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Technologies

GeForce RTX 4070 GPU Review: It Hits the Bull’s-Eye of the Middle

From high 1080p gaming to low 4K, as well as for midrange graphics and video production, Nvidia’s RTX 4070 graphics card has got it covered.

Nvidia’s latest throwdown in the GPU arena, the GeForce RTX 4070 seems like the most well-rounded meat-and-potatoes gaming card choice you can get — at least for the moment. It’s a first-rate option for upgrading to high-speed, highest quality 1080p through entry 4K gaming, hitting all of 1440p in between. Covering that much ground means you should be safe for a few years until you’re ready to upgrade again. It’s good for 4K video editing, most streaming and entry-level pro and AI-assisted graphics. The size and power requirements make it a good fit for midsize systems. And starting at $600, it’s the least expensive way to hit all those targets.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition

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Like

  • Well-rounded performance for the money
  • Only takes two slots

Don’t Like

  • Needs adapter or PCIe 5 power connectors

The step-up RTX 4070 Ti outperforms it, sometimes by quite a bit, thanks to its faster GPU clock and more cores across the board, which makes the 4070 Ti a tempting competitor for the same gaming performance classes as the RTX 4070. But it’s at least $200 more (although who knows what the 4070’s price range will settle at once the third-party boards start to ship on April 13), recommends a class higher of power supply and takes up more space. Though the 4070 Ti only needs a half-slot more width, that means it will block an entire second slot on many motherboards, and it might not even fit in some smaller systems.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition

Memory 12GB GDDR6X
Memory bandwidth (GBps) 504.2
Memory clock (GHz) 11
GPU clock (GHz, base/boost) 1.92/2.475
Memory data rate/Interface 21Gbps/192 bits
RT cores 46
CUDA Cores 5888
Texture mapping units 184
Streaming multiprocessors 46
Tensor Cores 184
Process 4nm
TGP/min PSU (watts) 200/650
Max thermal (degrees) 194F/90C
Bus PCIe 4.0×16
Size 2 slots
Launch price $600
Ship date April 12, 2023

AMD’s RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX also outperform the RTX 4070, but they’re even more expensive than the RTX 4070 Ti and can’t keep up with the RTX 4070 for ray tracing. They’re also 2.5 slots thick like the 4070 Ti. And though it sounds tempting to opt for a last-generation GeForce model, they aren’t really cheaper unless you drop below an RTX 3070. But at that point you’ve also dropped down to a different performance class.

The RTX 4070 FE’s power connector.

Lori Grunin/CNET

One reason to go for an RTX 40-series class card over an older generation is the jump from DLSS 2 to DLSS 3, Nvidia’s performance optimization technology, that the newer Ada architecture made over Ampere. DLSS 3 delivers significant gains over its predecessor. The downside is that there aren’t a lot of DLSS 3-supporting games out yet — only about 50, which isn’t much out of the universe of thousands of games. But it does bump DLSS 2 performance over the RTX 30-series as well.

It was a bit odd that Nvidia didn’t release a home-grown Founders Edition of the 4070 Ti, but it returned to tradition with the 4070; the Founders Editions are notable for having guaranteed as-launched prices, though they also tend to sell out fast for that reason.

There’s little novel about the RTX 4070 FE’s design relative to the rest of the line. The one notable distinction is the power connector, which like the others needs either the bundled adapter or PCIe 5.0 PSU cables/adapters, but only uses a single 12-pin connection (rather than two).  

Like its siblings, the RTX 4070 FE has three DisplayPort 1.4 connections and one HDMI 2.1.

Lori Grunin/CNET

Companies release the highest priced, highest performing model, wait a little while to see how many people snap it up, then release a slightly cheaper, slightly less powerful model, rinse and repeat. And none do it more consistently than Nvidia. That makes offering informed buying advice harder than necessary: We know that slower, cheaper GPU models are coming, but not how much slower or how much cheaper. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a 4060 Ti in our future that makes an incremental drop that’s worth the performance sacrifice for the price savings, the way the RTX 4070 did subsequent to my review of the RTX 4070 Ti. But for the moment, the GeForce RTX 4070 seems to strike the best balance of performance for the money, and one that should keep you happy for a few years.

