MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X TRIO review (Page 32)

MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X TRIO review

Graphics cards 1049 Page 32 of 32 Published 2023-01-06 13:47 by Hilbert Hagedoorn

Final words and conclusion

Final words

The Gaming X Trio is an exceptional gaming card for overall performance, coming and silence. Just don't expect it to run much faster than reference performance. MSI is charging roughly $50~100 more for the Gaming X Trio over reference MSRP; this is an increase that we can understand. Although you will only get a 1~2% increase in total performance (when compared to the reference performance), the card's aesthetics are attractive, and MSI has once again managed to make a high-performance graphics card that barely makes a sound. We can not squabble that the GeForce 4070 Ti is a significant step down in performance from the 4080 (~25%) and 4090 (~55%), but it is still breathtaking performance as the card sits at 3090 Ti performance levels. In terms of raw shader performance, this product outperforms the previous gen product significantly. We should also mention the vast improvement in raytracing speed and the addition of raytracing capability. This time, though, NVIDIA is relying even more heavily on DLSS, with dramatically improved Tensor cores that aid DLSS 3.0, which now delivers a twofold performance improvement. NVIDIA claims a 3x or 4x performance improvement with the proper implementation of future titles, which are impressive numbers. There is debate over what the frame injections bring to the table other than more incredible framerates. But, in the end, it is the eye candy on your monitor that counts, and we are not at all displeased with the end result. NVIDIA's high-end class graphics cards face and contend with two obstacles, the first of which is pricing. Starting at $799 but most likely finishing at the 1000 EUR level, these cards have entered a price range that is still not attainable to most people. PC gaming has become increasingly expensive, driving end users to other solutions. Admittedly, the new power connector keeps raising concerns, with no clarity coming from NVIDIA. It's not that it's not a safe connector; it's just that bending them too close to the connector combined with sometimes poor quality can lead to precarious situations. If you need to bend that cable, do it 3-4cm above the connector level and make sure it's plugged in deeply and tightly. All and rally, ALL cards we have tested to date we have checked on connector level with FLIR imaging, and for us, none ever and whatsoever has shown an issue.

Performance

You've seen the numbers, and we've already let the cat out of the bag. It all comes down to gaming performance and, of course, rendering quality. Yes, the RTX 4070 Ti provides more value for the money than seen from the 4080. We're getting nearer to raw performance levels enabling gaming at 4K resolution. Most enthusiast gamers play at UWHD, QHD, or UHD monitor resolutions. This card is designed for precisely that kind of gamer.

The old rasterizer engine breaks right through the previous limit of extreme performance. The RTX 40 series now has a new generation of Ray tracing and Tensor cores that are more powerful. So, do not let the specific RT and Tensor core counts fool you; it's all about how much performance one unit offers. Since they are close to the shader engine, they have become more efficient, which shows. Tensor cores are harder to measure, but from what we have seen, everything seems to be in good shape, as DLSS3 shows exciting values. Overall, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti makes sense at resolutions as low as 2K 2560x1440, up to 4K (3840x2160).

Cooling & noise levels

Under heavy full load, the card tested uses about 265 Watts (average). This Wattage is directly related to how much heat the GPU, which sits inside a closed case, gives off. For acoustics, we reached ~33 DBa in silent mode; leave that BIOS active as the temps are fine. It took a while for the card to get there (it warms up slowly), but even that is considered a typical or average acoustic value. Expect the card to get close to 65-70°C when stressed, depending on your BIOS preference. This value can increase depending on how well air moves through your chassis. FLIR imaging doesn't show anything scary. Also, keep in mind that if you go for a custom card from a board partner, the power consumption levels will likely be higher due to increased TGPs and stuff like RGB and liquid cooling pumps.

