Top 7 Best GTX 1070 Graphics Cards In 2023 Review

Even today, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 is still a great graphics card. It can comfortably run pretty much any of today’s games in 1080p with an average frame rate of 90 fps. It can even run games at 1440p with a few settings turned down at 60 fps.

Even with a hefty investment, most 4K gaming is still sitting at around 60 fps. It’s easy to see why 1080p gaming is still so popular. Plus, most gamers will prioritize frame rates over pixel density.

So, let’s check out the best GTX 1070 graphics cards currently available and find the perfect one for your needs…

Top 7 Best GTX 1070 Graphics Cards To Buy In 2023 Review

1 Zotac AMP! Extreme – Best Monster GTX 1070 Graphics Card

First up in our reviews of the best GTX 1070 graphics cards is this monster of a graphics card from Zotac. With a triple-slot, triple-fan and lighted cooler, multiple power feeds, and factory overclock, it may feel a little overboard to some. For us, it feels just right.

It appears obvious that the founders’ edition has been built on from first observation. If the carbon fiber shroud doesn’t give it away, then the industrial themed backplate certainly will. There’s no mistaking; this card means business.

How far can we push it?

The founders’ card has a base clock speed of 1607 MHz and a boost of 1733 MHz. Comparatively, the Amp Extreme has squeezed a base of 1632 MHz and a boost of 1835 MHz from Nvidia’s Pascal architecture.

Along with a clock boost, the memory has also been pushed a bit higher to 8208 MHz. If Zotac’s boosts aren’t enough, they have also prepared for the limits to be pushed even further. This will require some more power, and they have delivered.

We have the power…

Stock TDP for a GeForce GTX 1070 is 150 watts from a single 8-pin power feed. Zotac has added a pair of 8-pin feeds and has a TDP of 250 watts, with a recommended 500W PSU. Additional filtering caps have also been added to smooth the power flow.

Keeping all that power cool is what Zotac calls its “Ice Storm” cooler. Featuring six copper heat pipes linked to three slots of aluminum heatsink fins, all topped with three 90 mm EKO fans. Zotac came ready to play.

Our rating: (4.3 / 5)

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2 Asus ROG Strix OC Edition – Best RGB GTX 1070 Graphics Card

If you still like to go a bit overboard, but in the space of only two slots instead of three, we have something here for you. From the highly respected ROG department of Asus comes this factory overclocked GPU that’s sure to satisfy even the most discerning gamer.

At first sight, you would be forgiven for thinking this GPU looks a little boring, especially in terms of ROG Strix. They’re usually known for their flashy designs. Don’t worry too much; once powered up, there are still impressive RGBs included.

A shining light in the darkness…

The shroud is an all matte black design with a tri-fan enclosure. An anodized aluminum backplate features the ROG logo. It’s only once the Aura RGB lighting with its millions of available colors and six different effects begin that the show really starts.

There are five display outputs, of which up to four can be used simultaneously for multi-screen use. Included are one dual-link DVI port, two DisplayPort 1.4 interfaces, and two HDMI 2.0 ports. Perfect for those who enjoy VR gaming.

Interesting cooling design…

Noticeably, the heatsink fins are orientated vertically. This means hot air is pushed out at the top and bottom, as opposed to the sides. While effective for removing heat from the GPU, this pushes heat towards other components such as the CPU.

Despite this interesting design choice, the cooling system is more than sufficient. Running at around 65°C under heavy load, the heatsink, fans, and heat pipes are obviously capable of keeping the chip running at its full potential.

Our rating: (4.7 / 5)

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3 Gigabyte G1 Gaming – Best Integrated Software on a GTX 1070 Graphics Card

Another triple fan GPU, the G1 gaming edition from Gigabyte, is a first for the company. This is the first time they’ve added customizable LED lighting onto one of their GPUs. And it is easily controlled using the included Xtreme utility, which we will cover later.

While the card looks big, it’s actually quite deceptive. The three fans on top are only 80 mm fans but can easily be confused for a larger 90 mm. The length of the card is only 282 mm, and a height of 115 mm means it should fit easily in most cases.

Putting it all on display…

Connection options are covered with a single DVI, one HDMI 2.0 port, and three DisplayPorts. Common multi-monitor displays use three monitors. The ability to use the same connection type for all three monitors is definitely appealing.

