Tier 1 Enthusiast

RTX 5070 LLM Performance

Local LLM Performance: 40.6 t/s average on 14B models at 16k context. Updated Benchmarks: March 2026.

Gen (14B 4-bit) 40.6 t/s
PP (14B 4-bit) 1,315 t/s
Max Model 14B
VRAM
12 GB GDDR7
Bandwidth 672 GB/s
Token Gen (14B @ 4k Ctx)

40.6T/s

Prompt Proc (14B @ 4k Ctx)

1,315T/s

Summary

In our 2026 analysis, we found the RTX 5070 to be a poor value proposition for local LLMs. Despite featuring the newer GDDR7 memory standard, the 12GB VRAM limitation at a current price point is a major bottleneck. If you are strictly running models that fit within 12GB, we believe it is much more cost-effective to buy an RTX 4070; alternatively, for this budget, we recommend spending slightly more to acquire a 16GB card, which opens up access to the 20B+ model tier.

Key Insights

Capable of running Qwen3 14B using GGUF (Q4_K) completely in VRAM.
Utilizes GDDR7 memory (672 GB/s) to achieve decent generation speeds of 40.6 t/s.
Strictly limited to 14B parameter models due to the 12GB VRAM capacity.
Offers poor value at $650 compared to cheaper 12GB options or similarly priced 16GB alternatives.

Current Price in US

$650

Avg. Market Value

Current Pricing

Hardware Specs
VRAM 12GB GDDR7
Capable of running 14B model
Bandwidth 672 GB/s
Architecture Blackwell
Memory speed 28 Gbps
Memory bus 192 bit
TDP 250 W
Suggested PSU 650 W
Price/GB VRAM $54.17
Price/(t/s) with 14B @ 16k $16.01

Biggest LLMs You Can Run on This GPU

The models below represent the largest language models that fit fully in VRAM on this GPU using 4-bit quantization (GGUF). Benchmarks include token generation and prompt processing speeds measured at their maximum supported context length.

Qwen3 14B (Q4_K) Max 16k
Token Generation 40.6 t/s @ 16k context
Prompt Processing 1,315.2 t/s @ 16k context
Qwen3 8B (Q4_K) Max 32k
Token Generation 43.6 t/s @ 32k context
Prompt Processing 898.8 t/s @ 32k context

Note: Context values are grouped into standard tiers (4K, 16K, 32K, 64K, 128K). Models may support slightly higher context, but they remain in the lower tier unless they reach the next bracket.

RTX 5070 local LLM Inference Performance vs Similar GPUs

Compare prompt ingestion and token generation speeds against similar GPUs across widely used local models and extended context lengths up to 256K.

Local LLM Benchmarks

Prompt processing (t/s) and token generation speed (t/s) across different open weight models and context lengths.

Prompt Processing
Model 4k Ctx 16k Ctx 32k Ctx 64k Ctx 128k Ctx 256k Ctx
Qwen3 8B (Q4_K) 3,487.7 1,600.8 898.8
Qwen3 14B (Q4_K) 2,144.2 1,315.2
Token Generation
Model 4k Ctx 16k Ctx 32k Ctx 64k Ctx 128k Ctx 256k Ctx
Qwen3 8B (Q4_K) 85.8 59.1 43.6
Qwen3 14B (Q4_K) 54.2 40.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about running LLMs on the RTX 5070.

What is the max model the RTX 5070 can run?

The card is limited to running models up to 14B parameters in 4-bit quantization. It cannot handle larger models without significant offloading to system RAM.

Is the RTX 5070 good value?

No. At $650, the price-per-GB is $54.17. We recommend either saving money with an RTX 4070 (if 12GB is enough) or upgrading to a 16GB card for better longevity.

How fast is the RTX 5070?

We measured an average token generation speed of 40.6 t/s and prompt processing of 1,315 t/s on Qwen3 14B at 16k context.

What are the memory specs of the RTX 5070?

It features 12GB of GDDR7 memory with a bandwidth of 672 GB/s.