Relative performance of other GPUs

Shadow of the Tomb Raider gaming test (1440p)

RTX 4070

163

RTX 3080 Ti

167

RX 7900 XT

182

RTX 4070 Ti

195

RTX 4070 (DLSS 2, Quality)

198

RX 7900 XTX

209

RTX 4080

220

RTX 4090

235

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)

3DMark Time Spy graphics test

RTX 4070

18,013

RX 7900 XTX

19,760

RTX 4070 Ti

22,731

RX 7900 XT

24,814

RTX 4080

28,275

RX 7900 XTX

29,413

RTX 4090

35,467

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

3DMark Fire Strike Ultra

RTX 4070

10,413

RTX 3080 Ti

12,635

RTX 4070 Ti

13,707

RX 7900 XT

16,879

RTX 4080

17,619

RX 7900 XTX

19,760

RTX 4090

24,407

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Guardians of the Galaxy (1440p at maximum quality with ray tracing)

RX 7900 XT

83

RTX 4070

89

RX 7900 XTX

93

RTX 3080 Ti

102

RTX 4070 Ti

109

RTX 4080

136

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)

Procyon Video

RX 7900 XT

8,259

RTX 4070

8,383

RTX 4070 Ti

8,479

RX 7900 XTX

8,494

RTX 3080 Ti

8,792

RTX 4080

9,250

RTX 4090

9,678

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

SpecViewPerf 2020 SolidWorks (4K)

RTX 4070

154.28

RX 7900 XT

165.46

RX 7900 XTX

184.8

RTX 4070 Ti

189.64

RTX 3080 Ti

191.52

RTX 4080

233.84

RTX 4090

304.66

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)

3DMark Speed Way (DX12 Ultimate)

RTX 4070

4,479

RX 7900 XT

4,534

RTX 4070 Ti

5,429

RX 7900 XTX

5,891

RTX 4080

7,168

RTX 4090

9,813

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

3DMark DXR (DirectX Ray Tracing)

RX 7900 XT

42.06

RX 7900 XTX

49.16

RTX 4070

51.82

RTX 3080 Ti

54.96

RTX 4070 Ti

67.95

RTX 4080

85.01

RTX 4090

136.05

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)

Test PC configuration

Custom PC Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (22H2); 3.2GHz Intel Core i9-12900K; 32GB DDR5-4800; 2x Corsair MP600 Pro SSD; Corsair HX1200 80 Plus Platinum PSU, MSI MPG Z690 Force Wi-Fi motherboard, Corsair 4000D Airflow midtower case

Technologies

Tinder Users Must Start Logging In With Their Faces, Starting Nationwide

The social app now has new US requirements including face identification to help quell longstanding problems with catfishing and more.

US Tinder users will find a new feature when they open up the dating app starting Wednesday: A mandatory Face Check on their phones will be required before they can log into their profiles. 

The Face Check step will begin with a new request to record a video of your face, a more casual version of setting up Apple’s Face ID login. Tinder will then run checks comparing your face data to your current profile pics and automatically create a small face badge for your profile. We already know how it works, because Tinder has already launched the feature in Canada and California before the full US rollout.

The technology, powered by FaceTec, will keep biometric data of the user’s face in encrypted form but discard the scanning video for privacy. Tinder will be able to use the face data to detect duplicate accounts, in an effort to cut down on fake profiles and identity theft.  


Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.


Tinder’s facial recognition rollout is also made to prevent catfishing, or people pretending to be someone else on Tinder to scam or blackmail them. But that also points to a deeper problem on the rise in dating apps — a growing number of bots, many controlled by AI, are designed to glean personal information or fool users into scammy subscriptions, among other problems. 

Tinder’s working against these bots on several fronts, including this Face Check push as well as ID Check, which requires a government-issued ID and other types of photo verification. 

The dating app also recently released a feature in June to enable double-dating with your friends, which Tinder reports is especially popular with Gen Z users. If you’re worried about the latest hazards on Tinder, we have guide to safety practices. 

A representative for Tinder did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Oct. 23

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 23.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Like some weather, memories and I.P.A.s
Answer: HAZY

5A clue: Statement that’s self-evidently true
Answer: AXIOM

7A clue: Civic automaker
Answer: HONDA

8A clue: What fear leads to, as Yoda told a young Anakin
Answer: ANGER

9A clue: Foxlike
Answer: SLY

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Verbal «lol»
Answer: HAHA

2D clue: Brain signal transmitter
Answer: AXON

3D clue: Hits with a witty comeback
Answer: ZINGS

4D clue: Sing at the top of a mountain, maybe
Answer: YODEL

6D clue: Name of the famous «Queen of Scots»
Answer: MARY

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Oct. 23 #599

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Oct. 23, No. 599.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Today’s NYT Strands puzzle might be Halloween-themed, as the answers are all rather dangerous. Some of them are a bit tough to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story. 

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Please don’t eat me!

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Remember Mr. Yuk?

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

  • POND, NOON, NODE, BALE, SOCK, LOVE, LOCK, MOCK, LEER, REEL, GLOVE, DAIS, LEAN, LEAD, REEL

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

  • AZALEA, HEMLOCK, FOXGLOVE, OLEANDER, BELLADONNA

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is POISONOUS. To find it, look for the P that is the first letter on the far left of the top row, and wind down and across.

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