Nvidia’s RTX 4070 Ti series is essentially the RTX 4080 12GB version, which was “unlaunched” and rebranded after users discovered that the differences between the 12GB and 16GB versions were more than just VRAM.
The MSI RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio 12G is a factory tweaked version with a higher boost clock over the Founder’s Edition. It has the latest ray tracing features, and DLSS 3.0 thanks to upgraded Tensor cores.
MSI RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio 12G Specifications
| Model Name | MSI RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio 12G |
| Core Clock | Extreme Performance: 2760 MHz (MSI Center) Boost: 2745 MHz (GAMING & SILENT Mode) |
| Cuda Cores | 7,680 |
| Memory Speed | 21 Gbps |
| Memory | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 192 bit |
| Output | DisplayPort V1.4a x 3 HDMI 2.1a x 1 |
| Power Consumption | 285 W |
| Dimensions & Weight | 337 x 140 x 62 mm 1594 g |
What’s In The Box?
- MSI RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio 12G
- Power supply adapter
- GPU support bracket
Design
The MSI RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio 12G is a large GPU, almost the same size as the RTX 4080. You get massive heatsinks that you would only expect from power hungry flagship GPUs, and three cooling fans. It is heavy too, coming close to 1.6kg in weight. The included GPU support bracket is needed or else the GPU will sag.
At the top you will find both MSI and GeForce branding, of which the former has addressable RGB illumination. The front of the card also has ARGB strips adjacent to the middle fan.
At the back, you will a large backplate covering both the PCB and the extended heatsink. There is also a dual BIOS switch for you to swap between Gaming and Silent modes.
In terms of I/O, the card comes with three DP 1.4 ports and one HDMI 2.1 port, so you have plenty of options for multi-monitor setups.
Test Bench
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 7900 |
| GPU | MSI Gaming Trio X GeForce RTX4070 Ti |
| Motherboard | MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi |
| RAM | 32GB Thermaltake ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5 6,000MT/S |
| Storage | WD Black SN770 1TB |
| CPU Cooler | MSI CoreLiquid K360 |
| Power Supply | MSI MAG A850GF 80 Plus Gold |
Performance
The Witcher 3
- Ultra+, Ray Tracing On, 1920 x 1080: 78 FPS
- Ultra, Ray Tracing Off, 1920 x 1080: 145 FPS
- Ultra+, Ray Tracing + DLSS, 1920 x 1080: 176 FPS
DLSS has come a long way since the RTX 2000 series. With ray tracing turned on, DLSS manages to more than double the frame rate without any noticeable drops in visual quality.
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
- Highest Preset, Ray Tracing Off. 1920 x 1080: 234 FPS
- Highest Preset, Ray Tracing + DLSS Quality, 1920 x 1080: 242 FPS
The same rings true in Shadow Of The Tomb Raider. With ray tracing turned on and DLSS set to Quality, I could get great frame rates without sacrificing too much on graphics fidelity. You can get more frames per second by dropping the DLSS quality lower, but that is where you will start to notice some weird artifacts.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
- Very High, 1920 x 1080: 420 FPS
While CS:GO is not graphically demanding by any means, I used it to test how far can the MSI RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio go. It managed to average 420 frames, more than enough for most competitive play today.
Thermals & Noise
Using Furmark to stress test the GPU, it managed to hover around 69°C on the test bench. Under normal gaming loads however, it stayed between 60-64°C. The fans were quiet as well, and it will not spin when the GPU is idle.
Our Verdict
Retailing at RM4,490, the MSI RTX 4070 Ti 12G reflects the sad reality of the current state of GPU prices, though at no fault of MSI’s own. It’s hard for me to make the value argument, considering the previous generation’s flagship can be had for less, albeit you will run into the risk of getting a mining card.
However, with the new ray tracing cores and DLSS 3, the RTX 4070 Ti brings a lot to the table; and if you want a brand new current generation GPU without spending too much for diminishing returns, this is probably the sweet spot right now.
To learn more about the MSI RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio 12G, please visit MSI’s official website here.
