Table of Contents
Nvidia RTX 5000 graphics cards premiered a couple of weeks ago, so we already know what to expect from most models. However, various manufacturers improve their cards by adding new features, slightly better performance, and unique designs. Today, we look closer at the Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC, which combines the latest Nvidia GPU with improvements that benefit gamers and computer enthusiasts.
The RTX 5070Ti AERO OC, like all new Nvidia series cards, brings various ways to boost the experience by introducing AI optimization and DLSS4. As a result, we may see smoother gameplay caused by additionally generated frames. Since not all games support this new technology, results may vary, and the gamers’ community is divided. On the other hand, even though the prices are still high and the availability of many RTX 5000 series cards is limited, they sell surprisingly well.
Blackwell Architecture and Technologies
Key Features of the NVIDIA RTX Blackwell architecture
- New SM features built for Neural Shading – New RT Core and Tensor Core features
described below enhance and accelerate neural rendering capabilities. The NVIDIA RTX
Blackwell SM provides a doubling of integer math throughput per clock cycle compared to
NVIDIA Ada GPUs, which can increase the performance of address generation workloads
that are crucial for neural shading. - New MaxQ features for exceptional power efficiency – RTX Blackwell incorporates many
new MaxQ power management features. Advanced power gating and new split power rails
provide fine-grained control and delivery of power to different on-chip subsystems. Clocks
can adjust to dynamic workloads 1000x faster than our previous GPU architectures.
New 4th Generation RT Cores – Significant improvements to the RT Core architecture
were made in Blackwell, enabling new ray tracing experiences and neural rendering
techniques. - New 5th Generation Tensor Cores – Includes new FP4 capabilities that can double AI
throughput while halving the memory requirements. Support for the new Second-
Generation FP8 Transformer Engine used in our datacenter-class Blackwell GPUs is also
included. - NVIDIA DLSS 4 – The NVIDIA RTX Blackwell architecture features AI multi-frame
generation that boosts DLSS 4’s frame rates up to 2x over the previous DLSS 3/3.5, while
maintaining or exceeding native image quality and providing low system latency.
RTX Neural Shaders – Bring small neural networks into programmable shaders, enabling a
new era of graphics innovation. - AI Management Processor (AMP) – Enables multiple AI models, including speech,
translation, vision, animation, behavior, and many others to share the GPU simultaneously
with graphics workloads. - GDDR7 Memory – GDDR7 is a new ultra-low voltage GDDR memory standard that uses
PAM3 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation) signaling technology, enabling higher-speed memory
subsystems and improvements in energy efficiency. - Mega Geometry Technology – A new RTX technology aimed at dramatically increasing the
geometric detail that is possible in ray-traced applications.
All the Blackwell key features suggest that Nvidia focused mainly on AI improvements and efficiency. As long as AI is visible in various calculations, we barely see efficiency compared to the last generation of GPUs. In real-world tests, the RTX 5070Ti and the RTX 4080 give us similar performance per watt.
Improvements in DLSS are significant for all gamers who love Ray Tracing and high display resolutions. The overall experience is better due to higher FPS in the most demanding scenarios, which are becoming more popular each year.
Below is a close-up view of a single Streaming Multiprocessor and everything it contains.
The next evolution in neural rendering technologies utilizing the RTX Tensor Cores is DLSS 4. The latest iteration features Multi Frame Generation (75 games and apps support upon launch); DLSS Multi Frame Generation (MFG) generates up to three additional frames per traditional rendered frame, working with an entire ecosystem of DLSS technologies to multiply frame rates up to an astounding 8x over more traditional ‘brute-force’ rendering. DLSS 4 also introduced the most significant upgrade to its AI models since DLSS 2 in 2020.
DLSS Ray Reconstruction/Super Resolution/DLAA will now be powered by the first real-time application of the ‘transformer model, ’ the same advanced architecture powering AI models like ChatGPT, Flux, and Gemini. The Transformer models improve image quality and temporal stability, have less ghosting, and have higher detail in motion. DLSS games with these features can be upgraded to the new DLSS transformer model for improved performance and IQ.
