Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G Review

As you must now know, it is the 3070 Ti launch day! We have had three cards sent in for us to test and see what we think. Gigabyte has been kind enough to send in their RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER model which is an absolute beast of a card! It is easily the biggest 3070 Ti we have tested and even comes with an extra 6-pin power connector over the other models we have on hand. As things stand, I was a tiny bit excited to test this one as we received it last and it is just so massive, want to make sure it has the performance to match. As with the 3080 Ti launch, things are a bit lacklustre here but it is what it is at this point. Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G The Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G has come to play! With a massive 1875 boost clock, it is trying to be one of, if not the best 3070 Ti on the market! Gigabyte has made sure that this is one beast of a card and as soon as we get into the closer look, you will see why! I mean, it's massive, has extra power connectors and at the end of the day, it is the AORUS MASTER version so we know it means business! Normally, Gigabyte send us their Gaming OC variant GPU so it is nice to get this one and see what Gigabyte can really do! So, who's ready to see what this beast not only looks like but has to offer in terms of performance? I know I am and while I am not overly excited for the 3070 Ti launch, I was quite looking forward to taking the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G for a spin! I know times are tough and finding one of these out in the wild at a decent price is going to be near impossible, but there is still a bit of hope and there is no denying this GPU is an absolute monster! A Closer Look From the second you get this card out of the box, you can tell it is an absolute beast! It's massive and heavy, and it is absolutely amazing how big GPUs have gotten in the last year! Gigabyte has gone with a bit of a unique fan design for the RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G. The middle fan is going to rotate in the opposite direction of the two out fans which is supposed to create more pressure and allow for better cooling. This is a feature we would love to test out ourselves and see how good it works, but it would be rather hard. This means we have to take Gigabytes R&D teams word for the cooling performance gains that is offers. So, what do you do with a massive graphics card? Well, you add an LCD monitor to the side of it so you can add custom pics and GIFs to it because why not? The screen can also be used to monitor GPU temps, clocks and more should that be more your thing. Moving along, we can now also see two 8-pin and a single 6-pin power connector. The shroud takes up most of the side and there is only a small bit of the heatsink on show here. However, with the size and power of this card, I am sure Gigabyte have made sure that the cooling is on point so no need to worry there. As we see a lot of times on the higher end cards there is an OC/Silent BIOS switch on the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G. When your system is powered off, you can switch between the two by flipping the switch to meet your desired needs. This is great for when you need that extra power and really want to get as much out of the GPU and do it as easily as possible! With a card this big and beefy comes a need for a lot of power! Gigabyte has things covered with two 8-pin and a single 6-pin power connector. Not only has this helped to allow for a better factory overclock, but it will also allow you to get that extra bit of power out of it on your own, should that be your type of thing. On the side of the card that generally won't be seen as it's facing the motherboard, Gigabyte has kept the shroud design similar to the other side. I think it would have been nice to maybe see a bit more of the heatsink, at least on this side if nothing else. While there is no doubt in my mind that the RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G will keep cool as it needs to, it could always be a little bit cooler. Revealing that little bit more of the heatsink may allow for just that tiny extra bit of heat to escape the card. Looking at the backplate and you can not get an even better picture of just how big this card is! I mean, look at the power connectors, they look like they are inset into the backplate quite a bit but in reality, that is the size of the card and the heatsink and backplate are just that much bigger than the actual GPU itself. This really speaks volumes on the lengths Gigabyte has gone to keep this card cool. They have even added a nice cutout to the end of the backplate so some of the heat from the heatsink can dissipate more freely and not get stuck under the backplate. As we saw, there is an OC/Silent BIOS switch and that is what the small cutout towards the bottom middle of the backplate is for, to allow you to access the switch. Aside from this, we can see the AORUS logo which lights up in RGB. FINALLY! Someone has got the outputs right! We have three Display Ports and three HDMI ports on the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G. With most other newer GPUs we are seeing only two Display Ports and a single HDMI port which is a bit of a shame. Must say, well done to Gigabyte on this as a lot of people will likely still have HDMI monitors and now will be able to use them with ease. Onto the rear of the card and Gigabyte have it completely covered by the shroud! While this isn't a major issue and is likely due to their aesthetic features, it could have been nice to see a bit of the heatsink here as no doubt this card is big and powerful so will generate a good bit of heat. There could be multiple reasons why Gigabyte has chosen against this so I won't hold it against them! RGB and LCD Screen The LCD screen is a cool little feature. Granted it doesn't help with performance at all but it is surely fun to play with and will allow you to add something cool to your build. Gigabyte has a little egg that cracks on it but as mentioned, this can be changed quite easily with Gigabyte's software. There are three RGB zones on the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G, all of which can be controlled VIA their RGB FUSION 2.0 software. For the size of the card and heatsink/shroud, the RGB areas aren't overly big which is nice as they won't be overpowering. 