AMD’s RDNA 4 graphics playing cards (additionally known as the Radeon RX 8000 sequence) are already on the horizon, however they’re nonetheless a little bit of a thriller. Fortuitously, whereas AMD continues to be retaining quiet about its next-gen GPUs, numerous leakers break up that silence with loads of rumors and tantalizing hypothesis.
Most probably set to launch this 12 months, RDNA 4 GPUs might give Nvidia a run for its cash, however will they be capable of compete in opposition to a number of the greatest graphics playing cards from the upcoming RTX 50-series? This is among the few issues that leakers all agree on, and we’ll let you know all about it in our full roundup of RDNA 4 information beneath.
RDNA 4: Specs
| AMD RDNA 4 | |
| Course of node | TSMC N4P |
| Structure | RDNA 4 |
| Chip | Navi 48, Navi 44 |
| Reminiscence sort | GDDR6 |
| Most bus width | 256-bit |
| Most clock velocity | 3GHz-3.3GHz |
Every little thing we all know thus far in regards to the specs of AMD’s RDNA 4 comes from leaks. A number of the data overlaps amongst numerous sources, however relating to the specs, a lot of the intel comes from Tom of Moore’s Regulation Is Lifeless on YouTube. Up to now, the YouTuber predicts that AMD will solely launch RDNA 4 in two configurations: Navi 48 and Navi 44.
The one factor that the majority sources are clear on and have been speaking about for months is that AMD’s next-gen GPUs received’t have the specs wanted to match Nvidia’s high-end GPUs, just like the RTX 5090. AMD is aiming on the midrange sector, which is obvious within the rumored specs for each chips.
Navi4 lineup won’t have any high-end GPUs
Consider it like RDNA1 or Polaris era.
— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) August 4, 2023
In line with Moore’s Regulation Is Lifeless, the Navi 48 can be AMD’s flagship for this era, and it’ll probably be present in an RX 8800 XT GPU. Preliminary estimates pin this GPU as having a 256-bit interface, with GDDR6 reminiscence clocked at 20Gbps. It’s additionally attainable that it would include a 192-bit bus, as has been talked about by some leakers. The Navi 44 GPU is rumored to sport a 128-bit reminiscence bus and a considerably smaller die.
The selection to make use of GDDR6 as an alternative of GDDR7 could appear stunning, seeing as Nvidia’s next-gen GPUs are stated to be utilizing the sooner and newer GDDR7 commonplace. Moore’s Regulation Is Lifeless speculates that AMD might have initially deliberate to make use of GDDR7 reminiscence within the — now reportedly canceled — high-end portion of the lineup, which is known as Navi 41 (or Navi 4C and Navi 4X) and Navi 42. The Navi 41 would’ve been the successor to the RX 7900 XTX if it turned a actuality. Nonetheless, the midrange to entry-level playing cards are all stated to sport GDDR6 reminiscence.
Solely 18Gbps 🤔
— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) April 23, 2024
The truth is, current reviews from Kepler_L2 and Tom’s {Hardware} point out that AMD might not solely keep on with GDDR6 modules nevertheless it may additionally stifle bandwidth and use 18Gbps modules as an alternative of the sooner 20Gbps variations we’ve seen in RDNA 3 flagships. Even the RX 7800 XT makes use of 19.5Gbps modules, so this is able to be a downgrade. It’s necessary to strategy this with some skepticism, although.
Preliminary, extremely optimistic estimates stated that RDNA 4 may attain 3.5GHz, however these predictions have now been adjusted to a extra cheap 3GHz to three.3GHz on overclocked fashions made by AMD’s companions. Even then, this can be a large recreation clock enhance over the RX 7900 XTX, which has a frequency of two.3GHz.
A number of months in the past, Moore’s Regulation Is Lifeless spoke a few attainable Navi 43 GPU, which can also be now not being talked about. As per the rumor, the Navi 43 was stated to sport 64 compute models (CUs), with the Navi 44 having 32 CUs. Nonetheless, even the supply of the leak warned that these specs have been unsure.