Energy consumption

We touched the topic a bit in the previous chapter; the power draw under intensive gaming for GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is moderate, especially when energy prices are soaring; this product isn't a good example. We measured it close to the 265~275 Watt range (TBP). This is the tradeoff for a bit more bite in performance for this graphics card model in particular. Gaming wise that number will fluctuate a bit; however, 250 Watt it'll do in no time. We expect the board partner cards to show higher numbers as they get more TGP allowance. When looking at TGP we write down an average power consumption of 230W (TGP) at Ultra HD based on the reference test.

Coil whine

Any GeForce RTX 4070 Ti can exhibit coil squeal. It's just a matter of how much exactly. Well, it's at a level you can hear when you hit high framerates. In a closed chassis, that noise would fade away in the background. However, with an open chassis, you can hear the coil whine/squeal. Graphics cards all make this in some sort or form, especially at high framerates this can be perceived. It's as good as it can get, and we have not been bothered by it at all.

Pricing

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is set at an MSRP of USD 799, which is a lot for something that can be used to play PC games. I feel that prices for a GPU should at least be under the price of a modern-age console. Premium AIB card designs will cost more and the Gaming X Trio is expected to get a 50~100 USD premium. Unfortunately, in EURO that means prices close to 1000 EUR.

Tweaking

The card tweaks reasonably. You receive a power limiter in Watts with the tested card, set at a +7% power limiter, so that's your first and quickest option to tweak. You get extra perf on the card's default power budget. The clock frequency can take a good +100 MHz extra. Apply it, and you'll see the GPU boost clock hovering at the 2900~3000 MHz domain (frequencies vary per game title as they are dynamic). The memory could be tweaked to 23 Gbps, so all these are excellent values that brought ~5% additional performance on challenging GPU situations, measured from reference performance.

Conclusion

There is not a single significant facet of MSI's offer that falls short of being memorable; factory-tweaked performance can be a notch higher, though, and the low (extra) power limiter can be a topic of debate. In the end, though, all cards from all brands are a few % away from each other, so as far as that's important to you, it is, of course, totally up to you. The included converter converts a trio of 8-pin PCIe power connectors into a single 12-plus-four-pin 12VHPWR. Three DisplayPort and one HDMI are available as video outputs. The backplate has a modern finish. A dual-BIOS switch can be found near the power connector. The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is pretty nice in terms of both hardware and performance. Comparing apples to apples, it sits at 3090 Ti performance. And comparing apples to oranges, the closest comparative is the Radeon RX 6900/6950 XT, but not the 7900 XT. The choice in-between 4070 Ti and 7900 is a complex one. The RTX offers better raytracing performance and adds the bonus of DLSS3. The 7900 XT, however, is a notch faster in the rasterizer engine backed by the additional L3 cache. The 12GB this card offers also is enough for the time being with most titles and the combination of Ultra HD. The ADA GPU architecture will cut through games with surgical precision and perform skillfully and competently. A good chunk of extra shader cores brings in nearly 1.5x raw shader performance and even faster Raytracing, and Tensor cores offer more performance. Underlying technologies like Shader Execution Reordering (SER) and DLSS 3.0 make the new product and Series 4000 shine.

In closing, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti impresses and will make you happy, but at a high cost. Despite the excellent perf per watt ratio, the energy consumption levels remain on the high side (relatively). What the PC Gaming market needs are more affordable graphics cards, and the 4070 Ti seems to be priced a notch too high, making people delay their upgrade. The graphics card market screams for reasonably performing sub-500 USD products. This series of products offers a notch more value for the money, especially when compared to the luxurious 4080, but it still comes at a hefty price and slightly more complication at Ultra HD than the 4080. This graphics card has all the markings of a powerful enthusiast graphics card with the ability to overclock mildly. The Gaming X TRIO leaves us with a good impression; it is a fantastic design graphics card that features excellent cooling and superb acoustics. It also gives off a strong impression. The extra performance that is added by default is only 1, perhaps 2%. Nevertheless, suppose you are genuinely interested in silent operation and a good-looking appearance in your chassis. In that case, this is a card that we would recommend.