It got the best of every world, one of the best contenders for mid-range GPU king.
| Editonomy’s Review: Being the latest offering from Nvidia’s mid-range offering, it packs an excellent performance-to-price offering so much so that it comes off as a better value than its upgrade RTX 4070Ti. If RTX 4070 falls under your budget and you are content with its 12Gb VRam then it is the best option out there. You should Buy this if: ~Your workflow consists of 4K footage or less. ~You are on a budget and want a bang-on performance ~You want the latest tech on a budget. You should Not Buy this if: ~You’re stretching your budget for RTX 4070. ~You want more than 12GB of VRAM. ~You’re going to work only in Blender. ~Your workflow consists of footage that is more than 4k resolution. |
The Rtx 4070, the latest mid-range 40 series offering from Nvidia, is arguably the best upgrade from its predecessor, the 3070. At the same time, it has the best price-to-performance ratio in the 40 series lineup.
That being said, Is RTX 4070 good enough for video editing? Let’s find out
What The RTX 4070 Has To Offer:
It comes with 12 GB of VRAM, that 4GB upgrade then its predecessor, 5888 CUDA cores, a Boost Clock of 2.48 GHz & a base Clock of 1.92 GHz it has a solid spec sheet backing.
Also being the latest offering from Nvidia, it enjoys all of Nvidia’s latest features like:-
-RTX AI (All creative tasks are now AI-powered)
-NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 (Crazy high frame rates)
-Ray Tracing (Games look hyper-realistic)
So, it delivers and is a solid choice. Now, let’s dig in a bit further if RTX 4070 is good enough for video editing
Temperature & Fan Noise
Its temperature ranges anywhere from 52 to 77 degrees, depending upon which model you go for, and it registers a fan noise of 40db maximum “which is no problem at all that ruins the experience” reported a user!
But What About Video Editing?
The RTX 4070 is termed as one of the best “Value for money mid-range” graphics cars, it sits nicely in the middle in terms of price-to-performance ratio.
While it’s nowhere near RTX 4090 but blows past its upgrade which is RTX 4070Ti in terms of value.
The RTX 4070 gets the work done for most video editors out there because it delivers a good performance with every video editing software and is backed up by Nvidia’s latest tech.
If working with footage up to 4k resolution, and a lot of editing between After Effects and Premiere Pro workflow, this card is more than enough.
Only professionals and Blender users should steer clear of RTX 4070.
DaVinci Resolve
Davinci Resolve is famously known for utilizing GPU capabilities, giving a toll on its VRAM. DaVinci Resolve’s performance can be a good benchmark to see the GPU’s potential while editing.
The Puget System’s DaVinci Resolve testing has shown a good result, with RTX 4070 securing an impressive overall score of 2130 points.
This makes the RTX 4070 20% faster than the RTX 3070 and 10% faster than last year AMD’s flagship RX6900 XT, also only a bit slower than the more expensive RTX 4070 Ti.
The higher-end RTX 4080 and 4090 no doubt prove superior for GPU-intense workflows, but the RTX 4070 is great for those on a budget and looking for performance.
Premiere Pro
The RTX 4070, gives out great performance in Premiere Pro benchmarks as well. A 1304 overall score is not far behind RTX 4090’s 1419 scores.
For most editors, this makes the RTX 4070 a bang-on choice. You should only consider an upgrade to RTX 4080 or 4090 if you use heavy GPU acceleration effects.
Like exporting a multi-layer project with a good amount of sound design and with tons of After-Effects dynamic links with full-on animations, but if you’re smart there are better ways around it. (How to get the most out of your GPU)
All in all, if you work on a GPU-heavy timeline you already know what I mean!
Pros of the RTX 4070 for Video Editing
- Affordable for the majority of buyers
- A 4GB VRam bump from 3070, it’s now 12Gb of VRam.
- 20% Improvement over the previous RTX 3070.
- Proves the best value for money in the 40 series.
- It is equipped with the latest Nvidia technology like DLSS 3 Frame Gen, DLSS, Reflex, Broadcast, RTX Video Super Resolution, etc.
Cons of the RTX 4070 for Video Editing
- A bit overpriced compared to its competitors.
- For the price, 12GB is still not up to the mark.
- Last-gen graphics cards still offer better value.
What About Its Competition?
The RTX 4070 competition is its sibling the RTX 4070 Ti, last year’s AMD flagship RX6900 XT, and its predecessor RTX 3070. RTX 4070 does the job so well that it makes buying RTX 4070 Ti, a foolish decision.
DaVinci Resolve & Premiere Pro benchmarks show that competing very aggressively and have very close scores in most tests.
The RTX 4070 as mentioned earlier is 20% faster than the RTX 3070 and comes with a 4Gb more VRAM so competition is not much of a problem. The RTX 4070 outperforms AMD’s RX 6900 XT in recent benchmarking because Adobe’s programs are built keeping Nvidia in mind.
The shocking thing is that the RTX 4070 comes on top in Puget System’s HEVC Benchmarking in Premiere Pro, Even beating the RTX 4090.
But all this being said RTX 4070 is more costly than its competition, the RX6900 XT & RTX 3070. So if you’re on a tight budget, you can explore those two options as well because looking just the price, they still provide a slightly better value.
For Whom Is the RTX 4070 Suited?
The RTX 4070 is a GPU for most video editors who are working with 4K footage or less. Where it shines is Adobe Premiere Pro, going toe-to-toe with GPUs twice its cost.
The RTX 4070 is for you if:
- Your workflow consists of 4K footage or less.
- You are on a budget and want a bang-on performance
- You are considering an upgrade to the latest generation but don’t wanna pay a premium.
RTX 4070 Is Not For You if:
- You’re a video editing professional who works with 6K or 8K footage, this is about all you’ll need.
- You’re stretching your budget for RTX 4070.
- You want more than 12GB of VRAM.
- You’re going to work only in Blender.
- You do want to think rationally and want to buy RTX 4070Ti
RTX 4070’s Limitations?
If you have a heavy timeline that is very graphics heavy or you will be mostly working with 6K and higher resolution footage. Then RTX 4070 might not be the best option for you. A higher model might do the job for you.
But again for the majority of video editors, the RTX 4070 is a great choice that doesn’t make a dent in your wallet.
Does it have future-proofing capabilities?
As of now, it’s the latest offering from Nvidia, so yeah you are good for a few years. The only problem I see is the 12Gb VRAM, it is not less by any means but as technology is evolving, future programs can be more VRAM-hungry, it can fall a bit short but again is not so less that you can’t make do.
Final Verdict
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 is a great choice for video editors seeking enhanced performance without breaking the bank. With significant improvements over its predecessor, the RTX 4070 offers a balanced blend of affordability and capability.
Boasting 12GB of VRAM and a host of cutting-edge features, it excels in tasks like DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro, rivaling GPUs twice its cost.
While not ideal for professionals working with 6K or 8K footage, the RTX 4070 caters well to the needs of most video editors, providing a solid upgrade path with future-proofing capabilities.
However, its slightly higher price and limited VRAM may warrant consideration for budget-conscious users exploring alternatives like the RX6900 XT or RTX 3070. Ultimately, the RTX 4070 delivers impressive performance and value, making it a worthy investment in your video editing journey.