MSI GeForce RTX 5070 SHADOW 12GB GDDR7
The Blackwell architecture and 12GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus deliver a 2542MHz boost clock, enabling strong 1440p gaming with DLSS 4 and ray tracing. Its compact 231mm dual-fan design and 250W TDP make it a practical fit for smaller builds without sacrificing modern connectivity like PCIe 5.0 and DisplayPort 2.1b. This card is best for 1440p gamers seeking current-gen features in a space-efficient form factor.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The MSI RTX 5070 Shadow 2X OC is the 1440p sweet spot, if you can find it at a sane price. Compact, fast, and efficient, but don't pay 5080 money for it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent 1440p gaming performance for the price 95th
- Compact 231mm dual-fan design fits small cases like the Alienware Aurora R11 94th
- DLSS 4 and Blackwell architecture give it serious future-proofing 90th
- Strong connectivity with 3x DP 2.1b and HDMI 2.1b 83rd
Cons
- Only 12GB VRAM, which feels tight for a 2025 card
- Dual fans struggle under sustained load, temps can hit 82°C
- Power limit is locked at 100%, no overclocking headroom via Afterburner
- Price has crept up recently, and the spread across vendors is wild
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 9 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
What surprised us most is how well this little card handles 1440p. With 6144 CUDA cores, a 2542MHz boost clock, and 12GB of GDDR7 on a 192-bit bus pushing 672 GB/s, it sits in the 82nd percentile for raster performance and 83rd for ray tracing. That's not just good for a budget card, that's genuinely impressive. The 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 compute puts it well above average, and the PassMark G3D score of 28796 backs that up. But the thermal story is mixed. The dual TORX 5.0 fans do a decent job, but we've seen reports of temps hitting 82°C under sustained load, which is warmer than you'd hope for a card this size. The 250W TDP is reasonable, but that heat has to go somewhere.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Chipset
| GPU Chipset | GeForce RTX 5070 |
| Brand | NVIDIA |
| Architecture | Blackwell |
| Class | consumer |
| Process | 5 |
Memory
| VRAM | 12 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 192 |
| Bandwidth | 672 |
Compute
| CUDA Cores | 6144 |
| Tensor Cores | 192 |
| RT Cores | 48 |
| Base Clock | 2560 |
| Boost Clock | 2542 |
| FP16 TFLOPS | 30.87 |
| FP32 TFLOPS | 30.87 |
Performance
| PassMark G3D | 28796 |
| GPU Compute | 14588 |
Power & Cooling
| TDP | 250 |
| Recommended PSU | 650 |
| Power Connectors | 1 x 16-Pin |
| Cooler | Dual Fan |
| Fans | 2 |
Connectivity
| Interface | PCI Express 5.0 |
| DisplayPort | 3 |
| HDMI | 1 |
| Max Displays | 4 |
| Max Resolution | 7680 x 4320 |
Physical
| Length | 231 |
| Slot Width | 2.5 |
| Form Factor | Full Height |
| Weight | 1.1 kg / 2.5 lbs |
Features
| Ray Tracing | Yes |
| Upscaling | DLSS 4 |
| AV1 Encode | Yes |
| VR Ready | Yes |
| DirectX | 12 Ultimate |
| RGB | No |
vs Competition
Against the ASUS ProArt RTX 5080 and Gigabyte AERO RTX 5080, the 5070 Shadow gives up raw performance but wins on price and size. The 5080 cards are faster, no question, but they're also bigger, hotter, and way more expensive. The ZOTAC APOCALYPSE and PNY ARGB OC are also 5080-class cards that cost significantly more. If you're gaming at 1440p, the 5070 Shadow gets you 85% of the experience for 60% of the price. That's the math that matters. The Sapphire NITRO+ is an AMD option, but if you want DLSS 4 and ray tracing, the 5070 is the better call.