The newest spec replace comes from RedGamingTech, who speculates that the Navi 48 GPU will include 32 work group processors (WGPs), 64MB of Infinity Cache, and a 256-bit reminiscence bus. In the meantime, the Navi 44 GPU is alleged to be considerably lower down, sporting 16 WGPs, a 32MB Infinity Cache, and a really slender 128-bit reminiscence bus.
The remainder of the specs are nonetheless unknown at this stage; there’s been no point out of the variety of AI accelerators, ray tracing accelerators, and even the quantity of VRAM. We’ll have to attend till we get nearer to the discharge date.
RDNA 4: Pricing and launch date
Out of all of the GPUs which may come out this 12 months, AMD’s RDNA 4 is the almost certainly to really hit the cabinets in 2024. Even then, there’s nonetheless lots of uncertainty, and the rumored launch dates span three totally different quarters.
Most leakers level to a launch within the second half of 2024. One supply quoted by Moore’s Regulation Is Lifeless claims that RDNA 4 can be able to launch within the fourth quarter, however there’s a slim likelihood it may very well be launched somewhat sooner. It’s additionally attainable that it is likely to be delayed till the primary quarter of 2025.
One other supply stated that the driving force growth goes nicely and that RDNA 4 is already forward of the place RDNA 2 was at across the similar time in 2022. This leaker claims that AMD may tease RDNA 4 throughout Computex in June after which launch it within the third quarter.
Primarily based on the quotes, plainly AMD could also be in no rush to launch RDNA 4 as quickly as attainable. Nvidia’s RTX 50-series will not be a lot of a risk, provided that Group Inexperienced is prone to open with the RTX 5090, which isn’t AMD’s goal market this time round — though new leaks point out that the RTX 5080 might come first. With that stated, we’re prone to see a few desktop GPUs first after which a laptop computer launch afterward — assuming they’re simpler to get within the subsequent era than on this present one.
Though AMD might not win in efficiency, leakers speculate that it would undertake an aggressive pricing technique this time round, beating Nvidia by way of worth. Rumor has it that the Navi 44 GPU may promote for underneath $400, whereas the flagship Navi 48 (RX 8800 XT?) may very well be priced round $500. That’s a extremely aggressive value level that labored out swimmingly for AMD with the RX 7800 XT, so this is smart, however all the things continues to be unsure. We would see as a lot as a 30% enchancment by way of value to efficiency.
RDNA 4: Structure
Navi 44 and Navi 48 are reportedly constructed on TSMC’s N4P course of, which, as Moore’s Regulation Is Lifeless notes, can be single-digits higher than the node present in Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace GPUs. Navi 48 has an estimated die dimension of 300 to 350 mm², whereas Navi 44 is so much smaller at beneath 210mm², which is near the identical dimension because the die inside Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti.
The naming scheme for these chips is a departure from earlier generations. Often, AMD’s flagship chip was additionally the one with the bottom quantity, similar to Navi 31 in RDNA 3. This time, we’re getting the Navi 44 because the lower-end GPU and the Navi 48 as the highest graphics chip. Given the remainder of the rumors, this sort of tracks — AMD is alleged to call its chips primarily based on the order of growth, so if it canceled the preliminary Navi 41 chip, the Navi 48 might have began growth later.
In terms of structure, each Moore’s Regulation Is Lifeless and RedGamingTech on YouTube say that we’re a monolithic die. It seems that we may have had MCM in RX 8000 sequence GPUs if not for the truth that the high-end variants have been reportedly canceled, so the structure might not reappear till RDNA 5.
Nonetheless, we would nonetheless see some architectural enhancements in RDNA 4. {Hardware} leakers have been vocal about the truth that AMD desires to enhance the ray tracing efficiency of its GPUs, and RedGamingTech speculates that we would see changes to the geometry engine. Different sources additionally point out AMD’s drive to raised compete in AI workflows and ray tracing.
RDNA 4: Efficiency
It appears that evidently AMD received’t beat its personal high GPU (Navi 31) this time round. The RX 7900 XTX is alleged to retain the lead in pure rasterization, however the brand new GPUs ought to enhance ray tracing and have higher costs.
