Review of Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 OC (12 GB) video card

At the time of the announcement, the GeForce RTX 4070 model looked like something in between: in terms of performance, it was at the level of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, successfully competing with the flagship video card of the previous generation GeForce RTX 3090 Ti (especially thanks to DLSS 3 technology, in which it was ahead of its predecessor). However, the more affordable model, the GeForce RTX 4070, was already competing for position with the GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB, indicating a narrowing gap between the GeForce RTX 30 and GeForce RTX 40 solutions, which offered approximately the same performance (excluding DLSS 3).

Currently, prices for GeForce RTX 4070, compared to the moment of announcement, have stabilized and become more in line with the real situation. They are much more attractive than their predecessors, such as the GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB, the remains of which remain in warehouses. However, on the Russian market the situation is not so favorable for the GeForce RTX 40 due to the ruble exchange rate and supply problems. Prices for GeForce RTX 30 generation video cards in rubles do not increase (purchases were made at an older rate), which makes them attractive to buyers, while prices for GeForce RTX 40 in rubles are subject to changes due to the current exchange rate and, therefore, increase. But despite this, given the support for the new DLSS 3 frame scaling technology, the GeForce RTX 4070 demonstrates good performance in games with RT technology.

Recently, our laboratory tested the GeForce RTX 4070 video card from Asus from the TUF Gaming series. This device is attractive due to its price and lack of unnecessary functions.

Before conducting detailed tests, we provide a brief overview of the performance of this graphics card and its rivals. Our assessment is subjectively expressed on a scale of seven gradations.

Games without ray tracing (classic rasterization):

To summarize, the GeForce RTX 4070 cards, as already mentioned, are approximately on the level of the GeForce RTX 3080 (10 GB), and at reasonable prices, combined with a new architecture and more efficient power consumption, successfully replace their predecessors.

We can confirm that the GeForce RTX 4070 delivers strong performance in all games at maximum quality settings with ray tracing disabled and support for resolutions up to 4K. However, for 4K games, it is recommended to use DLSS technology if the game supports it.

Regarding the model from Asus, we can say that it is slightly faster than the reference version thanks to the factory increase in GPU operating frequencies.

Games using ray tracing and DLSS/FSR/XeSS:

There's a performance hit when we enable RT, but Nvidia's DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS technologies found in nearly all ray-traced games help offset that performance significantly. The GeForce RTX 4070 not only has an advantage over AMD cards, but also over the GeForce RTX 3080 thanks to its support for DLSS 3. The more games that implement this new technology, the more significant the advantage of the new accelerator becomes. And, of course, we should not forget about the higher energy efficiency of the GeForce RTX 4070.

Asustek Computer (Asus brand) was founded in 1989 in the Republic of China (Taiwan). Headquarters in Taipei/Taiwan. On the market in Russia since 1992. The oldest manufacturer of video cards and motherboards. Now it produces a very wide range of products in many sections of the IT industry (including the mobile segment). Manufactured in China and Taiwan. The total number of employees is about 2000 people .

The card has 12 GB of GDDR6X SDRAM memory, located in 6 16 Gbit chips on the front side of the PCB. Micron memory chips (MT61K512M32KPA-21/D8BZC) are designed for a nominal operating frequency of 2625 (21000) MHz.

We are comparing this card with a model from the same manufacturer, but with a higher GPU level, for a simple reason: physically, both cards use the same chip, just with different degrees of reduction.

The core is marked AD104-250, the release date is the 9th week of 2023.

It can be seen that the boards are almost identical. The main difference is only in the number of GPU power phases and installed power connectors.

The total number of power phases for an Asus card based on GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is 13 (11+2), while a similar card based on GeForce RTX 4070 has 12 (10+2).

The card has dual BIOS, which is a tradition for top solutions from Asus. At the end of the card there is a switch between two BIOS versions: Performance mode (PMode) and Quiet mode (QMode) — high performance and silent mode.

Memory operating frequencies, Boost and maximum GPU operating frequencies in both modes are identical, but they have different energy consumption limits. As a result, the instantaneous operating frequencies of the GPU vary (in PMode, higher instantaneous frequencies are more common). In addition, as expected, the fans have a different configuration in each operating mode.