For streamers, Nvidia also updates its NVENC encode and decode accelerators (four each -3/4 NEVENC and 2/4 NVDEC are enabled). The new 9th-gen encode accelerations come with 4:2:2 AV1 and HEVC encoding support.
| Nvidia RTX 5000 Series Specifications | |||||
| Model | RTX 4090 (24GB) | RTX 4080 (16GB) | Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC (16GB) | RTX 5080 (16GB) | RTX 5090 (32GB) |
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Blackwell | |||
| Manufacturing | TSMC 4N (5 nm) | ||||
| CUDA Cores | 16,384 | 9,728 | 8,960 | 10,752 | 21,760 |
| RT Cores (Gen 3) | 144 | 80 | 70 | 84 | 170 |
| Tensor Cores | 576 | 320 | 280 | 336 | 680 |
| Texture Units | 576 | 320 | 280 | 336 | 680 |
| ROPs | 192 | 112 | 96 | 128 | 176 |
| L2 Cache | 96 MB | 64 MB | 64 MB | 64 MB | 96 MB |
| Base Clock (MHz) | 2,230 | 2,210 | 2,295 | 2,295 | 2,017 |
| Boost Clock (MHz) | 2,520 | 2,510 | 2,588 | 2,745 | 2,407 |
| Memory | 24 GB GDDR6X | 16 GB GDDR6X | 16 GB GDDR7 | 16 GB GDDR7 | 32 GB GDDR7 |
| Memory Speed (Gbps) | 1008 | 736 | 896 | 960 | 1.79 (TB/s) |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit | 512-bit |
| Supplementary Power | PCIe 5.0 16-pin 3x 8-pin | PCIe 5.0 16-pin 2x 8-pin | PCIe 5.0 16-pin 3x 8-pin | PCIe 5.0 16-pin 3x 8-pin | PCIe 5.0 16-pin 3x 8-pin |
| Standard Display Connectors | HDMI (2.1) 3x DisplayPort (1.4a) | HDMI (2.1a) 3x DisplayPort (2.1b) | |||
| Max Resolution | 8K (7680 x 4320) | ||||
| TDP | 450 W | 320 W | 300 W | 360 W | 575 W |
| Release Date | 10/12/22 | 11/15/22 | 2/20/25 | 1/30/25 | 1/23/25 |
| MSRP | $1599 | $1,199 | $749 | $999 | $1,999 |
One of the key topics around the new GPU series is their price. We all know how the prices are far from the MSRP. We must remember that the MSRP is only a suggested price, so the market demand creates actual prices. The RTX5070Ti was released with an MSRP of $749. The actual store price is close to $1k, if you can find it available. The RTX 5070Ti AERO OC can be found for around $970 in online stores.
Our card boosts up to 2887MHz, which is a pretty good result. The total board power draw is around 306W, which is higher than TDP but also expected. The GPU reached 70°C during extended high-load tests, and the fans reached 68% of their speed, so there is still some headroom. As you will find out later, overclocking doesn’t affect temperatures much, and the card’s noise is similar. The fans are quiet and stop while the card is in the low-load mode. Games never use 100% of the card’s potential, and we can expect slightly lower temperatures. We could see about 66°C during Cyberpunk 2077 or F1 2024 tests.
Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC Features
Gigabyte tries to deliver something special with each of its graphics card series. The AERO isn’t the highest model, but looking at the RTX 5070Ti offer, only the MASTER is above the AERO. We can clearly say that the tested graphics card is a high-end model that gives us something premium. Below are the key features of the tested graphics card.
Key Features of the Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
- Powered by GeForce RTX™ 5070 Ti
- Integrated with 16GB GDDR7 256-bit memory interface
- WINDFORCE cooling system
- RGB Lighting
- Dual BIOS (Performance / Silent)
- Reinforced structure
- Versatile VGA holder
- 4-year warranty (Online registration required)
The WINDFORCE cooling system delivers exceptional thermal performance through a combination of cutting-edge technologies. It features server-grade thermal conductive gel, innovative Hawk fans with alternate spinning, composite copper heat pipes, a large vapor chamber, 3D active fans, and screen cooling.
