I had used NVIDIA GPUs for a few decade till I replaced my trusty RTX 3070 with an RX 9070 XT in early 2025. The AMD graphics card was, and nonetheless is, spectacular on the subject of gaming efficiency, however after making the swap, what shocked me most was the software program, not the {hardware}.
The most important shock after switching to an AMD GPU was AMD Software program
AMD Software program was so a lot better than what NVIDIA supplied on the time
Throughout my years with NVIDIA, the NVIDIA Management Panel was the principle configuration utility I used to regulate all GPU-related settings. The app was something however fairly, and whereas its XP-era design did carry a dose of nostalgia, the very fact of the matter is that NVIDIA ought to’ve up to date it years in the past. NVIDIA GPU homeowners additionally had entry to GeForce Expertise, a extra modern-looking piece of software program that packed some further options and choices, however the Management Panel remained the de facto management software program for NVIDIA graphics playing cards.
The corporate launched the NVIDIA app in beta in early 2024 with the promise that it could, over time, substitute the Management Panel. Regardless of officially launching later that yr, I nonetheless had to make use of each the NVIDIA app and the Management Panel proper up till I switched to AMD as a result of many choices had been nonetheless nowhere to be discovered within the former.
However then I upgraded to an RX 9070 XT, and was shocked by how good AMD’s Software program: Adrenalin Version was. It featured a contemporary UI, was teeming with choices and options, and was miles forward of NVIDIA’s woefully dated Management Panel. I had used the app earlier than on my ASUS ROG Ally, however I solely opened it a couple of occasions as a result of all the pieces I wanted was included in ASUS’s Armoury Crate. Beginning to use it day by day with the RX 9070 XT was a correct revelation.
Each choice I would want was inside simple attain. I did not should juggle two completely different apps to regulate settings; the software program notified me as quickly as a brand new GPU driver was out there, capturing gameplay was tremendous easy, and the complete bundle seemed and labored dramatically higher than I would anticipated. One other factor I appreciated, and nonetheless do, is that per-game profiles are entrance and heart, permitting me to rapidly and simply configure GPU-related settings for every recreation.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Alternatively, NVIDIA GPU homeowners needed to always swap between the Management Panel and the NVIDIA app till Could 2026, when NVIDIA finally retired the legendary Management Panel and migrated all of its options to the brand new app. Whereas the most recent model of the NVIDIA app is on par with AMD Software program: Adrenalin Version in most areas, there’s nonetheless one the place AMD’s software program is means forward.
I additionally like the very fact I do not want third-party software program to undervolt and overclock my RX 9070 XT
NVIDIA actually dropped the ball on this division
Undervolting and overclocking NVIDIA GPUs has at all times required third-party software program. Whereas the NVIDIA app features a few primary efficiency tuning controls, you continue to have to make use of instruments equivalent to MSI Afterburner to correctly overclock or undervolt your NVIDIA graphics card.
Alternatively, each setting I have to undervolt and overclock my RX 9070 XT is correct there in AMD Software program: Adrenalin Version. Not solely that, however the complete course of could be very simple. All I’ve to do is click on Efficiency, open the Tuning tab, and allow a Customized tuning preset.
I can then undervolt and overclock the graphics card in just some clicks, which is way less complicated than doing the identical on NVIDIA GPUs. I may even tune GPU efficiency on a per-game foundation, which could be very helpful as a result of some video games can deal with increased undervolt values, whereas others will instantly crash. Unreal Engine 5 titles are particularly delicate on this regard.
AMD Software program additionally lets me create customized GPU fan curves, one other characteristic that is lacking from the NVIDIA app. In case you’ve acquired an NVIDIA GPU, it’s important to, as soon as once more, attain for MSI Afterburner or one other app equivalent to Fan Management, which is pretty darn great to be sincere, however nonetheless.
The newest model of the NVIDIA app is a tremendous piece of GPU management software program, however the firm actually must implement higher overclocking options, which I doubt it can do contemplating how little each NVIDIA and AMD care about players these days. At the least AMD carried out helpful overclocking and undervolting options earlier than going all-in on AI.
Regardless of having the superior software program expertise, AMD nonetheless trails NVIDIA when it comes to GPU options
There isn’t any two methods about it: AMD Software program: Adrenalin Version topples the NVIDIA app on the subject of ease of use, the variety of options, person expertise, per-game profiles, efficiency tuning, and extra. However on the subject of graphics options, AMD nonetheless must step up.
For example, you continue to cannot use multi-frame era on AMD GPUs, regardless of NVIDIA and Intel each providing it for fairly some time. Multi-frame era will be very helpful on my 175Hz monitor, permitting me to max out its refresh price so long as I can obtain a base body price of about 65 “actual” FPS. At the least AMD has been working on it, if nothing else.
One other factor I envy NVIDIA GPU owners for is RTX HDR, which works nice with just about any DirectX 9 recreation or newer and is a lot better than Home windows 11’s Auto HDR characteristic. After upgrading to an OLED monitor, RTX HDR is the one NVIDIA characteristic I want I might use on my AMD GPU.
However apart from that, I am more than pleased with the RX 9070 XT. It is a beast in each recreation I’ve performed, runs extraordinarily quietly and comparatively cool, FSR 4 is sort of pretty much as good as DLSS 4, at the very least to my eyes, and I can allow it in each recreation with DLSS help thanks to OptiScaler. If AMD comes up with an RTX HDR equal, I am going to by no means look over at NVIDIA’s yard once more.
- Cooling Methodology
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Air
- GPU Velocity
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2520Mhz
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT from Sapphire options 16GB of DDR6 reminiscence, two HDMI and two DisplayPorts, and an overengineered cooling setup that may preserve the cardboard cool and whisper quiet regardless of the workload.
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