| Spec | MSI GeForce RTX 5070 SHADOW | ASUS ProArt RTX 5080 | Gigabyte AERO GV-N5080AERO OC-16GD | ZOTAC APOCALYPSE ZT-B50800C-10P | Sapphire NITRO+ 11322-01-40G | PNY ARGB OC VCG508016TFXXPB1-O |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | GeForce RTX 5070 | GeForce RTX 5080 | GeForce RTX 5080 | GeForce RTX 5080 | Radeon RX 7900 XTX | GeForce RTX 5080 |
| Vram | 12GB GDDR7 | 16GB GDDR7 | 16GB GDDR7 | 16GB GDDR7 | 24GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR7 |
| Boost Clock Mhz | 2542 | 2730 | 2730 | 2730 | 2680 | 2620 |
| Tdp W | 250 | 150 | 360 | 360 | 339 | 360 |
| Memory Bus Bits | 192 | 256 | 256 | 256 | 384 | 256 |
| Ray Tracing | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| GPU Class | consumer | consumer | consumer | consumer | consumer | consumer |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AI | Rt | Vram | Raster | Compute | Feature | Thermal | User Sentiment | Efficiency | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI GeForce RTX 5070 SHADOW | 62.6 | 83 | 65.1 | 82.3 | 81.3 | 90 | 56.8 | 57.8 | 73.4 | 94.1 | 95.4 |
| ASUS ProArt RTX 5080 Compare | 86.8 | 95.9 | 88.4 | 94.6 | 97.2 | 96.4 | 91.5 | 45.2 | 97.4 | 98.6 | 95.4 |
| Gigabyte AERO GV-N5080AERO OC-16GD Compare | 86.8 | 95.9 | 88.4 | 94.6 | 97.2 | 96.4 | 91.5 | 72 | 57.6 | 94.1 | 88.7 |
| ZOTAC APOCALYPSE ZT-B50800C-10P Compare | 86.8 | 97.7 | 88.4 | 94.6 | 97.2 | 96.4 | 91.5 | 99.6 | 57.6 | 94.1 | 99 |
| Sapphire NITRO+ 11322-01-40G Compare | 94.7 | 91.7 | 91.5 | 83.6 | 99.2 | 84.4 | 91.5 | 86.3 | 42.5 | 98.7 | 78.1 |
| PNY ARGB OC VCG508016TFXXPB1-O Compare | 86.8 | 97.7 | 88.4 | 94.6 | 97.2 | 96.4 | 91.5 | 45.2 | 57.6 | 94.1 | 82.3 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Here's the thing: the value story depends entirely on where you buy it. In the US, prices range from USD 630 to USD 998, which is a USD 368 spread. That's absurd. If you can snag it near the USD 630 mark, it's a steal. At USD 998, you're getting into RTX 5080 territory and should walk away. In Canada, the spread is even worse at CAD 521, ranging from CAD 879 to CAD 1,400. Memory Express has the best CAD deal at CAD 879. Shop around, don't pay the markup.
Best Buy 1 offer From CA$1,260
Memory Express 1 offer From CA$1,290
Amazon 1 offer From CA$1,400
Price History
Read more
Overview
The MSI RTX 5070 Shadow 2X OC is the card to beat for 1440p gaming if you're on a budget and short on case space. It's a compact dual-fan card that punches way above its size class, delivering smooth ultra settings in demanding titles like MSFS 2020/2024 without breaking a sweat. The one thing to know: this is the sweet spot for 1440p right now, and MSI nailed the form factor.
Common Questions
Q: Will this fit in my small case?
Probably. At 231mm long and 2.5 slots thick, it's one of the more compact RTX 5070 cards out there. People have confirmed it fits in the Alienware Aurora R11, which is a notoriously tight case. Just double-check your clearance before buying.
Q: Is 12GB of VRAM enough for 1440p gaming?
For most games right now, yes. 12GB is fine for 1440p ultra settings in the vast majority of titles. But if you're planning to keep this card for 4+ years or dabble in 4K, you might feel the squeeze sooner than you'd like.
Q: Can I overclock this card?
Not really. The power limit is locked at 100% in Afterburner, so you can't push it beyond the factory OC. The 2557MHz boost clock is what you get. If you want overclocking headroom, look at a different 5070 model.
Who Should Skip This
If you're chasing 4K gaming or want serious overclocking headroom, this isn't your card. The locked power limit and 12GB VRAM will hold you back. Go grab an RTX 5080 instead, or wait for a 5070 Ti with more memory. And if you're sensitive to fan noise or run your GPU at 100% for hours on end, the dual-fan cooling might drive you nuts.
Verdict
Buy it, but only if you find it near the low end of the price range. The MSI RTX 5070 Shadow 2X OC is the best 1440p value on the market right now, with a compact design that opens up options for smaller builds. The thermal concerns are real but manageable, and the locked power limit is annoying but not a dealbreaker for most people. At USD 630 or CAD 879, this is an easy recommendation. At the high end of the price spread, you're better off saving for a 5080.
