NVIDIA's New Mid-Range vs Last-Gen Flagship: Performance and SA Pricing 🚀

The RTX 5070 launches in early 2026 at R8,500–R9,200, positioned as NVIDIA's new mid-range workhorse. The RTX 4070 Ti Super, released in January 2024, now sits discounted at R7,800–R8,500 as inventory clears. For SA gamers, the decision hinges on whether NVIDIA's architectural jump justifies similar or slightly higher pricing.

Architecture: New vs Mature

RTX 5070 uses NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture (2025), introducing:

  • Improved ray-tracing cores (50% faster than Ada)
  • Enhanced DLSS 4 support (frame generation built into the GPU itself)
  • 12GB GDDR7 memory (newer, faster memory than GDDR6X)

RTX 4077 Ti Super uses Ada architecture (2023), proven and refined but without Blackwell's advances.

1440p Gaming: Generational Advantage Emerges

At High/Ultra 1440p settings:

  • RTX 5070: 140–160 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, 180–200 FPS in Fortnite, 130–145 FPS in Starfield
  • RTX 4070 Ti Super: 125–140 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, 160–175 FPS in Fortnite, 115–125 FPS in Starfield

The RTX 5070 averages 10–15% better frame rates. Not revolutionary, but meaningful for maintaining 144+ FPS minimums.

4K Gaming: Where the 5070 Shines

At 4K High settings (critical for newer 4K monitors):

  • RTX 5070: 90–110 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, 110–130 FPS in Fortnite, 80–95 FPS in Starfield
  • RTX 4077 Ti Super: 75–90 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, 95–110 FPS in Fortnite, 65–75 FPS in Starfield

At 4K 144Hz (increasingly popular with SA's enthusiasts), the RTX 5070's advantage grows meaningful. The 4070 Ti Super struggles below 100 FPS in demanding titles; the 5070 comfortably exceeds it.

DLSS 4 and Frame Generation: The Defining Difference

RTX 5070 includes native DLSS 4 support with frame generation built into Blackwell cores. RTX 4070 Ti Super uses DLSS 3.5 with frame generation, but older hardware makes the implementation less efficient.

In games supporting DLSS 4 (Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora):

  • RTX 5070: 200+ FPS at 4K with DLSS 4 and frame generation enabled
  • RTX 4077 Ti Super: 150–170 FPS (still excellent, but visibly lower)

For 4K 144Hz gaming, this gap is the deciding factor.

Memory Configuration and Bandwidth

RTX 5070: 12GB GDDR7 (336-bit bus, ~576 GB/s bandwidth) RTX 4077 Ti Super: 16GB GDDR6X (256-bit bus, ~576 GB/s bandwidth)

Counter-intuitively, despite fewer gigabytes, the RTX 5070's GDDR7 matches the 4070 Ti Super's bandwidth. For texture-heavy games, GDDR7's speed compensates for lower capacity. Future games (2026+) designed for modern architectures favour GDDR7 efficiency.

TIP

GPU Memory Pro Tip ⚡

RTX 4070 Ti Super's extra 4GB VRAM seems like an advantage, but in practice, GDDR7's speed matters more than GDDR6X's quantity at this performance tier. By 2026, most games target 12GB as the mid-range sweet spot. The RTX 5070's efficiency per gigabyte is superior.

Ray Tracing Performance: Blackwell's Advantage

Blackwell's dedicated ray-tracing cores are 50% more efficient than Ada:

  • RTX 5070: Native ray tracing at 1440p is viable (60+ FPS without upscaling)
  • RTX 4077 Ti Super: Requires DLSS upscaling for playable ray tracing

For ray-tracing purists, this is meaningful. For most gamers, DLSS upscaling masks the difference.

Power Efficiency: Where RTX 5070 Dominates

RTX 5070: 250W TDP (improved efficiency per TFLOP) RTX 4077 Ti Super: 320W TDP

The RTX 5070 consumes 22% less power while delivering better performance. In SA's loadshedding environment, this saves approximately R800–R1,200 annually in electricity costs.

Encoding for Content Creators

Both support hardware encoding. RTX 5070's newer NVENC engine (on Blackwell) is slightly more efficient, but the difference is negligible for Twitch streaming or video editing.

SA Pricing Reality: Where Value Diverges

Current SA pricing (April 2026):

  • RTX 5070: R8,500–R9,200 (newly launched, limited stock)
  • RTX 4077 Ti Super: R7,800–R8,500 (clearing inventory)

The 4077 Ti Super looks cheaper, but that R700 difference shrinks when considering:

  • RTX 5070 includes 2-year extended warranty (Evetech standard)
  • RTX 4077 Ti Super warranty is ending (1-year remaining)
  • RTX 5070's efficiency saves R150/month on electricity

Over 12 months, the 5070 effectively costs R100 less.

Future-Proofing: 2026 and Beyond

The RTX 5070 will remain relevant longer:

  • Developers increasingly target Blackwell architecture for optimal DLSS 4
  • Ada (4070 Ti Super's generation) is two generations old by end-of-2026
  • GDDR7 memory is the new standard; GDDR6X is ageing

Streaming and Professional Use

For streamers or creators, the RTX 4077 Ti Super's 16GB VRAM is a genuine advantage in rendering or compositing tasks. But for pure gaming, the 5070's architecture advantage outweighs this.

The Verdict

Choose RTX 4070 Ti Super if: You find deep discounts (R7,000–R7,500), need 16GB VRAM for content creation, and prioritise immediate availability over long-term value.

Choose RTX 5070 if: You value DLSS 4 frame generation, plan to game for 3+ years, want the latest architecture, and appreciate lower power costs during SA's loadshedding.

For pure gaming value in 2026, the RTX 5070 is the smarter choice despite marginal higher upfront cost.

Ready to invest in your next gaming GPU? The RTX 5070 represents the future of NVIDIA's lineup, with DLSS 4 efficiency and Blackwell's generational leap making it the standout value. Browse Evetech's latest NVIDIA graphics cards for current 5070 availability and compare with alternative options if you're exploring other brands.