For 1080p gamers, frame rates are consistently over 120 fps, and even in 1440p, a respectable 75 fps is possible. All while in ultra display settings. It’s when playing in 4K that things become a stretch, often seeing frame rates of 30 fps and below.

Going to the Xtreme…

Software included with GPUs is usually rather underwhelming. Well, not in this case. Gigabyte’s Xtreme software tuner has an attractive, easy to navigate layout, along with some incredibly useful features.

Features available in the software include a control panel for the LED lighting effects. There are also fully customizable fan profiles to keep cooling at its peak performance. And for the more advanced users, a handy overclocking facility can be accessed.

Our rating: (4.1 / 5)

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4 Gigabyte WindForce OC Rev 2.0 – Best Small Overclocked GTX 1070 Graphics Card

Another offering from Gigabyte, a more affordable option still featuring factory overclocking and WindForce cooling technology. Using a twin 90 mm fan design instead of the triple fans, this is still a very capable GPU.

The good news is that the same Xtreme software tuner is included, assisting those who wish to push overclocking to the limit. What’s not included, though, is the fancy LED lighting, so obviously no software control for that.

A mode to suit your needs…

There is a choice between OC (overclocking) or gaming mode with this GPU. In gaming mode, the clock runs at a base of 1556 MHz and at a boost of 1746 MHz. When OC mode is selected, the clock has a base of 1582 MHz and a boost of 1771 MHz.

Connection remains the same as the G1 with DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort options. Measuring just 279 mm long and 129 mm wide makes it a lot smaller, though, meaning it can fit into smaller cases than its bigger brother.

Use the WindForce…

Having WindForce cooling assists with the smaller size and the overclocking possibilities. Part of the cooling tech is a unique fan design. Airflow is enhanced by being split by a triangle edge, then flowing through a 3D stripe curve on the surface.

Alongside the fans, direct touch copper heat pipes are shaped to maximize contact with the GPU. Constructed of composite material, this combines both thermal conductivity and phase transition, increasing cooling capacity.

Our rating: (4.1 / 5)

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5 MSI Gaming X – GTX 1070 Graphics Card with Best Cooling System

Taking pride and extremely noticeable is the red and black color theme, letting you know this is an MSI product. MSI has gained a great reputation with its gaming series of products, and this GPU is no exception.

This offering has a conservative default clock rate, leaving plenty of room for tinkering. It also boasts a low-noise cooler. This is just a step up from the entry-level Armor and Aero and just below the top of the range Lightning, landing nicely in the middle.

Key features…

Key features of the Gaming X GPU are factory overclocking, a 3-year warranty, and 8 GB of GDDR5 memory. On top of that, MSI has used a circuit board with its own design, improved power supply, high-quality components, and a TWIN FROZR VI cooler.

As with anything gaming, there is also included RGB lighting. This can all be controlled using the very popular Afterburner software included with the GPU. It’s also handy for gamers who enjoy overclocking.

Keeping things cool…

The massive cooler has horizontally-orientated fins pushing heat out each end of the card. Four 6 mm nickel-plated copper heat pipes along with a single 8 mm do a great job of keeping the chip cool.

Combined with the TORX 2.0 fans, which run both quietly and efficiently, this is one of the coolest GTX 1070s on the market. Under a stress test, the temperature managed to stay below 80°C, proving its cooling effectiveness.

Our rating: (4.7 / 5)

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6 Zotac Mini – Best Mini GTX 1070 Graphics Card

It’s incredible that Zotac has managed to cram this much technology into such a small form factor. We’re sure you want to know the dimensions. So here you go, with a length of only 208 mm and a width of just 121 mm, you should be impressed too.

What else is surprising is how little the cooling suffers considering the smaller area to work with. Don’t get us wrong, it’s not as capable as its larger counterparts, but it still does a great job. We’ll cover this in more detail later.

More from less…

If you have a smaller case or a motherboard with only a single PCI slot, you may want to consider this card. Zotac has still even managed to pack in Spectra LED lighting with seven different colors, eight brightness levels, and four lighting modes.

Nothing is really missed out here, as even a full coverage, sturdy backplate is included. We rather like the design too. Along with the Zotac logo in white, there are also some circuit diagram type decals and a nifty yellow racing stripe diagonally across the corner.