- Active Cooling Design – Hawk Fan:
The Hawk Fan features a unique blade design inspired by the aerodynamics of an eagle’s wing. This design reduces air resistance and noise levels, resulting in up to a 12.5% increase in cooling performance without compromising acoustics. - Server-Grade Thermal Conductive Gel:
To enhance product quality and reliability, we have introduced server-grade thermal conductive gel for cooling critical components such as VRAM and MOSFETs. This highly deformable, non-fluid gel provides optimal contact for uneven surfaces and effectively resists deformation from transport or long-term use, unlike traditional thermal pads. - Large Vapor Chamber & Composite Copper Heat Pipe:
The large vapor chamber directly contacts the GPU, coupled with the composite copper heat pipes, which quickly transfers the heat of the GPU and VRAM to the heatsink. - Screen Cooling:
Extended heatsink allows air to pass through, providing better heat dissipation.
With 16.7M customizable color options and numerous lighting effects, you can choose any lighting effect or synchronize with other devices in GIGABYTE CONTROL CENTER.
ASTONISHING EXTERIOR DESIGN
Drawing inspiration from water, the back panel’s ripples evoke flowing water, with mirrored, frosted, and light elements reflecting the water’s shimmering surface. Metal craftsmanship refines the texture, while teal and iridescent hues accentuate the serene lake. The fan’s rotation creates expanding ripples, infusing natural movement into the details.
EXCELLENCE IN ESSENTIAL
- Reinforced Structure:
The reinforced metal backplate with a bent edge, securely fastened to the I/O bracket, provides exceptional structural integrity - DUAL BIOS (Performance / Silent):
The factory default setting is Performance mode, which provides users with the best performance. However, switching to Silent mode will enjoy a quieter experience. - Power Indicator:
When experiencing any power supply abnormality, the indicator will alert gamers by flashing light. - Versatile VGA Holder:
Our newly designed VGA holder offers dozens of customizable mounting options. It ensures your graphics card is securely supported and prevents sagging. Its sleek design allows for discreet installation, enhancing the overall aesthetics of your system.
GIGABYTE CONTROL CENTER
GIGABYTE CONTROL CENTER (GCC) is a unified software for all GIGABYTE supported products. It provides an intuitive interface that allows users to adjust clock speed, voltage, fan mode and power target in real-time.
Retail Packaging and Accessories
The retail package for the graphics card is quite large, but the card itself is large. Everything is well-protected in thick foam. In the box, we will find a user’s manual, a warranty notice, a 12V-2×6 to 3x PCIe 8pin adapter, a versatile VGA holder, and a versatile VGA holder manual. We won’t need the graphics card holder for our test build as the case has it built-in, but it’s a nice addition and may lower the already high cost of the graphics card if needed.
As you can see in the photos, the card arrived at our redaction after some tests, but it’s in good condition.
The warranty card reminds us to register our graphics card for a four-year warranty, which is more than most competitive cards offer.
A Closer Look at the Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC
The card looks minimalistic compared to other high-series graphics cards on the market. The shroud, fans, and backplate are white, so it’s perfect for a white-themed PC.
The RTX5070Ti AERO is a large card, over three slots thick and 340mm long, so we must consider a spacious PC case. Since it’s also 140mm tall, I recommend checking twice to see if the case is wide enough or if we want a vertical mount so that nothing interferes.
We will find a single 16-pin power connector on the top, which handles up to 600W. I recommend using new power supplies with these cards as it lowers the risk of failure. For those interested, the tested card’s connector had around 40°C under load, and we had no power-related issues.
The fans are quiet; surprisingly, they only make a sound when they stop. Then, we can hear a quiet “rattling.” We hear the same on another Gigabyte card with similar cooling, so we assume it’s normal. The card keeps a 0RPM in low-load mode, so we won’t hear it when we don’t play games. Even when it’s under a higher load, separating its noise from the whole PC and ambient sounds is hard.
Gigabyte did a good job with the cooler. It has a large surface area and is equipped with composite heat pipes and a vapor chamber for the GPU. We also see that one of the crucial components is a “server-grade thermal conductive gel,” which is nothing more than a high-performance putty. It has recently become more popular than thermal pads due to its better performance and the way it fills all the gaps.
Below, you can see how the card looks under the cooler. The PCB is quite small, which is common to nearly all new graphics cards.
Some users probably noticed that the PCB layout is nearly identical to that of Gigabyte RTX5080 cards. We also have a 14-phase power design and a Monolithic Power Systems MP29816 controller. The GPU and memory chips use MP87993 controllers.
