The highly anticipated GeForce RTX 5070 FE was expected to hit shelves soon, but fans will have to hold tight a little longer. NVIDIA has decided to push back the retail launch of the Founders Edition until later in March. The details came from Andreas Schilling, who reported that NVIDIA had reached out to inform him about the delay. This update dropped a mere few hours before the embargo on reviews for the RTX 5070 lifted, catching many by surprise.
Schilling, a respected editor at Hardware Luxx, shared that the news came just two and a half hours before the scheduled review publication time. With this change, those hoping to snag the Founders Edition directly will need to be patient. It’s still unclear if this setback will also affect the release of the AIB models. Given recent chatter about the GPU’s supply, widespread availability doesn’t seem promising anytime soon.
Perhaps history is about to repeat itself, with the RTX 5070 joining its siblings, the RTX 5090, 5080, and 5070 Ti, in experiencing what’s known as a “paper launch.” Reviews are already out, revealing that the RTX 5070 performs similarly to the RTX 4070 Super. Although it doesn’t offer significant generational leaps, it still holds its ground as a slightly improved option over the RTX 4070 Super, especially with its price tag at $549.
If you find the RTX 5070 selling above its MSRP or simply can’t track one down, it might be wise to consider alternatives. The Radeon RX 9070 XT and its counterpart are around the corner, scheduled for release on March 6, with reviews dropping a day prior. Price-wise, the RX 9070 series stands at $599 for the XT and $549 for the non-XT, making them direct competitors to NVIDIA’s offering.
As for why the RTX 5070 is facing launch issues, that’s still shrouded in mystery. Rumors have been circulating about performance-limiting bugs and supply chain hiccups, though NVIDIA hasn’t officially confirmed either. While fans anxiously await the Founders Edition, there’s hope that the AIB versions will still find their way to markets worldwide. Just yesterday, the GPU appeared on B&H Photo Video’s listing for $549, covering both the base and overclocked models. However, should prices soar past $600 for these variants, it might be wise to hold off unless you’re out of options.
