Gigabyte RTX 3070 Gaming OC Graphics Card Review

While the demand for the RTX 3000 series continues to outpace the availability, we've still been getting hyped up for the RTX 3070 launch. The RTX 3080 and the RTX 3090 may be monsters of performance. However, the RTX 3070 promises performance that can rival the RTX 2080 and even the RTX 2080 Ti but at a much more affordable price point. With the new Gaming OC cards all featuring the brand new Windforce cooler design, Gigabyte has already impressed us with their RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 models. Their new RTX 3070 Gaming OC may look near identical to those two cards, but as the most affordable RTX 3000 cards yet, we're eager to see what they can do. Gigabyte RTX 3070 Gaming OC It's pretty well equipped and comes with the gorgeous new cooler design we've seen on their other new Gaming OC cards. That means you get the same triple fan Windforce 3 cooling performance used on much higher models, so cooling the RTX 3070 should be a breeze. You also get a zero RPM fan mode, allowing silent performance at low temperatures. There's even a built-in metal backplate. While this may be one of the more affordable cards for this launch, it's clearly still just as well equipped as any other. Features 8GB GDDR6 Memory 14GHz8704 Cuda CoresRGB Fusion 2.0Zero RPM Fan ModeDual BIOSProtection Metal Back Plate4 Years WarrantyWindforce Cooling What Gigabyte Had to Say "The WINDFORCE 3X cooling system features 3X80mm unique blade fans, alternate spinning, 5 composite copper heat pipes direct touch GPU, 3D active fan and Screen cooling, which together provide high-efficiency heat dissipation." - Gigabyte A Closer Look I always joke about Gigabyte and how I feel a bit of deja vu when when looking at their latest graphics cards. They typically use the same cooler throughout their range and for years too. Of course, if you're a Gigabyte fan, you'll notice that the Windforce cooler design has finally had a change of style, and it certainly looks a lot more modern. Ditching the black and orange for a matte black and grey design that just looks infinitely more modern. That being said, seeing this same cooler (again) fills me with confidence. It was good enough to cool the RTX 3090, it was good enough to cool the RTX 3080, and I'll be damned if it isn't going to do a killer job on the RTX 3070 chipset. As the age old saying goes "why use many cooler when one do." With the Windforce 3X design, you'll see that the middle fan spins in the opposite direction to the end fans. However, all three fans have independent control and a zero RPM mode too. It's a very effective design that's worked well for Gigabyte for years now. The fans use a custom 11 blade design, each clocking in at 80mm with a five heatpipe design heatsink below them. Down the side of the card, you'll see plenty of room for heat to be exhausted from the card. There's also an ARGB lit Gigabyte logo on the other side, which can be customised via the RGB Fusion 2.0 software. Towards the rear, there are two power connectors, all pretty standard stuff too, not those new Nvidia connectors. There's also a BIOS switch here, allowing quick switching between OC/Silent modes. The backplate looks awesome and contrasts well with the dark colours of the cooler shroud. Not only does this protect the PCB, but the thicker metal here will also help cool the card too. There's a lot of ventilation cut into the rear of the backplate too, allowing the fans to shift a lot more heat from the heatsink. Finally, at the rear of the card, you'll find three DisplayPort connectors, as well as a single HDMI connector. How We Test We continue to update our testing methods around once per year. As such, we re-test older hardware to reflect changes over time. These can be driver updates, Windows updates, game patches, and more; all of which have an impact on performance figures. Furthermore, we update our test bench to newer and more relevant hardware. This means that our new reviews aren’t always comparable to those of older reviews, so please compare the testing methodology on older reviews should you be trying to compare them with newer ones. Replicate Our Results When it comes to our benchmarks in our reviews, the benchmarks are pretty self-explanatory and kept as simple as possible, although there are a few exceptions. Remember that your choice of a graphics card, CPU, the silicon lottery, and other factors can yield different numbers, and there’s always a margin for error when using any software. Links are provided below, as well as the settings we use. We encourage you to not just look at how one product compares to any other, but how it compares to your own. If you’re looking to build a new system, you should benchmark your current PC using the benchmarks available to you. You should then look at the percentage improvement from your current hardware to the hardware tested here to give you a ballpark figure of how much of an upgrade this will provide you