Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
As we steadily approach the one-year anniversary of the big RTX 3000 reveal in early September 2020, NVIDIA is showing no signs of pulling the brakes on pushing more new models of the series to an already saturated GPU space. In 2021 alone, NVIDIA has announced and shipped three new variants, the most recent of which is the 1440p gaming powerhouse RTX 3070 Ti, also prized for its 4K prowess.
It’s a curious addition to NVIDIA’s arsenal. It’s an incredibly powerful GPU, but the performance gains over the vanilla RTX 3070 are so insignificant that we question the logic of buying a card that lacks the value-packed performance usually reserved for GPUs bearing the Ti name. The higher asking price simply doesn’t correlate with the marginal performance gains.
That said, this assessment only applies under normal circumstances. And, as we all know, the GPU market is anything but normal right now with ongoing shortages, a thriving scalper market, and asking prices soaring past twice the MSRP, mitigated only by small signs that the tide is turning, albeit very slowly. In this context, picking up any of NVIDIA’s 3000 series cards at a reasonable price is a win, something that extends to the RTX 3070 Ti.
In this guide, we’ve handpicked the best AIB partner NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti cards that are, in theory, available for purchase right now.
Products at a Glance
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
How We Picked
The cooling solution, aesthetics, build quality, and core clock speed boosts are what set different RTX 3070 Ti models apart – after all, they all use the same standard GA104 chip – and we used these factors to find the very best options. We also pulled in benchmark results, pricing, and reviews from respected outlets to further guide our selection process.
We’ve handpicked five AIB partner NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti GPUs that, in our estimation, are some of the best out there. Read on to find out why each piqued our interest and is worth your hard-earned cash. For those seeking a bit more guidance and general tips about shopping around for an NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti, we’ve squeezed in a ‘Things to Consider’ section with some choice advice.
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
- Quiet and efficient thermal design
- 1770 MHz boost/1800 Mhz OC
- Premium components
- High quality construction
- Chunky footprint
- Stock shortage
The ROG Strix name carries a lot of weight among gamers for delivering high-end gaming kit, and the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is no exception. The card offers a carefully curated combination of excellent thermal design, clock speeds, premium components, quality construction, and attractive aesthetics to offer something that warrants looking beyond the reference RTX 3070 Ti Founders Edition.
At the center of the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3070 Ti thermal design is ASUS Axial-tech fan tech. A higher blade count on all three fans with slimmer barrier rings on the outer two, and an additional two blades plus a full-height ring on the center fan, increase lateral air intake for better airflow compared to previous cooling solutions from ASUS.
Additionally, the alternate spinning direction of the center fan ensures air moves away from the chunky 2.9 slot heatsink rather than cause redundant air turbulence. The system is relatively quiet, aided by a fan shut-off feature once GPU temps drop below 50-degrees. Put simply; this card keeps temperatures well in check with an audible but entirely reasonable decibel output.
Turning to performance, the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3070 Ti keeps the reference card’s boost to 1770 Mhz, while OC mode ticks up to 1800 MHz. In line with what we’d expect from any RTX 3070 Ti GPU, the card confidently pumps out high FPS counts in 1440p, while 4K performance is good and about where you’d expect.
The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3070 Ti features two HDMI and a trio of DisplayPorts, something afforded by its chunky footprint that measures in at 318.5 x 140.1 x 57.78 mm. Make sure your case has the room to house this hefty beast.
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
- 1875 MHz boost
- Integrated LCD monitor and fully customizable RGB
- Max-Covered cooling solution
- Great construction and quality materials
- Pricey
- Large triple-fan footprint
- Stock shortage
As with the other AORUS range products, the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 3070 Ti MASTER doesn’t skimp on construction quality, with premium materials throughout from the PCB to the capacitors. Gigabyte’s confidence in the card’s durability adds a generous four-year warranty to the mix. You also get a massive 1875 MHz boost clock, far outclassing the reference card, and blazing through the most demanding games at 1440p.
Gigabyte’s Max-Covered cooling solution employs blade stacks fans with a wind claw design, alternate spinning to reduce turbulence, a direct contact vapor chamber, composite heat pipes, and an angular fin design on the heat sink to broaden the contact surface for better temperature control. In action, the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 3070 Ti MASTER’s cooling solution works efficiently and quietly.
