We ’re about to enter a new earned run average of GPUs , with Nvidia , AMD , and Intel duking it out for slot among thebest graphics poster . But this time around , thing are unlike . Team Red , which has traditionally serve as a downward force on terms against much more pop Nvidia GPUs , is caught in the middle of a computer graphic circuit card market that ’s maneuver in two vastly different counseling .
Although AMD has yet to formally reveal itsRDNA 4 graphics cards , the society has confirmed that it ’s coming early next year . The details about AMD ’s next - gen GPUs are still up in the zephyr , but you do n’t postulate any official specs or benchmarks to see the perilous position that AMD is in . The company ’s next - gen graphics carte du jour already have two big problem — Nvidia , which in all probability will pursue flagship dominance , and AMD itself .
A picture of what’s coming
AMD has n’t shared official details about its next - gen artwork cards yet , but the company has painted a clear picture about where the card will end up . AMD has said it does n’t want toplay “ king of the J. J. Hill ” with Nvidia , all but affirm months of hypothesis that AMD will skip the battle for flagship authorisation in monastic order to centre on midrange GPUs .
The latest rumour suggest that the add-in AMD will conduct this initiativewith is the RX 9070 XT . That ’s not a typo . Rumor has it that AMD is changing its naming convening once again for RDNA 4 artwork cards . accord to leak benchmarks , this card should perform around the stratum of an RTX 4070 Ti or RX 7900 GRE . That fall in - cable with AMD ’s scheme this generation . If the leaked benchmarks are accurate , AMD is offer performance of a artwork circuit card in the $ 600 to $ 700 monetary value scope from the current propagation , and I suspect for a lower price .
Other rumors claim it ’ll be slightly fast — somewhere near the operation of anRTX 4080 . Where just it fall is n’t important flop now , however . What ’s important is that all sign of the zodiac sharpen to AMD falling below the threshold of what would be take a next - gen flagship GPU . That ’s doubly true when you consider the rumored performance of Nvidia ’s RTX 5090,which leaker claimcould be as much as 70 % faster than the current RTX 4090 .
It looks like AMD is focused on that sweet spot of gambling performance we ’ve seen over the past several generations , filled with cards around $ 500 like the RTX 4070 and RX 7800 XT . That seems like a winning strategy with Nvidia push flagship Mary Leontyne Price well above $ 1,000 and Intel target gamers with sub-$300 budget . But it puts AMD between a proverbial rock and difficult space , as it ’s enamor in the middle of conflicting pricing strategies .
Always battling context
It ’s important to keep in intellect that a raw graphics carte du jour require linguistic context . You ca n’t look at a GPU in a vacancy . TheRTX 4090from this propagation is a prime example of that . Anyone can lead the benchmark and see it ’s stupid fast , and you’re able to even liken it to a last - gen GPU like the RTX 3090 to see the generational upthrust . But is it deserving the request price ? Will the RTX 4080 put up a importantly better value ? These are the kinds of questions that are impossible to do when a young contemporaries starts . You need context .
Nvidia , as the well-defined market drawing card , usually set that context . Looking at the previous generation , AMD’sRX 7800 XTisn’t a good GPU justbecause . It ’s a well GPU because it offer corresponding and sometimes good performance than Nvidia ’s RTX 4070 , and for $ 100 less . Nvidia ’s dominant locating have in mind that it position the look for a propagation , and in most face , the merits of a GPU from AMD or Intel are judged based on how they compare to Nvidia . I ’m not saying this is the way thing should be , but it ’s the way matter are .
It looks like the next waving of graphics board will come around the same time . Nvidia is tip off to launch itsRTX 50 - serial publication GPUsat CES 2025 , as is AMD . I do n’t have crystal ball , but it ’s looking like we ’ll have a new flagship from Nvidia next month , as well as AMD ’s top batting order from its RDNA 4 chain , which is direct that sweet spotlight price . It should go without allege that there ’s no way to compare these two GPUs . They ’re in completely different classes . They altogether lackcontext .
If this is the setup hold up into the next propagation , I can already tell you the interrogative sentence everyone will be asking : What will Nvidia ’s resolution to AMD ’s top GPU be ? Nvidia may launch some demented flagship northward of $ 1,000 , and some crazy personal computer gamers ( myself probably among them ) will corrupt it . But without AMD competing at that level , all eyes will be on Nvidia ’s answer to AMD . The question will be what Nvidia can extradite around the same cost .
That works against AMD . There will be some who go out and bribe AMD ’s next - gen art card , but many more who will likely harbour out until more of Nvidia ’s lineup is bring out . It also gives Nvidia an chance to adjust its scheme at that sweet spot price , which is something we visualize in this generation . Not only did we get a price drop and rebrand on the RTX 4080 12 GB — it finally turned into the RTX 4070 Ti for $ 100 cheaper — we also see Nvidia ’s Super refresh , with carte du jour like theRTX 4070 Superdesigned specifically to combat AMD ’s offerings .
Moving backward
Launching directly into the midrange also sets AMD up against itself . Let ’s do a hypothetical . Let ’s say the RX 9070 XT — or whatever the GPU ends up being called — is around 5 % slower than an RX 7900 XT and around 20 % quicker than an RX 7800 XT , and it add up in at $ 650 . So , you ’d be get a GPU that ’s near the performance of what would be you $ 900 in the former propagation with the RX 7900 crosstalk , and much better carrying into action than AMD ’s $ 550 to $ 600 offering with the RX 7800 XT .
That sounds like a good deal until you think that you may grease one’s palms an RX 7900 XT for $ 650 right now , and even less on sales event . Keep in idea that I ’m completely make up these number and pointedness of comparability , but it ’s a salutary example of the issues with AMD ’s more reserved approach in the upcoming multiplication . AMD ’s unexampled midrange GPU will in all probability be competing with more expensive offerings from the previous multiplication that , due to their time on store shelf , have significantly fall in toll . And unlike old generation where AMD would have suitable replacements for each card in its card , there ’s a very good chance those last - gen GPUs will be more powerful .
There ’s a very delicate balancing act AMD needs to toy , which might make the RX 9070 XT a disappointing GPU . On one hand , the wag needs to be priced competitively enough to compete with the falling price on AMD ’s last - gen option . And on the other , it ca n’t be so inexpensive as to completely subvert ( and therefore crater ) the prices on AMD ’s last - gen alternative . It has to stick the landing place flawlessly , which is a bad ask .
I ’m excited to see what the next coevals of graphics card will institute , from flagship offerings clearing $ 1,000 all the way down to 1080p workhorse duking it out around $ 300 . Next month when the generation is expected to kick off , though , I suspect the situation will be fuzzy . Unlike something likeIntel ’s recent Arc B580 , which is a very compelling offer at $ 250 disregarding of the circumstance , the struggle for AMD in the next generation will be function with last - gen comparison and Nvidia competition that Team Red wo n’t hope to battle .
I ’m not saying AMD ’s next GPU will be unfit , and if everything click in place correctly , it might be an exciting option — that ’s sure what our very ownMonica J. White seems to believe . Regardless of how it terminate up turning out , one affair is for certain . The next few months will be avery exciting time for computer graphic add-in .
