Nvidia's highly anticipated GeForce RTX 5070 Founders Edition graphics card will not be launching on the same date as other RTX 5070 models. While reviews of this new graphics card, priced at $549, have just been released, Nvidia's global PR director, Ben Berraondo, confirmed in an email to The Verge that the Founders Edition will be available “later in March.” This delay means that gamers and enthusiasts eager to get their hands on this card will either need to wait or explore third-party alternatives from brands like Asus and MSI, which will be available starting March 5th.
As the launch of the RTX 5070 Founders Edition is pushed back, users looking to upgrade their systems have the option of purchasing third-party graphics cards. Asus, Colorful, Gainward, GALAX, Gigabyte, INNO3D, KFA2, MSI, Palit, PNY, and Zotac will all have their RTX 5070 models ready for consumers on March 5th. This information was initially shared by Hardwareluxx editor Andreas Schilling on social media platform X, highlighting the eagerness of the market for these new GPUs.
Nvidia had previously touted the RTX 5070 as having performance levels comparable to the flagship RTX 4090, which retails for $1,599. However, early testing and reviews suggest that this claim may not hold true, raising concerns about the card's actual performance capabilities. This discrepancy, combined with the postponed launch, contributes to an already tumultuous rollout for Nvidia's 50-series graphics cards.
The rocky launch of the RTX 5070 series is compounded by reported manufacturing issues with other models in the series, including the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070 Ti. Some of these cards have been noted to lack essential physical render output units, known as ROPs, which could significantly impact their performance and user experience. These challenges raise questions about Nvidia’s quality control and the overall reliability of their new graphics card lineup.
As the launch date approaches, gamers and tech enthusiasts will be closely monitoring the situation, weighing the pros and cons of waiting for the Founders Edition or opting for third-party alternatives that promise to deliver powerful performance at launch.
