GALAX GeForce RTX 4070 OC 2X Graphics Card Review: Out Goes GDDR6X, In Goes GDDR6

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series - GeForce RTX 4070 (GDDR6)

NVIDIA's partners will be releasing a brand new GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, the GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6. This new model will incorporate GDDR6 memory instead of GDDR6X and the reason behind the sudden change is due to the high demand for this particular SKU and a slight shortage of GDDR6X memory dies which have been dedicated to the higher-end models. As the RTX 4070s demand grew, partners decided to integrate GDDR6 memory as the memory was available in ample supply.

Same GPU Specs, Tweaked 20 Gbps GDDR6 Memory

So let's start with the specifications of this new variant. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 retains the same core specifications as the GDDR6X model. It features the AD104-250/251-A1 graphics chip with 5888 CUDA cores, 184 TMUs, and 64 ROPs configured with 46 SM units. The graphics card will operate at a base clock of 1920 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz. The VRAM configuration will also remain the same with 12 GB capacity running across a 192-bit interface & here's where the main difference comes.

Since GDDR6 memory is used, the clock rate has been tweaked to 20 Gbps which is lower than the 21 Gbps GDDR6X modules but still higher for the G6 standard which mostly ended up at 18 Gbps & 19 Gbps in previous offerings.

The GDDR6 modules on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 also feature tuned memory timings and Latencies to deliver better performance than standard dies. This is to ensure that data transfer between the GPU & memory retains optimized interconnect bandwidth. The 20 Gbps modules offer 480 GB/s bandwidth, slightly lower than the 504 GB/s bandwidth from the GDDR6X modules. The use of these GDDR6 means doesn't lead to any power changes as the TGP will remain the same at 200W.

NVIDIA RTX 4070 Series:

Graphics Card	RTX 4070 G6	RTX 4070 (Official)	RTX 4070 (Unreleased)	RTX 4070 SUPER (Official)
GPU Name	AD104-250-A1	AD104-250-A1	AD104-275-A1	AD104-350-A1
Core Count	5888	5888	7168	7168
TMUs/ROPs	184/64	184/64	224/80	224/80
Base/Boost Clocks	1920/2475 MHz	1920/2475 MHz	2355/2520 MHz	1980/2475 MHz
VRAM	12 GB	12 GB	10 GB	12 GB
Memory Speeds	20 Gbps GDDR6	21 Gbps G6X	21 Gbps G6X	21 Gbps G6X
Memory Bus	192-bit	192-bit	160-bit	192-bit
Memory Bandwidth	480.0 GB/s	504.2 GB/s	420.2 GB/s	504.2 GB/s
Release Date	20th August 2024	12th April 2023	N/A	17th January 2024
Founders Edition	No	Yes	N/A	Yes
Price	$549	$599 US ($549 Now)	N/A	$599 US

Performs Just As Well As The G6X Models

Now coming to the performance that gamers can expect from the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 GPUs. We have a few comparative numbers between the GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6X and the GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 GPUs across various games running at 1440p & also a few creator applications. The higher resolution can expose any memory bottlenecks that a GPU might inherit from lower bandwidth.

Across the most demanding titles such as Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Metro Exodus, and A Plague Tale: Requiem, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 performs the same as the GDDR6X variant. The gaming performance even sees a small uptick in performance in certain games but it's all within the margin of error so you're essentially looking at a card that offers the same performance as the GDDR6X variant. In creator applications, the GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 also delivers the same performance.

Partner Cards Launch Today At Same $549 MSRP

And the thing about GDDR6 memory is that it features good overclocking support too so those who want that extra bit of performance can just tweak the memory themselves for faster experiences. Once again, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 graphics card is designed to meet the increased demand for this particular variant. The GDDR6X variants will still be available on shelves but the GDDR6 GPU variants should make up the large portion of supply in the coming weeks.

In terms of availability and pricing, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 GPUs will be available through all major AIB partners today. The card won't receive any Founders Edition variant but it will retain the same MSRP of $549 US. Custom models may cost a bit extra but those should also feature better cooling designs and factory overclock.

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