After months of ready for brand spanking new graphics playing cards, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has lastly been introduced and will probably be powering gaming PCs throughout the subsequent few months.
AMD has introduced two graphics playing cards to spearhead its new technology: the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070. AMD is utilizing this technology of GPUs to rebrand a little bit bit, signalling that these GPUs are of the identical technology because the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. It’s additionally to attract nearer comparisons with Nvidia, with the RX 9070 meant to compete with equally branded “mid-range” Nvidia playing cards, just like the RTX 4070.
The RX 9070 XT is powered by the Zen 4 structure, with all-new AI accelerators that allow AI upscaling in an AMD graphics card for the primary time via FSR 4, or FidelityFX Super Resolution (extra on that under). However, as a result of AMD hasn’t revealed the specs of those playing cards, I do not understand how a lot of an enchancment RDNA 4 will provide over AMD GPUs just like the Radeon RX 7900 XT.
AMD hasn’t revealed a precise launch date for the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, however has teased that it is coming someday in Q1 2025. Likewise, Team Red hasn’t revealed the value, although with it going up towards an Nvidia xx70 GPU, I’d anticipate these graphics playing cards to price anyplace from $499-$599 each time they arrive out.
Welcome to the Next Generation
Along with the brand new graphics playing cards, AMD has additionally introduced FSR 4. Just just like the PSSR, or Playstation Spectral Super Resolution, that Sony labored on with AMD to create for the PS5 Pro, this new upscaling technique will probably be primarily based on a machine studying algorithm. However, not like PSSR, which runs its AI algorithm straight on the shading cores, FSR 4 will probably be using specialised AI accelerators in RDNA 4, much like how DLSS is dealt with on Nvidia graphics playing cards.
This ought to considerably enhance on each picture high quality and efficiency, because of Team Red lastly using the AI accelerators baked into every Compute Unit. AMD has additionally mentioned that it has fully rebuilt its AI accelerators for this technology of playing cards, which explains why it has waited so lengthy to implement an AI upscaler that may compete with the likes of XeSS and DLSS.
More importantly, this new upscaler lastly marks a degree the place each GPU producer has an AI upscaling resolution. As lengthy as builders proceed so as to add all three upscalers to their video games, which is turning into extra widespread, this new technology of graphics playing cards would possibly mark an finish to Nvidia’s full domination of any sport with ray tracing enabled.
However, with AMD solely saying the RX 9070 and drawing comparisons to the GeForce RTX 4070, Team Red would not appear to be punching for the top-end of the GPU market. Nvidia hasn’t confirmed its next-generation hand but, however assuming that the GeForce RTX 5090 – or no matter it is known as – is considerably quicker, AMD may simply be leaving the tremendous excessive finish of the marketplace for Nvidia, which is an strategy that labored out effectively for Team Red within the RX 580 days.
With the Intel Arc B580 aiming for the funds market and these new AMD playing cards aiming in direction of mid-range customers, it is refreshing to see two of the GPU makers competing in a variety that folks can really afford, slightly than launching extraordinarily highly effective (and costly) playing cards into the stratosphere for the few that may comfortably drop a pair grand on a brand new GPU.
Intel’s new card ended up being a pleasant shock once I reviewed it again in December 2024. I will not understand how these playing cards really carry out till I can get them within the lab for testing, however I’m really hopeful that they will present a very good worth for PC avid gamers. It’s been some time.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC elements queen. You can observe her @Jackiecobra
