NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER in 2025: Is It Worth Buying?
Review of an outdated but still relevant GPU for gamers and professionals
Architecture and Key Features: Turing - A Step into the Future
Released in 2019, the RTX 2070 SUPER is based on the Turing architecture, which became revolutionary thanks to the introduction of RT cores for ray tracing and tensor cores for AI algorithms. The card was manufactured using 12nm TSMC technology, which seems archaic in 2025 compared to 5nm and 4nm chips. However, its "features" are still in demand:
- RTX (Real-Time Ray Tracing): Allows for realistic lighting and shadows in games.
- DLSS 2.0: AI enhances image resolution with minimal loss of quality, which is critical for 1440p and 4K.
- FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR): An AMD technology, but the RTX 2070 SUPER supports it through drivers, expanding the list of optimized games.
Despite its age, the card handles basic ray tracing tasks, but it falls behind the new RTX 40 series GPUs in rendering speed.
Memory: GDDR6 and the Balance Between Speed and Volume
The RTX 2070 SUPER is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 256-bit bus. The bandwidth is 448 GB/s, which, in 2025, is sufficient for most games at high settings in 1440p, but becomes a bottleneck at 4K or when working with ultra textures in projects like Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
The main downside is the limited VRAM. Modern AAA games (for example, Starfield or GTA VI) at maximum settings can consume up to 10-12 GB, leading to FPS drops. A solution is to reduce texture quality or use DLSS/FSR.
Gaming Performance: 1440p as the Sweet Spot
In 2025, the RTX 2070 SUPER remains relevant for 2560x1440 pixel monitors. Examples of FPS (high settings, without ray tracing):
- Fortnite: 110-130 FPS (1440p, DLSS Quality).
- Hogwarts Legacy: 45-55 FPS (1440p, RTX Medium + DLSS Balanced).
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare V: 75-90 FPS (1440p, FSR 2.1).
For 4K, the card is only suitable for less demanding projects (CS2, Valorant) or with significant compromises in settings. Ray tracing reduces FPS by 30-40%, so its use without DLSS is not advisable.
Professional Tasks: CUDA Still Holds Up
With 2304 CUDA cores, the RTX 2070 SUPER handles:
- Video Editing: Rendering in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro is accelerated 2-3 times compared to integrated graphics.
- 3D Modeling: In Blender, rendering a mid-level scene takes about 15-20 minutes.
- Machine Learning: Suitable for basic experiments with TensorFlow, but models like Stable Diffusion run slower than on cards with 12+ GB of memory.
For serious professional tasks in 2025, it's better to choose the RTX 4060 Ti (16 GB) or Radeon Pro W7800, but as a budget option, the RTX 2070 SUPER is still viable.
Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation: Modest but Demanding
The card’s TDP is 215W. For a build with this card, you need:
- Power Supply: At least 550W (recommended 650W for headroom).
- Cooling: Reference models heat up to 75-80°C under load. Look for models with 2-3 fans (e.g., ASUS Dual EVO or MSI Gaming X).
- Case: Good airflow (at least 2 intake and 1 exhaust fan).
Comparison with Competitors: Who Does It Compete Against in 2025?
- AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (8 GB): Cheaper (~$250), but weaker at 1440p and lacks hardware ray tracing.
- NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12 GB): Priced at $300-350, offers comparable performance but more memory and DLSS 3.0 (not available on the RTX 20 series).
- Intel Arc A770 (16 GB): At $300, delivers comparable FPS in DX12 games, but drivers are still immature.
Today, the RTX 2070 SUPER is an option for those looking for a used card priced at $150-200. New models (if still available) are priced between $250-300, which is debatable compared to the RTX 4060.
Practical Tips: How to Avoid Issues
- Power Supply: Don't skimp! It's better to get a Corsair CX650M or Be Quiet! Pure Power 11.
- Compatibility: The card requires PCIe 3.0 x16, but it also works on PCIe 4.0/5.0 motherboards.
- Drivers: NVIDIA supports older GPUs for 5-7 years. In 2025, updates will be less frequent, but critical patches for new games continue to be released.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable price on the secondary market.
- Support for DLSS and RTX.
- Better energy efficiency than the RX 5700 XT.
Cons:
- Only 8 GB of memory.
- No support for DLSS 3.0 and Frame Generation.
- Outdated RT cores.
Final Conclusion: Who Is the RTX 2070 SUPER For?
This graphics card is a choice for:
1. Gamers with a 1440p monitor who are willing to make compromises in ultra settings.
2. Streamers who need enough power for gaming and video encoding simultaneously.
3. Budget professionals working in Adobe Suite or Blender.
If you find a new RTX 2070 SUPER for $250 — that’s not a bad deal. But for $300-400, it's better to consider modern AMD RX 7600 XT or NVIDIA RTX 4060. In 2025, the “super” 2070 is still breathing, but its time is running out.