Evaluating the flagship RDNA 4 card to the remainder of the competitors tells a unique story. Most sources estimate that the rumored RX 8800 XT needs to be near the RX 7900 XT in efficiency. Moore’s Regulation Is Lifeless says that it’ll be round 10% slower than the RX 7900 XTX, placing it near Navi 31 and Nvidia’s RTX 4080. It ought to outperform the RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous by a small margin, and RedGamingTech predicts that it’ll be barely sooner than the current RX 7900 GRE.
No, N31 will stay the flagship till RDNA5.
— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) August 5, 2023
Essentially the most optimistic consequence was that the Navi 48 GPU would be capable of beat Nvidia’s RTX 4080 Tremendous for round half the value, nevertheless it’s too early to get too excited. That would definitely be an enormous feat for AMD to attain and a great way to beat Nvidia in 2024. Even when AMD can’t fairly hit these numbers and solely outperforms the RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous, however costs the GPU at round $500, that might nonetheless be an ideal deal.
In the meantime, the Navi 44 die (which may find yourself in an RX 8700 XT) is alleged to supply comparable efficiency to AMD’s RX 7700 XT, however at a diminished value. Some sources pin it as an enchancment over the RX 7600 XT, however a downgrade in comparison with the RX 7800 XT. Proper now, it’s unclear whether or not AMD will launch extra entry-level GPUs on this era.
Sure
— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) Could 2, 2024
Just lately, Kepler_L2 answered a query on Twitter and as soon as once more confirmed the suspicion that AMD might not have a solution to Nvidia’s rumored RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. It appears that evidently AMD will keep in its personal lane this time round and received’t have direct next-gen competitors from Nvidia till the launch of midrange playing cards just like the RTX 5060 and the RTX 5070.
RDNA 4: Ray tracing
Ray tracing is one space the place Nvidia maintains a notable lead over AMD. That is now not a common reality the best way it was in generations previous, nevertheless it’s nonetheless true. A comparable Nvidia GPU can normally be counted on to outperform AMD when ray tracing is enabled, though the hole is wider in some video games.
Bettering ray tracing efficiency is one thing that lots of leakers stress the significance of in RX 8000 sequence graphics playing cards. RedGamingTech claims that we’re a lift of 10% to 30%, which is a variety, nevertheless it’s nonetheless early days. Nonetheless, Moore’s Regulation Is Lifeless says that his sources aren’t satisfied that AMD will be capable of beat Nvidia in ray tracing in RDNA 4 but — the objective is to beat RDNA 3, with an uplift in ray tracing efficiency per compute unit.
Whereas rumor has it that RDNA 4 will nonetheless be a hair slower than Nvidia in these workloads, it ought to supply a marked enchancment over the earlier era. The Navi 31 GPU is alleged to outperform the Navi 48 in pure rasterization, however it might fall behind in ray tracing.
In a current video, RedGamingTech spoke about one thing akin to a whole redesign by way of ray tracing. The YouTuber speculates (primarily based on Twitter sources, thoughts you) that RDNA 4 may include new work group processors (WGPs). For ray tracing, a few of RedGamingTech’s sources declare that AMD is adopting a “far more Nvidia-like strategy.”
RDNA3 RT was primarily based on RDNA2 with some enhancements. RDNA4 RT seems to be utterly totally different.
— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) April 30, 2024
Frequent GPU leaker Kepler_L2 on X (previously Twitter) agrees with RedGamingTech right here, stating that we’ll be seeing an entirely redesigned ray tracing structure in RDNA 4 — whereas what we noticed in RDNA 3 was primarily based on AMD’s preliminary try in RDNA 2. This may imply that the brand new AMD flagship could also be worse than the RX 7900 XTX in pure rasterization, however would outperform it in ray tracing workflows.
All the above continues to be pure hypothesis, and the rumors about this era have been shockingly scarce. We’ll should be affected person and preserve our eyes peeled for extra leaks as we get nearer to the discharge date.
Editors’ Suggestions