The memory chips are from Samsung and have a product number K4VAF325ZC-SC28, which tells us they are rated at 28Gbps. This is also exactly how Gigabyte specifies them.
GIGABYTE CONTROL CENTER Software and RGB Illumination
Gigabyte provides a complete set of drivers and additional software. The Gigabyte Control Center is the main software that helps us manage RGB illumination, fan control, and further performance settings. As long as RGB and fan speed adjustments work well, overclocking doesn’t work as we wish. Core and memory overclocking has to be adjusted by 1MHz. Memory frequency requires clicking on the up arrow for a few minutes to reach a significant overclock since the value is in the effective clock. There is no option to type the desired frequency. We noticed the same on other Gigabyte graphics cards. Automatic overclocking takes ages, and I’m sure most users cancel it before it finishes. Still, if we wish to try it, it works.
Test System and Benchmark Methods
| Test System Components | |
| Motherboard | MSI Z790 Ace MAX |
| CPU | Intel i9-14900K @ stock |
| CPU Cooler | Arctic Freezer III ARGB 420 AIO |
| Memory | Kingston Renegade RGB @ DDR5-6000 36-38-38-80 |
| SSD | 2x 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe (OS + Applications) |
| Power Supply | Deepcool 1300W 80+ Platinum |
| Video Card | @ Stock, Nvidia 572.70 drivers |
Our test system is based on the mainstream Intel z790 platform and uses the i9-14900K 8P,16E/32t CPU. We’ve updated it to the latest BIOS. The DRAM is at 6000 MHz with CL36-38-38-80 timings, a slower option by all accounts today, but it still balances performance and cost. The CPU runs stock for the motherboard.
Since the last update, we have made some changes and updated titles. More details can be found in the most recent GPU Testing Procedure article, which we have updated with our latest benchmarks. Below is a quick summary for easy reference.
- UL 3DMark Time Spy – Default settings
- UL 3DMark Fire Strike (Extreme) – Default settings
- UL 3DMark Port Royal – Default Settings (Ray Tracing capable cards only)
- UL 3DMark Speedway – Default settings
- Unigine Superposition – 4K Optimized
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider – DX12, “Highest” preset
- Assassin’s Creed: Mirage – Ultra High preset
- F1 2024 – Ultra High preset, Las Vegas track
- Far Cry 6 – Ultra preset, HD Textures enabled
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Ultra preset
- Cyberpunk 2077 – Ultra preset
Synthetic Benchmarks
Our first set of benchmarks hail from Underwriters Laboratories, which acquired Futuremark in 2014. Earlier in 2018, a rebrand occurred, and since then, Futuremark has become UL. The benchmarks have not changed; it is just the name. We chose to use 3DMark Fire Strike (Extreme) and 3DMark Time Spy, 3DMark Speedway, and 3DMark Port Royal as these tests give users a good idea of performance on modern titles and include ray tracing.
3DMark Fire Strike (Extreme) is a DX11-based test that runs at 1080p resolution. UL says the graphics are rendered with detail and complexity far beyond other DX11 benchmarks and games. 3DMark Time Spy is a DX12 benchmark designed for Windows 10 PCs. It supports new API features such as asynchronous computing, explicit multi-adapter, and multi-threading, running at 2560 x 1440. 3DMark Port Royal is the first Ray Tracing benchmark designed for Windows PCs and graphics cards with Microsoft DirectX Raytracing capabilities, while Speedway is another DX12 benchmark.
Results from the synthetic benchmarks show that the Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC performs slightly worse than the RTX 4080 in easier benchmarks and slightly better in more demanding ones.
Gaming Benchmarks
We have updated our testing suite for gaming benchmarks to bring more modern titles into the mix. Gone are Assasin’s Creed: Odyssey, F1 2022, The Division 2, and Metro Exodus, replaced/updated by Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, F1 2024, Avatar, and Cyberpunk 2077. It is worth mentioning that high-end cards aren’t made for 1080p gaming, so the gaps between them tend to be minimized as this is a wholly CPU-bound resolution with such powerful SKUs.
1920 x 1080 (1080p) Results
Our card performs well in 1080p gaming. Every game shows over 140 FPS, while most pass 190 FPS. All games also suggest a performance around the RTX 4080 – slightly better or worse, depending on the title.