with. Graphics Card Test System MotherboardASUS Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi)ProcessorAMD Ryzen 9 3900XTRAMTEAMGroup DarkZa 16GB 3600MHz (2x8GB)CPU CoolerNoctua NH-D15SPower SupplyPhanteks Revolt Pro 850StorageSeagate FireCuda 520 2TBChassisOpen BenchtableMonitorDell UP3218KOSWindows 10 Pro Version 2004 Additional Hardware Killawatt style electricity usage meter wall plugPrecision Gold N05CC Decibel meter Gaming To gauge performance levels which are easily reproduced time after time, by both ourselves and our readers, we now stick strictly to games default profiles. We now use the “High” profiles for all games or their respective equivalent at all resolutions. V-Sync is always disabled in our testing, as are FreeSync and G-Sync technologies or similar. Graphics card power usage is set to optimised or balance, and the system power mode set to High Performance within Windows and the available GPU driver software. Identical settings are used for all resolutions unless otherwise stated. Games Deus Ex: Mankind DividedShadow of the Tomb RaiderFinal Fantasy XVDoom EternalBorderlands 3Metro ExodusBattlefield VApex LegendsControlGears of War 5FarCry New DawnGhost Recon WildlandsWolfenstein Youngblood Resolutions Tested 1080p (Full HD)1440p (2K)2160p (4K)4320p (8K) Some tests will also include features such as Nvidia DLSS and Ray Tracing. However, these will be clearly labelled and may only appear in reviews for graphics cards that support those features. Software Used 3DMark Fire Strike (download)FireStrikeFireStrike UltraPort Royal DXRTimeSpyTimeSpy ExtremeUnigine Superposition (download)4K Optimised BenchmarkHWMonitor (download)GPU-Z (download)MSI Afterburner (download) Noise Everyone has a reasonable noise level preference when it comes to components on a computer. Some can handle all fans at 100% load to keep temperatures down; some want an entirely silent computer. To accurately gauge the noise output of a graphics card, we position a Precision Gold N05CC one meter above our open-air test bench and take an average reading at idle and load. Power Consumption We take power readings during the idle state with no background applications running. Then again at 50% completion of the Unigine Superposition benchmark, using the average as the final published result. Temperatures We take temperature readings after 10 minutes of desktop idle with no background programs running, then take the recorded maximum delivered from Unigine Superposition after a 4K optimised run, confirming the numbers are accurate with HWMonitor. Furthermore, the ambient temperature is always kept +/- 1c from 21c. Synthetic Benchmarks 3DMark FireStrike - 366813DMark FireStrike Ultra - 87763DMark TimeSpy - 136923DMark TimeSpy Extreme - 69393DMark Port Royal (DXR) - 8298Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised - 10878 3DMark FireStrike 3DMark FireStrike Ultra 3DMark TimeSpy 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme 3DMark Port Royal (DXR) Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised Now an experienced covert operative, Adam Jensen is forced to operate in a world that has grown to despise his kind. Armed with a new arsenal of state-of-the-art weapons and augmentations, he must choose the right approach, along with who to trust, in order to unravel a vast worldwide conspiracy. Available now on Steam. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Performance 1080p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 133.51440p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 107.92160p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 62.2 Experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Available now on Steam. Shadow of the Tomb Raider Performance 1080p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1401440p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1242160p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 75 For the first time, players take control of Noctis's greatest foe in this brand-new episode of FINAL FANTASY XV! Delve into the dark tale of scorned saviour Ardyn Lucis Caelum and unravel the secrets surrounding his mysterious past. Available now on Steam. Final Fantasy XV Performance 1080p Final Fantasy XV - 124071440p Final Fantasy XV - 99022160p Final Fantasy XV - 6060 Experience Aloy’s entire legendary quest to unravel the mysteries of a world ruled by deadly Machines. An outcast from her tribe, the young hunter fights to uncover her past, discover her destiny… and stop a catastrophic threat to the future. Unleash devastating, tactical attacks against unique Machines and rival tribes as you explore an open world teeming with wildlife and danger. Horizon Zero Dawn is a multi-award-winning action role-playing game – and this Complete Edition for PC includes the huge expansion The Frozen Wilds, featuring new lands, skills, weapons and Machines. Available now on Steam. Horizon Zero Dawn Performance 1080p Horizon Zero Dawn - 1231440p Horizon Zero Dawn - 1082160p Horizon Zero