NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 in 2025: Is it worth getting a legend of the past?
Review of capabilities, performance, and relevance in the era of new technologies.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Turing Architecture: The Foundation of a Revolution
The RTX 2070 is built on Turing architecture, introduced by NVIDIA in 2018. Despite its age, this technology remains relevant thanks to innovations like RT Core for ray tracing and Tensor Core for AI algorithms. The card was released using a 12nm process technology (TSMC), which seems modest in 2025 compared to 5nm and 4nm chips, but driver optimization compensates for this.
Unique Features
- RTX (Real-Time Ray Tracing): Even in 2025, the RTX 2070 supports basic ray tracing in games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Alan Wake 2, although the activation of DLSS is often required for comfortable performance.
- DLSS 2.0: AI-driven upscaling technology increases FPS by 30-50%, retaining detail. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p with DLSS, the card delivers around 45-50 FPS with ray tracing on medium settings.
- FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR): Support for AMD's open technology is available, but its effectiveness is lower than that of DLSS.
2. Memory: Balancing Speed and Capacity
GDDR6: A Proven Standard
The card features 8GB of GDDR6 memory with a bandwidth of 448 GB/s (256-bit bus). This is sufficient for gaming at 1440p, but in 4K or when handling heavy textures (for example, in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024), there may be stuttering due to insufficient VRAM.
Impact on Performance
- In Hogwarts Legacy (1440p, Ultra), the RTX 2070 achieves a steady 60 FPS without ray tracing, but when RT is enabled, the drop to 35-40 FPS is mitigated by DLSS.
- For editing 4K video in DaVinci Resolve, 8GB is adequate, but rendering complex 3D scenes in Blender may require more substantial solutions.
3. Gaming Performance: Numbers and Realities
1080p: Comfortable Gaming
In Full HD, the card shows excellent results:
- Apex Legends (Ultra): 120-140 FPS.
- Elden Ring (Max, without RT): 55-60 FPS.
1440p: The Optimal Choice
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IV (High): 75-90 FPS.
- Starfield (Medium, with DLSS): 60 FPS.
4K: Only with Compromises
- Forza Horizon 5 (High, DLSS Performance): 50-55 FPS.
- Without DLSS, 4K gaming is practically unattainable.
Ray Tracing: Beauty Comes at a Cost
Enabling RT reduces FPS by 30-40%, but DLSS restores playability. In Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p, RT Medium, DLSS Balanced) — 45-50 FPS.
4. Professional Tasks: Not Just Gaming
Video Editing and Rendering
Thanks to 2304 CUDA cores, the RTX 2070 handles rendering in Blender and Premiere Pro. For example, rendering a 5-minute 4K video in Adobe Premiere takes about 12-15 minutes.
Scientific Calculations
With CUDA and OpenCL support, the card is useful for entry-level machine learning or simulations in MATLAB, but for serious tasks, it’s better to choose RTX 3000/4000 series cards with larger memory capacities.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
TDP of 175W: Modest but Needs Attention
- Power Supply: Minimum of 550W (recommended 650W for overhead).
- Cooling: Reference models heat up to 75-80°C under load. The optimal choice is versions with 2-3 fans (for example, from ASUS Dual or MSI Gaming Z).
- Case: Good ventilation is essential — at least 2 intake fans and 1 exhaust fan.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
- Pros: Cheaper (~$220), comparable performance in games without RT.
- Cons: No hardware ray tracing, worse compatibility with professional software.
NVIDIA RTX 3060
- Pros: 12 GB of memory, support for DLSS 3.0.
- Cons: Higher price (~$300), in games without DLSS 3.0 RTX 2070 may sometimes be faster.
Conclusion: RTX 2070 surpasses competitors with RTX and DLSS usage but falls short in tasks requiring large amounts of VRAM.
7. Practical Tips
- Power Supply: Don’t skimp — Corsair CX650M or Be Quiet! System Power 10.
- Compatibility: Works with PCIe 3.0 and 4.0, Intel 8th generation and newer / AMD Ryzen 2000+ processors.
- Drivers: Regularly update via GeForce Experience. Avoid “beta versions” for stability.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Support for DLSS and RTX.
- Optimal for 1440p.
- Good performance in professional tasks.
Cons:
- 8GB of memory is a weak point in 2025.
- High temperatures in reference models.
- Prices of new models (~$250) are close to that of the RTX 3060.
9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider RTX 2070?
This graphics card is an excellent choice for:
- Gamers who want to play at 1440p with high settings and moderate use of RTX.
- Budget streaming enthusiasts — NVENC provides smooth transmission.
- Beginner editors and designers who do not require an ultra-powerful GPU.
Why in 2025? Despite its age, the RTX 2070 remains a "workhorse" due to DLSS and NVIDIA support. If you find it for under $250, it's a worthwhile purchase. However, for 4K or complex rendering, it's better to look at newer models.
Prices are valid as of April 2025. Please check availability at local stores!