Nvidia RTX 5070 Pricing Sparks Outrage as AI Hype Fails to Justify Weak Performance Gains

Nvidia RTX 5070 Pricing Sparks Controversy: A Mid-Range GPU With High-End Pricing?

A Familiar Tale: Promising Performance, Questionable Pricing

Asus has officially unveiled its lineup of Nvidia RTX 5070 GPUs, confirming the launch-day pricing—and it's not exactly good news for gamers or investors. While one model is available at Nvidia’s suggested MSRP of $550, the other two variants are priced significantly higher, raising concerns over affordability and value. With the gaming community already voicing discontent over the marginal performance gains compared to the previous generation, is Nvidia’s mid-range strategy pushing buyers toward AMD alternatives?

RTX 5070 Launch Models: One at MSRP, Two Pushing Higher Price Brackets

According to a Reddit post by Asus, three RTX 5070 models will be available for purchase:

• Asus Prime RTX 5070 – $550 MSRP (entry-level model)
• Asus Prime OC RTX 5070 – $700 (overclocked version)
• Asus TUF Gaming RTX 5070 – $740 (high-end variant, close to the $750 MSRP of the more powerful RTX 5070 Ti)

Investors and enthusiasts alike are scrutinizing Asus' pricing strategy, questioning whether the modest performance improvements over the RTX 4070 Super justify these numbers. With previous-generation GPUs experiencing aggressive price drops during sales events, some speculate that the RTX 5070 may struggle to hold consumer interest unless discounts follow.

Stock Shortages and Scalping Concerns Loom Again

Adding to the tension, Asus has confirmed that the premium ROG Strix version of the RTX 5070 will not be available at launch, with no estimated release date. This aligns with earlier rumors of constrained supply, potentially setting the stage for scalpers and inflated aftermarket prices.

Nvidia’s history of limited stock releases—often referred to as “paper launches”—has frustrated consumers in the past. With demand likely to outweigh supply, the pricing dynamics in the coming weeks will determine whether the RTX 5070 sees widespread adoption or if it simply becomes another GPU caught in the supply-demand trap.

Performance Benchmarks: An Incremental Upgrade or Just a Name Change?

Early benchmark results paint a mixed picture. Reviewers from multiple platforms, including Hardware Unboxed, Digital Foundry, and Gamers Nexus, suggest that the RTX 5070 offers minimal raw performance gains over the RTX 4070 Super:

• At 1440p resolution (rasterized games): RTX 5070 is 1% faster than RTX 4070 Super.
• At 4K resolution: It leads by 5% in rasterized games and only 1% in ray-traced games.
• 1080p to 4K overall performance shows a 2.8%-4.5% improvement over the 4070 Super.

Gamers Nexus took a harsher stance, calling the RTX 5070 “a marketing ploy banking on AI performance rather than actual gaming power.” Meanwhile, IGN rated it a mere 6/10, labeling it “just okay.”

The real selling point of the RTX 5070 appears to be DLSS 4, Nvidia’s AI-driven frame generation technology. However, concerns remain that DLSS reliance does not equate to raw GPU performance improvements—a point that AMD and critical consumers are already capitalizing on.

Investor Takeaways: Is Nvidia Pushing Too Far on Pricing?

Pricing Concerns & Market Positioning

From a market perspective, the RTX 5070’s MSRP at $549 should have positioned it as an affordable upgrade. However, Asus’ premium-tier models creeping into $700+ territory threatens to place it dangerously close to the superior RTX 5070 Ti ($750 MSRP).

In contrast, AMD's competing GPUs, such as the Radeon RX 7900 GRE and 7900 XT, have demonstrated better price-to-performance ratios, particularly in non-DLSS-dependent scenarios. This pricing imbalance may drive more cost-conscious gamers towards AMD alternatives, which is a concerning sign for Nvidia's mid-range dominance.

Supply Chain & Stock Manipulation Fears

Nvidia has already faced criticism for supply constraints in previous launches, which led to massive scalping and inflated reseller prices. If the RTX 5070’s base MSRP model remains out of stock, forcing buyers into purchasing higher-priced variants, it could further erode consumer trust.

Long-Term Outlook: Can Nvidia Maintain Market Confidence?

Despite these criticisms, Nvidia's continued advancements in AI performance, ray tracing, and DLSS remain its strongest selling points. However, the company must tread carefully. The gaming community is growing increasingly skeptical of price hikes and incremental GPU performance improvements that rely on AI-driven features rather than raw power.

With AMD aggressively pushing more competitive pricing and alternative AI upscaling solutions, Nvidia's ability to maintain market leadership in the mid-range sector remains uncertain.

Is the RTX 5070 Worth It?

For consumers, the RTX 5070’s value heavily depends on how much they prioritize DLSS 4. If a game doesn’t support DLSS 4, the performance uplift over the RTX 4070 Super is negligible.

For investors, Nvidia’s continued pricing strategies warrant close observation. If stock shortages and reseller markups become the norm, the company may face long-term backlash from both gamers and hardware partners.

As of now, the RTX 5070 feels like a strategic play to push AI-powered gaming rather than a true next-gen performance leap. Whether consumers buy into it—or choose AMD instead—will dictate the success of this launch in the coming months.