Dawn - 65 Hell’s armies have invaded Earth. Become the Slayer in an epic single-player campaign to conquer demons across dimensions and stop the final destruction of humanity. The only thing they fear... is you. Available now on Steam. Doom Eternal Performance 1080p Doom Eternal - 292.6281440p Doom Eternal - 239.1142160p Doom Eternal - 122.162 The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and a mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four new Vault Hunters. Play solo or with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy. At the hard edge of the galaxy lies a group of planets ruthlessly exploited by militarized corporations. Brimming with loot and violence, this is your home—the Borderlands. Now, a crazed cult known as The Children of the Vault has emerged and is spreading like an interstellar plague. Play solo or co-op as one of four unique Vault Hunters, score loads of loot and save the galaxy from this fanatical threat. Available now on Epic Games Store. Borderlands 3 Performance 1080p Borderlands 3 - 118.71440p Borderlands 3 - 102.42160p Borderlands 3 - 58.6 Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first-person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created. Flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet. Explore the Russian wilderness in vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter. Available now on Epic Game Store. Metro Exodus Performance 1080p Metro Exodus - 116.241440p Metro Exodus - 96.582160p Metro Exodus - 59.26 Enter mankind’s greatest conflict with Battlefield™ V in the most intense, immersive, and innovative Battlefield yet. Lead your squad to victory in all-new multiplayer experiences like the multi-map Grand Operations. Fight for survival in Firestorm – battle royale, reimagined for Battlefield. Witness a never-before-seen portrayal of WW2 in the single-player War Stories campaign. Assemble your Company of customized soldiers, weapons, and vehicles – then take them on an expanding journey where every chapter brings a new battlefield. You will never be the same. Available now on Origin. Battlefield V Performance 1080p Battlefield V - 163.3581440p Battlefield V - 132.032160p Battlefield V - 76.352 Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play Battle Royale shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier. Master an ever-growing roster of diverse Legends, deep tactical squad play and bold new innovations that level up the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Battle Royale. Available now on Steam. Apex Legends Performance 1080p Apex Legends - 143.7811440p Apex Legends - 143.762160p Apex Legends - 105.749 A corruptive presence has invaded the Federal Bureau of Control…Only you have the power to stop it. The world is now your weapon in an epic fight to annihilate an ominous enemy through deep and unpredictable environments. Containment has failed, humanity is at stake. Will you regain control? Winner of over 80 awards, Control is a visually stunning third-person action-adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Blending open-ended environments with the signature world-building and storytelling of renowned developer, Remedy Entertainment, Control presents an expansive and intensely gratifying gameplay experience. Available now on Steam. Control Performance 1080p Control - 130.0711440p Control - 86.0972160p Control - 43.081 Seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe, civilization re-emerges from the chaos to find a world dramatically changed. In Hope County, Montana, the remaining populace has gathered into different groups, each with their own rules for survival. In this new world order, the vicious Highwaymen, led by twin sisters Mickey and Lou, travel from place to place bleeding people dry of all available resources. As the Survivors try to defend their lands against the Highwaymen's relentless onslaught, it's up to you to come to their aid and lead the fight. In the latest instalment of the award-winning Far Cry franchise, you are the last line of defence in a transformed, post-apocalyptic Hope County. Help the community of Survivors grow stronger, craft a makeshift arsenal through Turf Wars and cross-country Expeditions, and form unexpected alliances to fight for survival in a dangerous new frontier. Available now on UPlay. Far Cry New Dawn Performance 1080p Far Cry New Dawn - 1161440p Far Cry New Dawn - 962160p Far Cry New Dawn - 54 The Ghosts, an elite US Special Forces team, are sent behind enemy lines to wreak havoc, destabilize, and eventually break the alliance between the cartel and the corrupted government. Facing an almighty enemy in a massive and hostile environment, the Ghosts will need to make critical moral choices and engage in tough battles to complete their mission – their grittiest and most dangerous operation to date. Available now on UPlay. Ghost Recon: Wildlands Performance 1080p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 120.131440p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 