Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC V2 12G Graphics Card Review

Performance

The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC V2 12G is a powerful graphics card that delivers excellent performance for 1440p gaming. It performs almost on par with the GeForce RTX 3080, making it a great upgrade for those with older cards like the GeForce RTX 2080/2070 Super or earlier models. The card's core clock speed is 2490MHz, which is a significant boost over the standard RTX 4070 models.

Features

• NVIDIA Ada Lovelace Architecture: The card is powered by the latest NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture, ensuring high performance and efficiency.
• 12GB GDDR6 Memory: With 12GB of GDDR6 memory, the card provides ample memory for demanding games and applications.
• PCI-E 4.0: The card supports PCI-E 4.0, offering faster data transfer rates compared to PCI-E 3.0.
• Display Outputs: It features 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a and 1 x HDMI 2.1a, providing multiple options for connecting monitors and other display devices.
• NVIDIA DLSS 3: The card supports NVIDIA DLSS 3, which enhances performance by using AI to render frames.
• AV1 Decoding and Encoding: It supports AV1 decoding and encoding, which is beneficial for streaming and video editing applications.

Temperatures and Noise

The card is designed to run at low temperatures and noise levels. It manages to beat the benchmark model in terms of temperature and gets a technical dead heat in the noise department, making it ultra-quiet. The fans turn off when the GPU is idle, reducing power consumption and noise.

Power Consumption

The card consumes 9W less than the NVIDIA Founders Edition, making it more energy-efficient while maintaining high performance.

Price

The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC V2 12G is priced at $599.99 USD, which is similar to the MSRP of the Founders Edition. This makes it a competitive option in the market, offering the best price-to-performance ratio to date.

Pros

• Good Performance for 1440p: Excellent performance for 1440p gaming.
• Performance Almost on Par with RTX 3080: Comparable performance to the GeForce RTX 3080.
• DLSS 3 Support: Enhanced performance with NVIDIA DLSS 3.
• AV1 Decoding and Encoding: Supports AV1 decoding and encoding.
• Low Temperatures and Noise: Runs at low temperatures and noise levels.
• Traditional 8-pin PCIe Connector: No need for the newer 12VHPWR connector.
• Metal Backplate: Provides additional durability.
• No RGB Lighting: Minimalist design without RGB lighting, which helps in reducing costs.

Cons

• GIGABYTE OC Software: The card comes with its own OC software, although Afterburner can also be used.

Verdict

The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC V2 12G is an excellent choice for gamers and creators. It offers top-notch performance, low temperatures, and ultra-quiet operation. The lack of RGB lighting and the traditional 8-pin PCIe connector are advantages for those who prefer a minimalist design and lower costs. With its competitive pricing and excellent features, it is the best GeForce RTX 40 price-to-performance ratio to date.

Features Table