While gimmicky to a certain extent, the integrated LCD monitor is a nicety that should please those wanting to customize their RTX 3070 Ti’s aesthetics. It can display crucial monitoring details about the card, such as temperature and clock speed, customizable text, images, and GIFs. Allied to this is a good dose of RGB throughout the GPU, fully customizable thanks to Gigabyte’s powerful RGB Fusion 2.0 software that boasts a dizzying range of color options and lighting effects.
Additional features include a full metal backplate, dual bios mode (silent and OC), three HDMI and three DisplayPort outputs, and power supply light indicators to help troubleshoot issues. Much like the ASUS card above, the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 3070 Ti MASTER is a massive GPU, measuring 324 x 142 x 70 mm and costs a pretty penny.
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
- 1785 MHz boost, 1815 Mhz OC
- Cheaper than the more premium RTX 3070 Ti options
- Tough and durable
- Slimmer footprint
- Stock shortage
Value is relative, and we employ the term in the loosest sense here. In relation to other AIB partner RTX 3070 Ti GPUs, the ASUS TUF Gaming OC RTX 3070 Ti is more affordable with excellent cooling, durable construction, and a welcome 1785 MHz boost in gaming mode and a speedy 1815 MHz in OC mode.
In keeping with what we’ve come to expect from the ASUS TUF range, the ASUS TUF Gaming OC RTX 3070 Ti is made to last with solid all-round construction, a simple but pleasing industrial-style aesthetic based on a full-aluminum shroud, and conservative use of RGB. Let’s face it, RGB isn’t for everyone, and a stripped-back option should suit those that prefer subtly in their rigs.
Cooling is well served by allying ASUS’ triple-fan Axial-tech, alternate spinning, a Maxcontact heatsink array with extra surface smoothness for better thermal transfer, and a dedicated heatsink for the VRAM – one of the hottest components on the RTX 3070 Ti. This design not only manages temperatures well but ensures the solution works for years ahead by using longevity-geared components such as dual ball fan bearings.
Additionally, by keeping things simple but performance-oriented, the ASUS TUF Gaming OC RTX 3070 Ti features a more modest footprint by AIB partner card standards – 299.9 x 126.9 x 51.7 mm – meaning it can fit quite a few more case types, including roomier mid-towers, but still offer two HDMI and three DisplayPort outputs.
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
- Whisper quiet cooling solution
- 1830 MHz boost
- Support bracket
- Tasteful RGB
- Large footprint
- Stock shortage
- Expensive
The MSI RTX 3070 TI GAMING X TRIO warrants a spot in our guide simply for its ultra-quiet cooling solution. MSI’s TRI FROZR 2 cooling system with its TORX FAN 4.0, precision-machined core pipes, and Airflow Control heatsink needs no introduction and works wonders to ward off unwanted airflow harmonics that produce audible fan whir, even under heavy loads.
The MSI RTX 3070 TI GAMING X TRIO ups the boost core clock speed to a speedy 1830 MHz, features a tasteful array of fully customizable RGB via the Mystic Light software, quality components throughout, and one HDMI and three DisplayPort outputs.
While the MSI RTX 3070 TI GAMING X TRIO includes a sturdy metal backplate, the GPU also ships bundled with a support bracket that sits below the GPU to add a welcome extra bit of support to prevent sagging and PCIe damage.
It will come as no surprise that the MSI RTX 3070 TI GAMING X TRIO is a hefty GPU, 323 x 140 x 56 mm to be exact, positioning it among the longest 3070 Ti AIB partner cards out there alongside the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 3070 Ti MASTER.
Additionally, it’s one of the more expensive options out there. If quiet cooling isn’t a priority, you can save some money by opting for more affordable GPUs such as the ASUS TUF Gaming OC RTX 3070 Ti or PNY GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB XLR8 Gaming REVEL EPIC-X.
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
- Most affordable RTX 3070 Ti other than the Founders Edition
- 1770 MHz boost clock
- RGB
- Sturdy backplate
- Boost clock speed matches reference card
- Stock shortage
Once again, affordability is relative, and it’s essential to see this in the context of NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti pricing. If you’re looking for one of the most cost-effective models, you can’t go wrong with the PNY GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB XLR8 Gaming REVEL EPIC-X.
The PNY GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB XLR8 Gaming REVEL EPIC-X has a boost core clock speed of 1770 MHz, matching the reference card from NVIDIA. A far cry from the boosts offered by the cards above, but something that keeps costs down and, for such a powerful card even at reference speeds, is a reasonable compromise in our estimation.