An IceStorm is coming…

As we mentioned earlier, the mini is equipped with a sufficient cooling system. Zotac calls it IceStorm. Making use of an aluminum fin stack, 8 mm and 6 mm copper heat pipes, and a copper contact plate ensures maximum performance is not restricted by high running temperatures.

In combination with the heatsink are the dual 90 mm fans. Featuring an automatic start-stop feature that allows them to only operate once a certain temperature is reached. This both reduces noise and prolongs the life of the fans.

Our rating: (4.6 / 5)

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7 EVGA SC Gaming ACX 3.0 – Best Plug and Play GTX 1070 Graphics Card

If you’re wondering what the SC stands for in EVGA’s GTX 1070, it’s Super Clocked. But just what does that mean? Well, with a base clock of 1594 MHz, there is a boost of 1784 MHz. That is definitely a high clock, but certainly not the highest there is.

The card itself looks very good with large metal surfaces as highlights combined with black plastic. The backplate is high-quality metal with the EVGA logo laser cut in the bottom right corner. The card measures 270 mm long and 115 mm wide.

Ready to go…

As EVGA says with this GPU, what you see is what you get. There is no additional software or configuring required to achieve the advertised clock speeds. So for those who just want to plug in their card and enjoy their games immediately, this one’s for you.

For a product that is essentially plug and play, some impressive frame rates are achievable. In 1080p gaming, it’s easy to achieve well over 100 fps. 1440p saw an average of around 80 fps. Even when in 4K, we rarely saw a drop below 30 fps.

Can it keep its cool?

Under idle, the card runs at around 41°C, while under load, it reached up to 73°C. While not the coolest we’ve ever seen in this category, these are undoubtedly respectable figures. What is impressive is the low 29 dBA gaming noise, which is one of the best in its class.

The main cooler uses six heat pipes along with the aluminum fins. In addition, there is a second metal plate that cools the memory chips and voltage regulation circuitry. All of this is topped with dual 90 mm fans to assist with heat dispersion.

Our rating: (4.6 / 5)

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Best GTX 1070 Graphics Card Buying Guide

By now, we should have already established what a capable and accomplished GPU the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1070 is. At the same time, you have also probably noticed how many different varieties of the same processor there are.

How do you decide on one? Does it really make a difference? Well, we are now going to cover which card will suit different needs the best.

Tower Space And Size

If you’re upgrading your GPU, then you need to consider how much space you have around your other components. Even if it’s a new build, this is still something you should be taking into consideration when making purchases.

Are you running a full tower, or maybe even a micro? If it’s a full tower, you should fit any of these cards without too much trouble. If you prefer a smaller tower, you might even need to consider the Zotac Mini. A more than capable card in a small form factor.

To Stock Or To Clock?

Do you prefer to just slot in your card, install the driver, and start gaming immediately? Or do you prefer to really test out what is possible to achieve with your hardware? There are excellent options available, no matter what your preference.

Many of the cards are already factory overclocked, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be pushed that little bit further. You may also want to consider the GPU’s software, like what’s on offer from both Gigabyte or MSI.

Cooling Capabilities

What type of cooling are you running in your tower? If you already have an elaborate water-cooled system, then the included cooling system will not matter so much, and you may prefer looking at clock performance.

If the budget is already tight, and you are relying on stock cooling, then this will be a much more important factor. While all of the GPUs here have impressive cooling abilities, some are better than others.

Up next, we will tell you what our pick is for the best GTX 1070 graphics card is and why, but before that, have you…

Got The right Support For The Best GTX 1070 Graphics Cards?

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Speaking of the latest and greatest, you might also wanna check out our Best LGA 1155 Motherboard Reviews and our Best GTX 1080 Ti Graphics Card Reviews for 2023.

Back to the best GTX 1070 GPUs…

So, Which Of The Best GTX 1070 Graphics Cards Outshone The Rest?

We would easily be happy with any of the GPUs on offer here. But that’s not why we’re here. To decide which is the best in such an impressive range, we have decided to choose what we feel is the best all-rounder. Something that can meet almost anyone’s expectations.

And the GPU we feel can live up to this is the…

We chose this product because of its impressive frame rates, efficient cooling, and the ability to still be overclocked.

Happy gaming!