Nvidia GPUs are Overpriced: Why AMD’s Performance Edge Outweighs the DLSS Advantage

NVIDIA has developed a remarkable software ecosystem for its consumer graphics cards, with DLSS frequently cited as a key reason for purchasing a GeForce GPU.

While DLSS offers an impressive range of features, it doesn’t justify the high prices associated with NVIDIA’s graphics cards. Many gamers opt for NVIDIA to access DLSS, but the reality is that choosing an AMD card can provide significantly greater raw rendering power and often more VRAM for a better price.

NVIDIA’s Premium Pricing is Now Standard

Paying for the Brand

NVIDIA has been the pricier choice compared to AMD and, more recently, Intel, for as long as anyone can remember.

During my youth in the 2000s, owning an ATI Radeon card would elicit laughter, as NVIDIA was often the superior option. I recall not being able to play the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare due to my Radeon card lacking Shader Model 3.0 support while NVIDIA cards functioned flawlessly.

Much has changed since then, yet NVIDIA has maintained its stronghold and is recognized as the market leader in GPUs, consistently charging a premium for GeForce cards.

The strong market presence of NVIDIA, indicated by its reported 90% share of the discrete graphics card market and its dominance in the Steam Hardware Survey, shows that consumers are willing to pay extra for NVIDIA’s software ecosystem.

Whether it’s superior ray tracing capabilities, CUDA for local AI processing, or a feature-rich DLSS, consumers have opted to invest their money in NVIDIA’s offerings.

NVIDIA Graphics Card Prices Have Skyrocketed

You Get Less for More

At this stage of the RTX 5000 Series and AMD RX 9000 Series release cycle, we are far beyond the Recommended Manufacturer’s Price (MSRP). Initially, the NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti was priced at $749, which made it a contender against the AMD RX 9070 XT at $599. The NVIDIA card had a performance edge, especially in ray tracing and DLSS scenarios.

However, due to a current RAM shortage and high demand for graphics cards, the RTX 5070 Ti now typically retails for around $1,150, which is the lowest price available.

Conversely, while the RX 9070 XT has also seen a price increase, it remains around $800, meaning the original $150 disparity between the two models has expanded to $350.

Performance metrics reveal that these cards are similar in several games when upscaling isn’t utilized, raising questions about whether that additional $350 is justifiable for most consumers. That amount could easily fund a decent CPU or even a motherboard.

This trend holds true across NVIDIA’s lineup as well:

• RTX 5090: priced at about $6,900, compared to its $1,999 MSRP.
• RTX 5080: priced at around $1,580, versus an MSRP of $999.
• RTX 5070: priced around $870, although it started at $549 MSRP.
• RTX 5060 Ti (16GB): priced at approximately $780, originally $429.
• RTX 5060 Ti: priced around $510, up from $379.
• RTX 5060: priced at about $460, instead of $299.

DLSS Cannot Compensate for Weaker Raw Performance

The Cost of Generated Frames

Previously, NVIDIA’s price premium seemed reasonable at MSRP, but with current prices soaring, it’s evident that for nearly every option, a higher-tier AMD card could be purchased with extra funds to spare for other components.

For example, instead of investing in the NVIDIA RTX 5060 or the 8GB 5060 Ti, one could opt for the AMD RX 9060 XT 8GB for just $450, with an even better deal at $520 for the 16GB version.

Things worsen when comparing specific models; the NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti 16GB represents poor value, as its price now rivals the AMD RX 9070 XT, which is significantly faster in gaming at resolutions like 1440p and 4K. The AMD card also shines in ray tracing performance, an area NVIDIA is generally known for leading.

Saying that DLSS makes the NVIDIA card a better choice here is debatable—unless one is particularly fond of AI enhancements. While DLSS surpasses AMD’s FSR, the issue with visual artifacts or blurriness can still arise with “fake frames,” and it cannot offset the substantial raw performance gap of the GPU.

Moreover, frame generation functions best at higher base frame rates. A game running at 60 FPS with generated frames won’t feel like a true 120 FPS experience, while the AMD card could easily sustain close to 100 FPS.

Even with FSR Frame Generation having frame-pacing challenges, they are far less noticeable when the game runs at a higher frame rate. Personally, I utilize FSR upscaling and frame generation on my RX 9070 XT whenever available, and I have been very satisfied with the performance.

NVIDIA Cards Are Not Worth It for Most Gamers Today

Unless one’s work involves local AI and necessitates CUDA, NVIDIA cards are not a smart investment at current retail prices (especially with AMD’s ROCm catching up).

What was once simple advice of “consider AMD if on a tight budget” has now morphed into a clear recommendation to “choose AMD”—unless, of course, you have ample resources to spend and are aiming for an RTX 5090.