The GPU boasts a triple-fan cooling solution that does an excellent job of keeping temperatures within respectable limits, in some cases better than the more expensive cards. The trade-off is that the PNY GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB XLR8 Gaming REVEL EPIC-X is one of the noisiest 3070 Ti’s out there, with decibels levels approaching those produced by the reference Founders Edition card from NVIDIA.
The card’s dimensions are 293.8 x 112 x 55.8 mm, making it a reasonably compact option. It features one HDMI and three DisplayPort outputs and a generous smattering of customizable EPIC-X RGB surrounding the central fan.
Cooling
With 8 GB of GDDR6X and 6144 CUDA cores working away to deliver those buttery smooth FPS, the RTX 3070 Ti produces substantial amounts of heat. To mitigate this, look out for AIB partner cards that include a robust and efficient cooling solution that keeps temperatures within respectable limits while also managing noise levels. Some fan noise and a degree of coil whine are expected. Still, quality materials and construction can be the difference between living with something resembling a cacophony of take-off primed jets or a gentle purr that fades into the background when firing up a game.
Card Size
Following the trend of ever-larger GPUs, the RTX 3070 Ti boasts a beefy physical footprint, only dwarfed by the monstrous RTX 3080 and 3090. Given this size of the card, it’s vital to ensure that it can indeed fit in your case before dashing for your credit card.
Most AIB partner cards use a triple-fan setup, which means there’s a degree of standardization to the general dimensions of the GPU. Different models may vary by a handful of millimeters here and there, with lengths sitting somewhere between 290 mm and 330 mm for most RTX 3070 Ti models.
These lengths largely exclude mid-tower cases, so you’ll need a roomy full-tower or a smaller ITX-style case engineered to accommodate large GPUs like the RTX 3070 Ti.
Buying An NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti
It’s no exaggeration to say that the past year has been quite the roller coaster for GPU enthusiasts. We’ve never been as spoiled for choice in terms of high-end GPUs from both NVIDIA and AMD, but conversely, it’s more difficult than ever before to actually get our hands on one.
As it stands, our advice is to hold off buying a GPU altogether right now. Small but promising signs suggest the inflated pricing has peaked. Retailers are listing stock more regularly, albeit still in limited quantities, scalpers on sites like eBay are lowering prices every day, the returns on the crypto boom have dropped and plateaued since the high of earlier this year, and efforts made by NVIDIA and AMD to increase manufacturing capacity appear to be bearing fruit.
Similarly, the arrival of LHR (low hash rate) variants of NVIDIA’s 3000-series has substantially reduced the pool of people vying to purchase limited stock. All this suggests that prices should continue to decrease in the months ahead at a steady pace. Hold off buying now in anticipation of much better prices.
But if you are dead set on buying an NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti right now, then expect to pay more than it’s worth. We highly recommend signing up for stock notifications on Twitter or Discord. On both platforms, there are thriving communities that have turned hunting down reasonably priced GPUs and beating scalper bots to the punch into a fine art.
Our Verdict
Best NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti in 2022
If you’re in a position to choose what NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti you go for, our top recommendation is the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. It’s a robust GPU that carries forth the established reputation for quality cards of the ROG Strix range with a quiet and efficient thermal design, welcome 1800 MHz core clock boost, and a premium build.
Otherwise, the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 3070 Ti MASTER is another excellent pick with a huge 1875 MHz boost, RGB aplenty, including a customizable LCD monitor, good cooling performance, and robust build quality.
For pure value alone, the ASUS TUF Gaming OC RTX 3070 Ti is our favored pick for keeping things simple, efficient, and durable, all while pushing a great 1815 MHz boost and limiting RGB to a welcome minimum.
For those looking for a whisper-quiet 3070 Ti, the MSI RTX 3070 TI GAMING X TRIO is the go-to pick thanks to MSI’s superb TRI FROZR 2 cooling system allied to an 1830 MHz boost and premium components.
Lastly, those looking to save on an already pricey GPU may want to consider the PNY GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB XLR8 Gaming REVEL EPIC-X. It keeps to the reference card in terms of core speeds but throws in a reliable cooling solution that’s only let down by above-average noise output.
Feel free to send any questions or concerns our way via the comments section below.