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MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£170
  • VRAM: 8 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 150 W

MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

5.0

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.5

Technical Score

10.0%

9.6

User score

Good
4.5

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

3.7

Performance

24.0%

4.1

Memory

12.0%

5.0

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.3

Platform & Features

5.0%

6.4

Design

4.0%

8.2

Connectivity & Media

Poor
9.6

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.4

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.7
(970)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(185)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Exceptional
  • 3.8
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.7

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.8
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.7

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.2
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.7

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.3
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.7

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.6
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.7

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor 8G is a performance-tier graphics card built on NVIDIA's 16nm Pascal architecture, featuring 1,920 CUDA cores and 8GB of GDDR5 memory with a 256-bit interface. It operates at a base clock of 1,506 MHz and a boost clock of 1,683 MHz (OC version reaches 1,556 MHz/1,746 MHz), delivering a 256 GB/s memory bandwidth and supporting a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320. Key characteristics include the Armor 2X thermal design with patented Torx fans for high airflow and Zero Frozr technology, which keeps the fans stationary during low-load tasks for silent operation. Its primary pros are excellent 1080p and 1440p gaming performance, a striking black-and-white aesthetic that fits various builds, and high energy efficiency with a 150W TDP. Notable cons include its significant physical length (279 mm) which may not fit in smaller cases, the lack of a protective backplate, and its lack of support for modern hardware features like real-time ray tracing (RTX).

Technical Specifications of MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

3.7

Performance

24.0%

4.1

Memory

12.0%

5.0

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.3

Platform & Features

5.0%

6.4

Design

4.0%

8.2

Connectivity & Media

4.5
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a technical score of 4.53 points, which is lower than that of 84.1% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.4

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.7
(970)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(185)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

9.6
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a user score of 9.58 points, which is higher than that of 97.5% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
10
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 77.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

5.0

Overall score

40.0%

9.6

Price

6.4
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.4 points, which is lower than 67% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

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3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

6.463 TFLOPS
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor delivers 6.463 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 85.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

8 GB
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has 8 GB of VRAM, which is less than 57.6% of graphics cards and equal to 25.1% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

256 bit
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor uses a 256 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 49.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 36.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

256.3 GB/s
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor reaches 256.3 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 79.9% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.6% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

3.0
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

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Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.4
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports Vulkan 1.4, which is more advanced than on 26.6% of graphics cards and equal to 73.4% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

4
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 7.8% of graphics cards and equal to 89.2% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

7680x4320
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320, which is higher than that of 44.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 55.6% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

3
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor offers 3 DisplayPort outputs, which is more than 20.9% of graphics cards and equal to 77.3% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.4
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports DisplayPort 1.4, which is older than on 77.3% of graphics cards and equal to 16.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

150 W
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a TDP of 150 W, which is lower than that of 73% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.5% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

150 W
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor draws 150 W under peak load, which is lower than 74.2% of graphics cards and equal to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

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Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

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PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

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Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

279 mm
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor is 279 mm long, which is shorter than 54.3% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

140 mm
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor is 140 mm tall, which is taller than 76.4% of graphics cards and equal in height to 5.6% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

832 g
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor weighs 832 g, which is lighter than 67.7% of graphics cards and equal in weight to 0.3% of graphics cards.
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MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor vs the average graphics card

  • 30.2% lower TDP
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (150 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (150 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.150 W vs 215 W
  • 14.4% faster VRAM clock
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,002 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
    What it is: Speed at which the GPU memory operates
    When it matters: When you want more context on how quickly the card's VRAM can move data.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,002 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.2002 MHz vs 1750 MHz
  • 19.8% higher user score
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.58 vs 8.000).
    What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.
    When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.58 vs 8.000).9.58 vs 8
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • 3.12x cheaper
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor is cheaper than the average graphics card (£170 vs £530).
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor is cheaper than the average graphics card (£170 vs £530).£170 vs £530
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire multi-GPU setup
    When it matters: When you still run legacy multi-GPU gaming or rendering workflows.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 4.34x more popular
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor is more popular than the average graphics card (10.00 vs 2.303).
    What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
    When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor is more popular than the average graphics card (10.00 vs 2.303).10 vs 2.3
  • Supports NVLink
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA NVLink or bridge connection for multi-GPU setups
    When it matters: When a professional or niche multi-GPU workflow needs a bridge connection.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • 14.4% faster VRAM clock
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,002 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Supports NVLink
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 30.2% lower TDP
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (150 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.

