Radeon R9 280X vs GeForce GTX 1070 Ti

Place in the ranking	121	353
Place by popularity	70	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	30.79	5.60
Power efficiency	14.64	4.19
Architecture	Pascal (2016−2021)	GCN 1.0 (2011−2020)
GPU code name	GP104	Tahiti
Market segment	Desktop	Desktop
Design	no data	reference
Release date	2 November 2017 (7 years ago)	8 October 2013 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$399	$299

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 1070 Ti has 450% better value for money than R9 280X.

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	2432	2048
Core clock speed	1607 MHz	no data
Boost clock speed	1683 MHz	1000 MHz
Number of transistors	7,200 million	4,313 million
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	180 Watt	250 Watt
Texture fill rate	255.8	128.0
Floating-point processing power	8.186 TFLOPS	4.096 TFLOPS
ROPs	64	32
TMUs	152	128

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Bus support	no data	PCIe 3.0
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 3.0 x16
Length	267 mm	275 mm
Width	2-slot	2-slot
Supplementary power connectors	1x 8-pin	1 x 6-pin + 1 x 8-pin

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	3 GB
Memory bus width	256 Bit	384 Bit
Memory clock speed	2002 MHz	no data
Memory bandwidth	256.3 GB/s	288 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors	1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort	2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort
Eyefinity	-	+
HDMI	+	+
DisplayPort support	-	+
G-SYNC support	+	-

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

AppAcceleration	-	+
CrossFire	-	+
FreeSync	-	+
HD3D	-	+
LiquidVR	-	+
TressFX	-	+
TrueAudio	-	+
UVD	-	+
DDMA audio	no data	+
VR Ready	+	no data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12 (12_1)	DirectX® 12
Shader Model	6.4	5.1
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	1.2	1.2
Vulkan	1.2.131	+
CUDA	6.1	-

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1070 Ti 38.22
+152%

R9 280X 15.19

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 1070 Ti 14688
+152%

R9 280X 5837

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 1070 Ti 27503
+155%

R9 280X 10792

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 1070 Ti 18405
+121%

R9 280X 8343

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1070 Ti 88161
+69.2%

R9 280X 52117

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1070 Ti 442105
+54.9%

R9 280X 285376

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD	109 +70.3%	64 −70.3%
1440p	71 +163%	27−30 −163%
4K	55 +66.7%	33 −66.7%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	3.66 +27.6%	4.67 −27.6%
1440p	5.62 +97.1%	11.07 −97.1%
4K	7.25 +24.9%	9.06 −24.9%

GTX 1070 Ti has 28% lower cost per frame in 1080p
GTX 1070 Ti has 97% lower cost per frame in 1440p
GTX 1070 Ti has 25% lower cost per frame in 4K

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2	75−80 +204%	24−27 −204%
Cyberpunk 2077	80−85 +170%	30−33 −170%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5	100−110 +110%	45−50 −110%
Counter-Strike 2	75−80 +204%	24−27 −204%
Cyberpunk 2077	80−85 +170%	30−33 −170%
Forza Horizon 4	180−190 +197%	60−65 −197%
Forza Horizon 5	95−100 +145%	40−45 −145%
Metro Exodus	107 +155%	40−45 −155%
Red Dead Redemption 2	75−80 +103%	35−40 −103%
Valorant	150−160 +149%	60−65 −149%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5	100−110 +110%	45−50 −110%
Counter-Strike 2	75−80 +204%	24−27 −204%
Cyberpunk 2077	80−85 +170%	30−33 −170%
Dota 2	42 +16.7%	36 −16.7%
Far Cry 5	75 +33.9%	55−60 −33.9%
Fortnite	160−170 +100%	80−85 −100%
Forza Horizon 4	180−190 +197%	60−65 −197%
Forza Horizon 5	95−100 +145%	40−45 −145%
Grand Theft Auto V	120−130 +122%	54 −122%
Metro Exodus	78 +85.7%	40−45 −85.7%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	112 +2.8%	100−110 −2.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2	75−80 +103%	35−40 −103%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	130−140 +160%	52 −160%
Valorant	150−160 +149%	60−65 −149%
World of Tanks	270−280 +43.1%	190−200 −43.1%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	100−110 +110%	45−50 −110%
Counter-Strike 2	75−80 +204%	24−27 −204%
Cyberpunk 2077	80−85 +170%	30−33 −170%
Dota 2	121 −13.2%	137 +13.2%
Far Cry 5	95−100 +71.4%	55−60 −71.4%
Forza Horizon 4	180−190 +197%	60−65 −197%
Forza Horizon 5	95−100 +145%	40−45 −145%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	190−200 +81.7%	100−110 −81.7%
Valorant	150−160 +149%	60−65 −149%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2	70−75 +218%	21−24 −218%
Grand Theft Auto V	70−75 +209%	21−24 −209%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	170−180 +27.7%	130−140 −27.7%
Red Dead Redemption 2	35−40 +192%	12−14 −192%
World of Tanks	240−250 +129%	100−110 −129%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	70−75 +129%	30−35 −129%
Counter-Strike 2	35−40 +22.6%	30−35 −22.6%
Cyberpunk 2077	35−40 +217%	12−14 −217%
Far Cry 5	120−130 +232%	35−40 −232%
Forza Horizon 4	110−120 +189%	35−40 −189%
Forza Horizon 5	60−65 +163%	24−27 −163%
Metro Exodus	76 +130%	30−35 −130%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	65−70 +230%	20−22 −230%
Valorant	110−120 +213%	35−40 −213%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2	35−40 +255%	10−12 −255%
Dota 2	67 +158%	24−27 −158%
Grand Theft Auto V	67 +158%	24−27 −158%
Metro Exodus	25 +150%	10−11 −150%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	92 +104%	45−50 −104%
Red Dead Redemption 2	24−27 +150%	10−11 −150%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	67 +158%	24−27 −158%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	40−45 +214%	14−16 −214%
Counter-Strike 2	35−40 +255%	10−12 −255%
Cyberpunk 2077	16−18 +325%	4−5 −325%
Dota 2	105 +54.4%	68 −54.4%
Far Cry 5	55−60 +195%	18−20 −195%
Fortnite	45 +165%	16−18 −165%
Forza Horizon 4	60−65 +186%	21−24 −186%
Forza Horizon 5	35−40 +200%	12−14 −200%
Valorant	60−65 +265%	16−18 −265%

This is how GTX 1070 Ti and R9 280X compete in popular games:

GTX 1070 Ti is 70% faster in 1080p
GTX 1070 Ti is 163% faster in 1440p
GTX 1070 Ti is 67% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Cyberpunk 2077, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1070 Ti is 325% faster.
in Dota 2, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the R9 280X is 13% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

GTX 1070 Ti is ahead in 63 tests (98%)
R9 280X is ahead in 1 test (2%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	38.22	15.19
Recency	2 November 2017	8 October 2013
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	3 GB
Chip lithography	16 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	180 Watt	250 Watt

GTX 1070 Ti has a 151.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, a 166.7% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 75% more advanced lithography process, and 38.9% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1070 Ti is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon R9 280X in performance tests.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.