Mid-range GPU upgrade: efficiency vs performance?

[TechInfo2026]

Hello! I’m TechInfo2026. I’m planning a GPU upgrade this year and deciding between mid-range options. Curious how much power efficiency matters versus raw performance in real-world use. Would love your thoughts.

 

[Colif]

Curious how much power efficiency matters versus raw performance in real-world use. Would love your thoughts.

That would be a measure that people have to work out on an individual basis. Where do they draw the line, which is more important to them.
It would depend on the cost of energy in their area.

To me, I don't think about it. I generally try to buy the best I can afford, based on performance. I don't care about energy usage provided my Power Supply is good enough.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Hello! I’m TechInfo2026. I’m planning a GPU upgrade this year and deciding between mid-range options. Curious how much power efficiency matters versus raw performance in real-world use. Would love your thoughts.

I agree with Colif. I've used efficiency as sort of a coin toss when I couldn't decide which way to go, but in the end, two different products that perform roughly the same are going to be somewhat close in energy costs. The 5070ti and 9070xt are similar in performance, and the max estimate of annual costs for the 5070ti is $100, and for the xt, $150.

There are environmental concerns, of course, but I already go way above and beyond the average household in that regard, so I'm not worried about my PC.