GeForce RTX 3070 is a midrange board of the new Ampère architecture, by Nvidia. The model is positioned as an interesting option to play games in 1440p with ultra graphics at 60 fps or more and with technologies such as Ray Tracing and DLSS 2.0 – for those who want to increase resolution without compromising graphics quality.
Found in the market for $949 at the moment, the RTX 3070 has performance in games that reach the RTX 2080 Ti, top of the previous generation, according to benchmarks. Below, we detail the specifications of the Nvidia board in detail, see.
GeForce RTX 3070 Features
| GeForce RTX 3070 | |
|---|---|
| Released | September 2020 |
| Price | $949 |
| GPU | GA104 with 5,888 CUDA cores, 46 RT cores and 184 Tensor cores |
| Speeds | 1,500 MHz at base clock, turbo up to 1,725 MHz |
| RAM | 8 GB of GDDR6 at 14 Gb / s |
| Memory interface | 256 bits |
| Bandwidth | 448 GB / s |
| TBP | 220 Watts, requires 650 Watts source |
Specifications
The standard GeForce RTX 3070, i.e. without manufacturer modifications, consists of a graphics processor consisting of 5,888 CUDA processing cores and accessing 8 GB of GDDR6 type RAM. In terms of speed, the RTX 3070 chip works between 1,500 and 1,725 MHz, achieving an overall performance that Nvidia defines as equivalent to the RTX 2080 Ti, the top-of-the-line board of the previous generation.
The card’s RAM banks communicate with the graphics processor through a 256-bit interface, being able to exchange 448 GB/s of data between RAM and GPU. To put things in perspective, this is the same bandwidth between memory and GPU as the PlayStation 5 (PS5), Sony’s new console.
Nvidia’s hardware also has 46 RT cores, units dedicated to intersection calculations used in Ray Tracing effects, and 184 Tensor cores, focused on artificial intelligence tasks, which are essential in using DLSS 2.0.
Performance
Previously we have already stated that the Nvidia board has a performance that compares to that of RTX 2080 Ti. In general terms, this classifies the RTX 3070 as a board sufficient to play at 4K, especially with the use of DLSS, although its profile is more suitable at 1440p with ultra graphics and fps rates above 60 Hz.
This notion of the RTX 3070 as a strong board for 1440p is underlined by different reviews and benchmarks. Tom’s Hardware site has made comparisons that show the board hitting 2080 Ti at Borderlands 3, 1440p, and ultra: the board averaged 86.6 fps against 84.6 Ti. Another game compared was Metro Exodus, relevant for the use of Ray Tracing. In the same resolution and graphics in the ultra, the board was at 78.7 fps average, slightly below the 82.3 fps recorded in 2080 Ti.
Moreover, other benchmarks of specialized sites and channels, such as Digital Foundry and TechPowerUp, also reinforce the similarity in performance between RTX 3070 and RTX 2080 Ti.
Power Consumption
The Nvidia graphics card needs 220 Watts of power to work at full capacity in high-demand situations – considering the reference version, not the customized cards from partner manufacturers. This figure cannot be read as a metric of consumption purely and simply, as the electrical consumption paid on the electricity bill considers the passage of time and, in the course of use, the RTX 3070 is unlikely to operate at 220 Watts 100% of the time.
Nvidia also recommends power supplies of at least 650 Watts to handle the board with a safety margin and the ability to supply the rest of your system with sufficient power.
Types of Use
The Nvidia board is an accessory mainly for the gamer public and stands out for having a performance and cost relation that promises to be attractive for those who want to build a PC with current hardware and have access to new technologies.
While the gamer footprint is the core of the product, there are other relevant uses for Nvidia’s GeForce RTX cards: publishers and audiovisual professionals can benefit from hardware acceleration to optimize workflows, as well as developers, 3D modelers, among other areas.
Price
Until the conclusion of this article, it was possible to find the RTX 3070 Gaming OC, Gigabyte’s version, available in the market for $949. More considered options can return to stock at any time, as well as variants of other brands.
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