iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The GeForce RTX 3070 went on sale at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on October 29, 2020. Newegg warned that it expected cards to sell out within minutes, and launch-day reports soon described retailer errors and out-of-stock listings. NVIDIA had delayed the launch from its originally planned October window so partners could increase the supply available on launch day.
When did RTX 3070 sales start?
Sales opened Thursday, October 29, 2020, at 9 a.m. ET. This is the historical launch schedule, not a current availability time. The $499 figure discussed at launch was NVIDIA’s starting price in 2020; it does not establish what a card costs or whether one is available today.
Did the RTX 3070 sell out immediately?
Retailer conditions deteriorated quickly, but the reports do not establish a precise market-wide sellout time. Newegg said it expected to have more inventory than during earlier RTX 30-series launches, while still anticipating a sellout “in minutes.” HotHardware reported retailer sites buckling under demand or showing out-of-stock messages shortly after the launch opened. Windows Central reported that the card appeared out of stock at major retailers by 9:40 a.m. ET.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThose accounts document a rapid, difficult launch, not an audited count of Newegg’s stock or total sales across retailers. They also do not show that every retailer or every RTX 3070 model became unavailable at the same moment.
#1 Best Overall
Why did NVIDIA delay the launch?
NVIDIA announced on October 1, 2020, that RTX 3070 availability would move to October 29. The company said the later date would give global partners more time to put cards into customers’ hands on launch day. The stated reason was to increase launch-day supply; it was not a guarantee that demand would be met.
What was the RTX 3070, and how was it positioned?
NVIDIA’s 2020 launch specifications listed the RTX 3070 at a $499 starting price, with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 5,888 CUDA cores. NVIDIA said it delivered performance similar to or faster than the RTX 2080 Ti, which had sold for twice as much, and averaged 1.6 times the performance of the original RTX 2070. These are NVIDIA’s claims about the card, not independent benchmark results.
Rank #2
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Founders Edition
- The GeForce RTX 3070 is powered by Ampere—NVIDIA’s 2nd gen RTX architecture.
- Built with enhanced RT Cores and Tensor Cores, new streaming multiprocessors, and high-speed G6 memory, it gives you the power you need to rip through the most demanding games.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Powered by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics processing unit (GPU) with a 1695MHz boost clock speed to help meet the needs of demanding games. 8GB GDDR6 (256-bit) Video Memory.
- Antialiasing and anisotropic filtering delivers striking graphics with incredible realism. HDMI and Display Port outputs enable flexible connectivity. PCI Express 4.0 and earlier PCI Express 3.0. Offers compatibility with a range of systems.
NVIDIA also promoted support for ray tracing, DLSS, Reflex and Broadcast. At launch, it described the card as offering those features for $499.
Recommended Free Tools
How did the 3070 compare with the other RTX 30-series launch cards?
NVIDIA’s September 2020 launch table placed the three cards at different price, memory and core-count levels:
Rank #3
- Item Package Quantity - 1
- Product Type - VIDEO CARD
- This pre-owned product has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon qualified vendors.
- Accessories may not be original, but will be compatible and fully functional. Product may come in generic box.
| Card | Launch starting price | Memory | CUDA cores |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3070 | $499 | 8 GB GDDR6 | 5,888 |
| RTX 3080 | $699 | 10 GB GDDR6X | 8,704 |
| RTX 3090 | $1,499 | 24 GB GDDR6X | 10,496 |
The price and specifications in the table are NVIDIA’s announced launch figures from 2020; they are not current retail prices or a comparison of present-day performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where could buyers look on launch day?
The launch coverage describes retailer availability and Newegg’s inventory warning, but it does not provide a complete list of participating sellers or lasting stock information. The reported out-of-stock states are specific to October 29, 2020. They cannot establish which retailers carry an RTX 3070 now, its present price, or current stock.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
- Powered by GeForce RTX 5060
- Integrated with 8GB GDDR7 128bit memory interface
- PCIe 5.0
- WINDFORCE cooling system
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