Standard memory frequencies are equal to reference values. The boost value of the core operating frequency in both BIOS modes when OC Mode is activated through the proprietary Asus Tweak utility is higher than the reference analogue by 4.5% (without OC Mode — by 4.2%). On average, we received a 3.2% performance increase in games relative to the reference card.

The power consumption of the Asus card in tests reached 176 W (in BIOS PMode mode) and up to 163 W (BIOS QMode).

The power consumption limit of this card can be raised to 108%. I tried manual overclocking (raising the consumption limit to the limit) and obtained maximum frequencies of 2985/23384 MHz, which provided an average increase in games at 4K resolution of almost 6.1% relative to the reference values.

Power is supplied to the Asus card via an 8-pin PCIe 2.0 connector.

The connector has an LED indicator that the power is connected correctly (if the connection is incorrect and there is no power, it lights up red).

Let us note the decent dimensions of this card, especially in thickness: about 6.3 cm. As a result, the video card occupies 4 slots in the system unit.

The GeForce RTX 4070 does not support multi-graphics configuration, that is, SLI technology, and the card does not have a special connector on the top end.

It is also worth noting that the board has the usual 4 video outputs: one HDMI 2.1 and three DP 1.4a.

Through the proprietary Asus GPU Tweak III utility, you can control the operation of the card.

The basis of the CO is a massive two-section nickel plated radiator with heat pipes that distribute heat along the radiator fins. Eight heat pipes are soldered to a huge nickel-plated copper heat sink that hides the vapor chamber.

The memory chips provide cooling through the same large thermal block using thermal pads. At the same time, separate small pads are provided for VRM power converters on the same radiator.

The back plate not only performs the function of protecting the PCB, but also participates in cooling the back side of the board through thermal pads that transfer heat to the video memory area. In addition, the plate is equipped with large cutouts for better air circulation through the heatsink.

Mounted on top of the radiator, the shroud includes three Axial-tech fans, where the ends of each fan blades are connected into a ring to more accurately direct air flow to the radiator. Each fan rotates on two ball bearings. The manufacturer claims that this design provides 23% more airflow while maintaining the same noise level, which helps improve the cooling system without increasing the noise level when the video card is running.

The central fan rotates in the opposite direction to the outer ones, which creates a “gear effect” and helps reduce turbulence in the air flow.

Fans are turned off when the video card is under low load if the GPU temperature drops below 50 degrees, and the memory chips heat up below 80 degrees. When the computer starts, the fans function, but after loading the video driver, the temperature is checked and they turn off. Below is a video on this topic.

Temperature monitoring:

Performance Mode:

After a 2-hour test at maximum load in Performance mode, the maximum core temperature was 65 degrees, and the memory reached 60°C, which is a very impressive indicator for video cards of this class. The card's power consumption reached almost 176 W (peak value — 235 W), and the fan speed was 1800 rpm. The temperature of the GPU hot spot reached 78°C.

Maximum heating was observed in the central part of the PCB.

During manual overclocking, the heating and noise parameters changed little.

Quiet Mode:

Quiet mode demonstrated power consumption of 163 W (single bursts up to 193 W), but fan speeds dropped to 1072 rpm, while core heating remained at the same level (65 °C), and memory heating increased to 64 °C, which also is an excellent result. The temperature of the hottest point of the GP was 78 °C. The lower consumption limit in this mode had an effect; frequencies were mostly lower than in PMode.

The noise measurement technique assumes that the room is protected from noise and echo, and sound reflections are excluded. The system unit used to measure video card noise does not have fans and is not a source of mechanical noise. The background noise level is 18 dBA, which determines the noise level in the room and the sound meter itself. Measurements are taken at a distance of 50 cm from the video card at the level of its cooling system.

Measurement modes:

1. Idle mode in 2D: an Internet browser with the site iXBT.com, a Microsoft Word window, and a number of Internet communicators are loaded.
2. 2D mode with movie viewing: SmoothVideo Project (SVP) is used — hardware decoding with insertion of intermediate frames.
3. 3D mode with maximum load on the accelerator: the FurMark test is used.