2560 x 1440 and 4K UHD Results
Below are the higher resolution results, starting with 2560 x 1440 and the gaining-in-popularity 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD) resolution.
At 2560×1440, the Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC handles all games without issues. All titles show over 90 FPS. It may not be very high, but it is enough to enjoy every game with high graphics details on the list.
4K UHD resolution is more demanding, and we see it in lower FPS. However, we should see smooth gameplay in most of the games presented. Avatar and Cyberpunk 2077 may occasionally show an FPS drop but should still be smooth.
Ray Tracing and DLSS/FSR Testing
The charts below show what the review card can do when using ray tracing and DLSS/FSR capabilities. In this grouping, we test at 2560 x 1440 and 3840 x 2160.
F1 2024
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
Cyberpunk 2077
Avatar
Far Cry 6
Ray tracing causes problems mainly in Avatar and Cyberpunk 2077. Those two titles may show occasional hiccups at 1440p with maximum details, while at 4K, it can be hard to play without FPS drops below 30.
The overall performance is again around RTX 4080, and it’s even better in some games. This is good news considering that, looking at the specifications, the RTX 4080 seems to be a stronger card.
Folding @ Home Performance
Since we had limited time for tests, we could pass only a couple of WUs. The Client’s Advanced Control shows between 18 and 22M PPD depending on the project. The card had an average of 270W during this test. Since the card doesn’t use its full potential, fans spin slower, at about 1200-1500 RPM.
The card is a good choice for folders, and once again, it’s close to what we could achieve on the RTX 4080.
Overclocking the Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC
Our RTX5070Ti AERO is already overclocked, but we could easily push it above 3200MHz. Unlocking the power limit doesn’t help much, although it may help maintain higher boost frequencies for longer. The card, by default, could reach about 306W, while the maximum power limit gave us 332W. Even at the maximum values, the fans barely changed their speed, while the card went from around 63-64°C to 64-66°C in games.
Overclocking can improve performance by 3% to 10%, depending on the game and its settings. This improvement is already significant in some titles, but it may not be worth spending time on stability tests for most users. On the other hand, the cooler and the power design are capable of much more, so why not push the card further if we wish to?
Temperatures and Power Use
We test power consumption through F1 2024 and Cyberpunk 2077 game benchmarks. We monitor temperatures throughout this testing, with the peak temperature listed in the data below. The benchmarks are extended (time), allowing the card to settle and simulate extended gaming conditions more accurately. Most air-cooled cards will saturate and normalize around 10 minutes or so.
Temperatures on the Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC reached 65°C in Cyberpunk 2077 and 2°C less in F1 2024 at stock settings. Overclocking pushed it 2°C higher in both games.
The card acts great under load and doesn’t make much noise. The sound is audible, but it’s acceptable. We also couldn’t hear the coil whine much, which often happens in higher series cards.
Even though the card isn’t the highest-wattage model at the 306W maximum in games, I recommend a high-quality PSU from the ATX 3.0/3.1 series. It ensures stable voltages and lower noise.
Conclusion
The tested graphics card performed well and maintained complete stability in all our tests. The performance was higher than expected, and I’m sure it fully satisfies most gamers’ needs. I can’t say anything bad about the card or its features. The only downside is overclocking via GCC software, which will probably be improved in the next version. If we skip that, then the RTX 5070 Ti AERO OC is an exceptional graphics card that is fast, quiet, and looks great. It also has an improved power design and cooling, making the AERO OC one of the best options if we search for an RTX 5070 Ti graphics card.
The RTX 5070 Ti AERO OC is listed in the Newegg store for $979 right now, which is $230 over the MSRP, but considering high prices in general, it’s not so bad. However, we may have problems finding one in stock. This seems to be the biggest problem with the new generation of Nvidia cards.
Considering its significantly higher performance than the RTX 5070 and not much lower than the RTX 5080, the RTX 5070 Ti AERO OC is perfectly balanced for most gamers. It handles all games at 1440p display resolution with high graphics details and works well with most at 4K. We may have some problems with ray tracing, but one of the key features of the new Nvidia series, DLSS4, helps in most cases.
The Gigabyte RTX 5070Ti AERO OC receives a well-deserved Overclockers Approved Stamp!
Click the stamp for an explanation of what this means.
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