming benchmarks, Corsair PSU, Shift power supply
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#RTX5070 #RTX5060Ti #NVIDIA #GamingGPU #RayTracing #DLSS #PCGaming #1440pGaming #GraphicsCardComparison #CorsairPSU #Starfield #Cyberpunk2077 #CallOfDuty #BlackMythWukong #HogwartsLegacy #SpiderManMilesMorales #Returnal #HorizonForbiddenWest
