MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Super Gaming X Slim specifications and in-depth review

MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Super Gaming X Slim

Manufacturer: MSI

The MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Super Gaming X Slim is a graphics card based on NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace architecture, built on a 5 nm process with 35,800 million transistors. It features a base GPU clock of 1980 MHz boosting up to 2640 MHz, and supports ray tracing, DLSS, stereoscopic 3D, and RGB lighting, covering the key feature expectations for this segment of the RTX 4070 Super lineup.

On the memory side, the card uses 12GB of GDDR6X across a 192-bit bus at an effective 21,000 MHz, delivering up to 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The 7,168 shading units are paired with 224 TMUs and 80 ROPs, generating a texture rate of 591.4 GTexels/s and a pixel rate of 211.2 GPixel/s, with Double Precision Floating Point and ECC memory also supported. The card connects via PCIe 4 with a 220W TDP, measures 307 mm in width and 125 mm in height, and provides one HDMI 2.1a port alongside three DisplayPort outputs for up to four simultaneous displays.

Pros
  • A 220W TDP is relatively low for this card class, reducing demands on the power supply and making it easier to cool within a standard system build
  • At 307 mm in width and 125 mm in height, the slim physical profile fits comfortably in a wider range of cases, including builds with tighter clearance
  • Ray tracing and DLSS support are both included, enabling hardware-accelerated lighting and AI-driven upscaling in compatible applications
  • ECC memory support is present, adding data integrity protection for users running compute workloads where memory accuracy matters
  • Intel Resizable BAR support helps reduce data transfer bottlenecks between the CPU and GPU on compatible PCIe 4 platforms
  • The card can drive up to four displays simultaneously through its three DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI 2.1a port
Cons
  • The 192-bit memory bus limits peak memory bandwidth to 504.2 GB/s, which may become a constraint in heavily memory-bound workloads
  • With 12GB of GDDR6X, the card carries less VRAM than some alternatives in this performance tier, which could be a limiting factor for high-resolution texture workloads
  • Air-water cooling integration is not supported, which restricts thermal management options for users with custom liquid cooling setups
  • XeSS (XMX) upscaling is not supported, meaning users reliant on that technology in their applications will need to look elsewhere
  • There are no USB-C outputs available, which limits direct connectivity for displays or devices that require that port type
Who is this for?

This card is a natural fit for users who prioritize compact system builds, as its 307 mm length and 125 mm height allow it to slot into a wide range of cases without clearance issues, while its 220W TDP keeps power supply and thermal demands manageable. It suits those who work with ray tracing and DLSS-enabled applications, where the hardware acceleration and AI upscaling features can be fully leveraged. Users on PCIe 4 platforms who want multi-monitor setups of up to four displays will also find the port layout accommodating, with three DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI 2.1a port covering that need efficiently.

Who is this NOT for?

Users running workloads that are highly sensitive to memory capacity or bandwidth may find the 12GB VRAM across a 192-bit bus a limiting factor, particularly at higher resolutions where texture memory demands can grow quickly. Those who have built systems around custom liquid cooling loops will find no air-water cooling compatibility here, which could be a drawback for thermally optimized builds. Additionally, anyone whose applications or display setup depends on USB-C output or XeSS (XMX) upscaling will need to look elsewhere, as neither is available on this card.

Performance:

GPU clock speed 1980 MHz
GPU turbo 2640 MHz
pixel rate 211.2 GPixel/s
floating-point performance 37.85 TFLOPS
texture rate 591.4 GTexels/s
GPU memory speed 1313 MHz
shading units 7168
texture mapping units (TMUs) 224
render output units (ROPs) 80
Has Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP)

The GPU runs at a base clock of 1980 MHz, boosting up to 2640 MHz under load, with memory operating at 1313 MHz. Its 7,168 shading units are supported by 224 texture mapping units and 80 render output units, resulting in a texture rate of 591.4 GTexels/s and a pixel rate of 211.2 GPixel/s. Floating-point performance is rated at 37.85 TFLOPS, and Double Precision Floating Point support is included, extending the card's utility to compute workloads alongside standard graphics tasks.

Memory:

effective memory speed 21000 MHz
maximum memory bandwidth 504.2 GB/s
VRAM 12GB
GDDR version GDDR6X
memory bus width 192-bit
Supports ECC memory

The card is equipped with 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM running across a 192-bit bus at an effective speed of 21,000 MHz, which translates to a maximum memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. ECC memory support is also present, offering error-correction capability for users whose workloads place a premium on memory data accuracy.

Features:

DirectX version DirectX 12 Ultimate
OpenGL version 4.6
OpenCL version 3
Supports multi-display technology
supports ray tracing
Supports 3D
supports DLSS
has XeSS (XMX)
AMD SAM / Intel Resizable BAR Intel Resizable BAR
has LHR
has RGB lighting
supported displays 4

The card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and OpenCL 3, and includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing along with DLSS for AI-based upscaling. Stereoscopic 3D, multi-display technology for up to four screens, RGB lighting, and Intel Resizable BAR are all part of the feature set, while XeSS (XMX) and LHR are not supported on this model.

Ports:

has an HDMI output
HDMI ports 1
HDMI version HDMI 2.1a
DisplayPort outputs 3
USB-C ports 0
DVI outputs 0
mini DisplayPort outputs 0

Display output is handled by three DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI 2.1a port, giving a total of four available connections. USB-C, DVI, and mini DisplayPort outputs are not included on this card.

General info:

GPU architecture Ada Lovelace
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 220W
PCI Express (PCIe) version 4
semiconductor size 5 nm
number of transistors 35800 million
Has air-water cooling
width 307 mm
height 125 mm

Built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm manufacturing process, this card packs 35,800 million transistors and connects to the system via PCIe 4. Its 220W TDP is relatively modest for this class of card, easing demands on both the power supply and system cooling. Air-water cooling is not supported, and the card measures 307 mm in width and 125 mm in height, giving it a trim physical profile that should fit comfortably in a wide range of mid-tower and larger cases.

Final Verdict

The MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Super Gaming X Slim makes a coherent case for users who want a capable Ada Lovelace-based graphics card without the bulk and power demands typically associated with this performance tier. Its 220W TDP paired with a 307 mm slim form factor sets it apart as a genuinely system-friendly option, while ray tracing, DLSS, ECC memory, and Intel Resizable BAR support ensure a well-rounded feature set for both gaming and compute workloads. Users should factor in the 192-bit memory bus and 12GB VRAM ceiling when planning for memory-intensive tasks, and the absence of liquid cooling compatibility and USB-C output may limit its fit in certain builds. Overall, for those seeking a compact, lower-draw card with a modern feature set and broad case compatibility, the MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Super Gaming X Slim is a well-considered option that balances physical practicality with solid technical capability.

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