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 Dark Hero (Wi-Fi)ProcessorAMD Ryzen 9 5900XRAM2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO SL 3200MHzCPU CoolerNoctua NH-D15SPower SupplyCorsair HX750StorageSeagate FireCuda 520 2TBChassisOpen BenchtableMonitorAOC G2868PQUOSWindows 10 Pro Build 19041 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 Watch Dogs LegionDirt 5Assassin's Creed: ValhallaGodfallShadow of the Tomb RaiderHorizon Zero DawnFinal Fantasy XVBorderlands 3Metro ExodusControlFarCry New DawnGhost Recon BreakpointWolfenstein Youngblood Resolutions 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. 8K testing will only appear in reviews of flagship cards that we consider capable. 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 3DMark FireStrike Ultra 3DMark TimeSpy 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme 3DMark Port Royal (DXR) Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised DIRT 5 is a fun, amplified, off-road racing experience created by Codemasters. Blaze a trail on routes across the world, covering gravel, ice, snow and sand, with a roster of cars ranging from rally icons to trucks, to GT heroes. With a star-studded Career, four-player split-screen, innovative online modes, livery editor and more new features, DIRT 5 is the next generation of extreme racing. Available now on Steam. Dirt 5 Performance Become Eivor, a legendary Viking raider on a quest for glory. Explore England's Dark Ages as you raid your enemies, grow your settlement, and build your political power. • Lead epic Viking raids against Saxon fortresses throughout England.• Dual-wield powerful weapons and relive the visceral fighting style of the Vikings.• Challenge yourself with the most varied collection of enemies ever found in Assassin's Creed.• Shape the growth of your character with every choice you make and carve your path to glory.• Explore a Dark Age open world, from the harsh shores of Norway to the beautiful kingdoms of England.• Personalize your experience by growing your clan's settlement. Available now on UPlay. Assassin's Creed Valhalla Performance Aperion is on the precipice of ruin. You are the last of the Valorian knights, god-like warriors able to equip Valorplates, legendary armor sets that transform wielders into unstoppable masters of melee combat. Tear through foes as you climb through the elemental realms and challenge the mad god, Macros who awaits you at the top. Ascend in Godfall, the first-of-its-kind, looter-slasher, melee action-RPG. Available now on EPIC. Godfall Performance 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Power Consumption Temperatures Acoustics How Much Does It Cost? Too damn much! Jokes aside, NVIDIA has announced their 3070 Ti Founders models will start at $599 so expect to pay a good couple hundred dollars more for the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G. AIB cards are also a bit more expensive, especially the top models so this is nothing new really, just a shame things cost more when the prices are already inflated as much as they currently are. We've said it many times now, there is so much going on that is leading to all these increases and well, it just sucks! However, there is not much we can do but try to wait it out and hope that it will get better in the future. Overview The Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G is an absolute beast if I've not said it enough times yet! This card is not only the biggest 3070 Ti we have tested, it was also the best performing and rightly so. The AORUS MASTER is Gigabyte's top of the range model and it is easy to see why! It definitely has a lot to offer in terms of looks with its multiple RGB zones, MASSIVE cooler and customizable LCD screen. If you are looking for the best of the best when it comes to the new 3070 Ti's, this one definitely needs to be on the list to look into and check out. Gigabyte has done an amazing job with this card and seems to have ticked all the boxes necessary to make it one of the better ones available on the market. NVIDIA LHR NVIDIA has added a hashrate limiter to their latest 3080 Ti and now 3070 Ti range of GPUs. The idea is to decrease the Eth hashrate so that the cards aren't as attractive to miners, which should in turn mean more of them make their way into the hands of gamers. While there are still a few other issues causing GPU shortages and increased prices, it is nice to see NVIDIA at least trying to help things along and make sure gamers can get their hands on some new GPUs. From our in-house testing, what we have seen is the 3070 Ti based cards are hashing at about half of the speed we would expect to see from them so whatever NVIDIA is doing is working. Should I Buy One? How long is a piece of string? At this point in time, I would say if you are in desperate need of an upgrade then yeah, these are good cards and will last you for a good few years. However, if your current GPU does the trick and you just have the upgrade itch just to get something newer, it may be worth holding out. This isn't anything against the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G itself but the whole market is currently a mess! Maybe we can get Elon Musk to say GPU mining is dead and hope that it might help reduce the price of cards a little bit or at least flood the market with second-hand cards. I mean, got to be worth a shot right? We don't have much to lose the way I see it. Regardless, the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G is an amazing card and if prices were where they should be, I would have no issues with recommending you buy one ASAP. Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti AORUS MASTER 8G