Total
Overall
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
  • 32.7% lower boost clock speed
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,683 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 25 fewer compute units
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (15 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 52% lower texture rate
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (180.7 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 64 fewer TMUs
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (120 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 21.6% lower base clock speed
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,506 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 41.6% lower pixel rate
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (96.4 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 71.7% lower FP32 performance
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (6.5 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 99.7% lower FP16 performance
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower FP16 performance than the average graphics card (0.1 TFLOPS vs 29.5 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP16 performance of 29.5 TFLOPS.
  • 72% lower compute throughput
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (6.5 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 2,432 fewer FP32 units
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,920 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 56.6% lower FP64 performance
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower FP64 performance than the average graphics card (0.2 TFLOPS vs 0.4651 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP64 performance of 0.4651 TFLOPS.
  • 57.9% slower memory speed
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,008 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 4 GB less VRAM
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 42.8% lower memory bandwidth
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (256.3 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 93.8% smaller L2 cache
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (2 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 62.5% smaller L1 cache
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (48 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 3.2x larger process node
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a higher process node than the average graphics card (16 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Older PCIe version
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • 7 older
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,016 vs 2,023).
  • No mesh shaders
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older encoder generation
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (6 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • No sampler feedback
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 67.1% fewer transistors
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (7,200 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • No AV1 encoding
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0b vs 2.1).
  • Older HDCP version
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • Older NVDEC generation
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower NVDEC generation than the average graphics card (3 vs 6). The average graphics card offers NVDEC generation 6.
  • 1 fewer fans
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • No backplate
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • 13 mm higher card profile
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor is taller than the average graphics card (140 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 32.7% lower boost clock speed
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,683 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,683 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1683 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 3.2x larger process node
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a higher process node than the average graphics card (16 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a higher process node than the average graphics card (16 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.16 nm vs 5 nm
  • 25 fewer compute units
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (15 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (15 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.15 vs 40
  • 1 fewer fans
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 57.9% slower memory speed
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,008 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
    What it is: Effective memory data rate combining clock and bus width
    When it matters: When you compare how quickly each card can push data through its memory subsystem.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,008 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.8008 MHz vs 19000 MHz
  • 52% lower texture rate
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (180.7 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (180.7 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.180.7 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 4 GB less VRAM
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.8 GB vs 12 GB
  • 64 fewer TMUs
    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (120 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (120 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.120 vs 184
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design

Graphic comparison of MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.7
970 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
185 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor?

  • Excellent thermal performance; stays cool under heavy load (typically 60-70°C)
  • Whisper-quiet operation due to ZeroFrozr technology (fans stop at low loads)
  • Strong 1080p and solid 1440p gaming performance
  • High factory overclock and significant headroom for manual overclocking (over 2.0 GHz)
  • Clean black-and-white aesthetic fits well with many system builds
  • Power efficient compared to previous generation flagships like the GTX 980 Ti

What customers dislike about MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor?

  • Lack of a backplate, which some users feel affects durability and premium feel
  • Physical size is quite large and heavy, causing 'GPU sag' in some motherboards
  • No RGB lighting, which may disappoint users looking for a flashy aesthetic
  • Cooling solution is slightly less robust than MSI's higher-end Gaming X models
  • Packaging is minimal and lacks extra accessories like adapters or SLI bridges
  • Not powerful enough for consistent 60 FPS gaming at 4K resolution

Expert reviews

N
nag.co.za
05/08/2016
Hardware review: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 ARMOR 8G OCGo to product viewer dialog for this item.

The NAG review highlights the MSI GeForce GTX 1070 ARMOR 8G OC as a high-performance, cost-effective GPU that surpasses the reference GTX 980 Ti. Key advantages include exceptional overclocking capabilities, particularly for memory, and a highly efficient cooling system. Structurally, the card lacks a backplate and LED lighting, offering a less premium feel compared to MSI’s...Read more

W
wccftech.com
14/07/2016
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor X OC Review - Wccftech

The MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Armor X OC is a factory-overclocked graphics card built on NVIDIA’s 16nm FinFET Pascal architecture, specifically utilizing the GP104-200-A1 GPU with 1920 CUDA cores and 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM. Operating at a base clock of 1556 MHz and a boost clock of 1746 MHz, it achieves real-world boost frequencies past 1900 MHz out of the box and can easily be manual...Read more

Video reviews

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