Assessment of noise level gradations:

— Less than 20 dBA: relatively silent.
— 20 to 25 dBA: very quiet.
— From 25 to 30 dBA: quiet.
— From 30 to 35 dBA: clearly audible.
— From 35 to 40 dBA: loud, but tolerable.
— Above 40 dBA: very loud.

In idle mode (Performance Mode and Quiet Mode), the video card showed similar performance: in 2D the temperature did not exceed 33°C, the fans did not work, the noise level corresponded to the background level — 18 dBA.

When watching a movie using hardware decoding, there was minimal change.

At maximum load in 3D, temperatures in Performance Mode reached 65°C for the core and 60°C for memory. At the same time, the fan rotation speed reached 1800 rpm, the noise level increased to 27.5 dBA, which was still at the quiet noise level.

An example of sound in load mode is available at [link](insert link to audio recording).

The noise spectrogram shows smooth fluctuations, with a small pronounced peak in the region of 300 Hz, which, however, is not perceptible to the ear.

In Quiet Mode, the core and memory temperatures were 65 and 64 °C, respectively. But the fan speed was only 1070 rpm, and the noise was recorded at 21.3 dBA — this is very quiet, at the limit of audibility even in a very quiet room.

Do not forget that the heat generated by the card remains inside the system unit, so using a case with good ventilation is highly desirable.

The backlight of the card is implemented in the end insert, where the logo, series name and stripe are located.

The backlight is traditionally controlled using the Asus proprietary program — Armory Crate.

In addition to the traditional quick start guide, the package also includes an adapter for the power connector, an extendable stand/screwdriver, a proprietary zip tie, and a TUF Gaming club card.

The included stand may help prevent the card from sagging, but it will obviously be more useful as a screwdriver. The retractable rod has marks for measuring length in millimeters.

Fastening with a side screw. The maximum height of the stand is 14 cm, so it will not fit all cases.

The utility rating of the same cards is obtained if the previous rating is divided by the prices of the corresponding accelerators. Retail prices at the end of October 2023 were used to calculate the utility rating .

1. Option for utility rating without including RT

It is clear that the previous generation GeForce RTX 30 cards leaving the market (in particular, the GeForce RTX 3080) have now dropped significantly in price, so they will remain at the top of the utility rating for some time (until stocks run out).

1. Utility rating option with RT included

Again, the inclusion of RT does the trick, and even the reduced prices on the Radeon RX 6800/XT don't help them look attractive. However, the GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB still looks good compared to the new GeForce RTX 4070 precisely because of the reduced prices.

Even with a slight price imbalance, the Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 OC (12 GB) remains a very attractive option among pre-top video cards. This is the 4th most powerful GPU in the GeForce RTX 40 line. In terms of speed, the GeForce RTX 4070 is approximately equivalent to one of the flagship solutions of the previous generation — the GeForce RTX 3080. However, in addition to this, the RTX 4070 has additional advantages, such as support for DLSS 3, and a confident superiority over competitors such as the Radeon RX 6800 XT in games that use ray tracing and smart anti-aliasing technologies.

This card from Asus can consume up to 170W (consumption spikes may be higher). It is equipped with a powerful, efficient and at the same time very quiet cooling system. The dimensions of the video card are 30 cm in length, 14 cm in height, and it occupies 4 slots in the case. Video outputs include 3 DisplayPorts and 1 HDMI port.

The Asus card is equipped with an 8-pin PCIe 2.0 power connector.

It is important to note the presence of a modest backlight on the corner end of the card and a bonus included in the package — a sliding screwdriver stand. The manufacturer provides a 3-year warranty for this card.

The GeForce RTX 4070 is suitable for gaming in 4K resolution with high quality graphics and even using ray tracing with DLSS support. However, in some modern games the performance for this mode may not be enough. It is also worth noting support for the HDMI 2.1 standard, which allows you to output 4K images at up to 120 FPS or 8K resolution using a single cable, support for hardware decoding of video data in the AV1 format, RTX IO technology for fast transfer and decompression of data from drives directly to the GPU, and also Reflex latency reduction technology, useful for gaming esports athletes.