Quick answer
The RTX 3070 and RX 6700 XT are about even for gaming in our index (scores 49 and 47, within 5%). The RX 6700 XT has more VRAM (12GB vs 8GB).
A side-by-side look at the GeForce RTX 3070 and the Radeon RX 6700 XT using the specs from each maker and ComputingSkill’s gaming scores, the same numbers our calculators and tier list use. Prices change too often to compare here, so check current prices against the performance gap below.
Specs Side by Side
| RTX 3070 | RX 6700 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | RDNA 2 |
| VRAM | 8GB GDDR6 | 12GB GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 256-bit | 192-bit |
| Boost clock | 1730 MHz | 2581 MHz |
| Shaders | 5,888 CUDA Cores | 40 Compute Units |
| Board power | 220W | 230W |
| Maker’s recommended PSU | 650W | 650W |
| Upscaling / frame generation | DLSS upscaling (no DLSS Frame Generation; FSR 3 frame generation works in games that offer it) | FSR 3 upscaling and frame generation, plus AFMF in the driver |
| Released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Gaming score (tier) | 49 (C) | 47 (C) |
Specs: RTX 3070 official page and RX 6700 XT official page. Scores are ComputingSkill’s gaming index, positioned from publicly reported review averages, not our own benchmarks (methodology).
Clock speeds and shader counts can’t be compared across brands, which is why the gaming score is the fairer measure.
Gaming Performance
Estimated average FPS in a typical AAA game, from the FPS Calculator’s formula, with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D so the cards are the limit. * marks a figure held back by the CPU. Ray tracing, upscaling and frame generation are not included.
| Resolution, settings | RTX 3070 | RX 6700 XT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p, high | 123 | 118 | RTX 3070 +4% |
| 1440p, high | 83 | 80 | RTX 3070 +4% |
| 4K, high | 41 | 49 | RX 6700 XT +20% |
| 1080p, ultra | 98 | 94 | RTX 3070 +4% |
| 1440p, ultra | 60 | 64 | RX 6700 XT +7% |
| 4K, ultra | 31 | 36 | RX 6700 XT +15% |
VRAM
RTX 3070: 8GB of VRAM is enough for ultra textures at 1080p, enough for high (not ultra) textures at 1440p and below the 12GB our VRAM rule asks for at 4K high settings, so expect to lower texture quality there.
RX 6700 XT: 12GB of VRAM is enough for ultra textures at 1080p and 1440p and enough for high (not ultra) textures at 4K.
With Your CPU
A faster card only pays off when your CPU can feed it. Here is each card with common processors in our bottleneck engine (typical AAA game, high settings). “GPU-limited” is normal; a CPU % is how much of the card goes unused.
| CPU | RTX 3070 | RX 6700 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Core i3-12100F | CPU ~17% / GPU-limited | CPU ~13% / GPU-limited |
| Ryzen 5 5600 | CPU ~10% / GPU-limited | CPU ~6% / GPU-limited |
| Core i5-12400F | Balanced / GPU-limited | Balanced / GPU-limited |
| Ryzen 5 7600 | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Core i5-14600K | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | GPU-limited / GPU-limited | GPU-limited / GPU-limited |
Power and PSU
With a Ryzen 5 7600, the PSU Calculator recommends 650W for a PC with the RTX 3070 and 650W with the RX 6700 XT. The makers’ own recommendations are 650W and 650W.
Which Should You Buy?
- Performance is close enough that price, VRAM and features should decide.
- For 1440p, 4K or keeping the card for years, the RX 6700 XT’s extra VRAM is the safer choice.
- Features differ: the RTX 3070 offers DLSS upscaling (no DLSS Frame Generation; FSR 3 frame generation works in games that offer it); the RX 6700 XT offers FSR 3 upscaling and frame generation, plus AFMF in the driver.
- Not sure your CPU keeps up? Check your exact pair in the PC Bottleneck Calculator.
More comparisons: RTX 3060 Ti vs RX 6700 XT. Every card ranked: GPU tier list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the RTX 3070 better than the RX 6700 XT?
They are about even for gaming in our index (49 vs 47). Pick on price, VRAM and features.
Which is better for 1440p, the RTX 3070 or the RX 6700 XT?
At 1440p high the RTX 3070 averages about 83 FPS and the RX 6700 XT about 80 FPS in a typical AAA game with a fast CPU. The RX 6700 XT has more VRAM headroom there.
Which uses less power?
The RTX 3070 (220W board power vs 230W).