108.462160p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 69.77 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint puts you in the boots of the Ghosts, an Elite US Special Operations Unit stranded behind enemy lines. This time there is no briefing. All contact has been lost with Auroa. This archipelago is home to Skell Technology, a high-tech company. You are sent there with your unit for a recon mission, but your helicopters are shot down: Skell Tech has fallen into the wrong hands. The Wolves, a lethal ex-US military unit gone rogue, have taken over the island. Led by your ex-brother-in-arms, Colonel Cole D. Walker, they have reprogrammed Skell’s drones into killing machines and are ready to use them, no matter the casualties. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a military shooter set in a diverse, hostile, and mysterious open world that you can play entirely solo or in four-player co-op. Injured, without support, and hunted down by ex-Ghosts, you must fight to survive while lost in Auroa. Choose the right alliances and decide how to take down your toughest enemy. Available now on UPLAY. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint 1080p Breakpoint - 1661440p Breakpoint - 1512160p Breakpoint - 99 Wolfenstein: Youngblood is the first modern co-op Wolfenstein adventure. Nineteen years after the events of Wolfenstein II, BJ Blazkowicz has disappeared after a mission into Nazi-occupied Paris. Now, after years of training from their battle-hardened father, BJ’s twin daughters, Jess and Soph Blazkowicz, are forced into action. Team up with a friend or play alone. Level up, explore, and complete missions to unlock new abilities, weapons, gadgets, cosmetics, and more to complement your playstyle and customize your appearance. Wolfenstein: Youngblood features the most open-ended Wolfenstein experience to date. From a new base of operations located deep in the heart of the Paris catacombs, plan how and when to attack and dismantle the Nazi regime. Available now on Steam. Wolfenstein Youngblood Performance 1080p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 3381440p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 2262160p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 128 Ray tracing is the true next-gen feature that many of us have been watching develop over the last couple of years. However, with more and more cards, as well as next-gen consoles supporting the feature, it's expected to take off in a big way now. Obviously, AMD cards are omitted from this test right now, but we're certain it won't be long before we see some competition in these benchmarks. Wolfenstein Youngblood RTX & DLSS - 134/74Control RTX/DLSS, RTX & DLSS - 47.893/26.611/76.902Battlefield V DXR/DLSS & DXR - 58.442/46.866Metro Exodus RTX, DLSS & RTX/DLSS - 38.37/68.95/55.19Shadow of the Tomb Raider DLSS 4K - 86 Power Consumption Temperatures Acoustics How Much Does It Cost? Unfortunately, at the time of writing the retail links for these cards were not available. However, you can check for up to date stock and pricing information on Amazon UK here. However, we do know the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Gaming OC has an MSRP of £539, so expect prices at or close to that. Overview I'm a long time supporter of Gigabyte, as they always seem to take a pretty sensible mid-range route that gives seriously good value for money. A lot of this comes down to them sticking with identical cooler designs across their range. They stick with tried and tested designs, allowing them to give one of the most robust warranties, and cards that are typically a lot more affordable than the more extreme models. Albeit, they have their AORUS Gaming range for those who want the bleeding edge stuff anyway. Power The end result clearly works out, as this card is just as fast as the other RTX 3070s we've tested today, and even came out ahead in a few benchmarks. What's more, it even trades blows with the flagship cards from the last generation. The RTX 2080 Ti may have cost twice as much, but this time around, even the RTX 3070 can game at 4K and use RTX! Want to hit 60 FPS at 4K, 100+ FPS at 1440, or game with all the settings maxed out? It may be the mid-level card from Nvidia, but it'll still blow you away with performance. Build Quality Gigabyte updated their long-serving Windforce cooler for the 3000 series launch. Gone is the black and orange, and now we have the stunning grey tones, aggressive angles and more. The triple fan and Zero RPM mode are certainly welcome additions too. Should I Buy One? The Gigabyte RTX 3070 Gaming OC is a great entry point for those looking to invest in and RTX 3000 series card. It's a little more than the stock cards, but since it's the OC model, it's a little quicker too. Plus, it managed to keep up with the MSI RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio and even beat it in some tests, despite a slightly slower boost clock! Gigabyte RTX 3070 Gaming OC