The live reviews for the NVIDIA RTX 5080 have been posted, adding to the recent releases of the RTX 5090 reviews. Meanwhile, it appears that AMD’s decision to wait on their RDNA 4 GPU is becoming increasingly astute with each passing day.
In most reviews I’ve examined thus far, including our RTX 5080 review that I assisted with, there seems to be a general consensus. While it’s clear that the RTX 5080 outperforms its RTX 4080 predecessor, the improvement is smaller than anticipated at 1440p and 4K resolutions. Many games tested by different sources show only single-digit performance gains, which becomes less impressive when considering the 40W TGP increase in the newer GPU.
It’s quite unexpected that AMD’s previous-generation Radeon RX 7900 XTX performs so closely to the RTX 5080, as seen in TechSpot’s tests of 17 games across various graphics cards. The results from these tests don’t favor the RTX 5080 significantly. At a resolution of 1440p, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX managed an average of 139 frames per second (FPS), whereas the RTX 5080 boosted to 146 FPS. In 4K, the RX 7900 XTX narrows the gap even further with an average of 84 FPS compared to the 5080’s 91 FPS average.
From the performance of the RX 7900 XT, which is anticipated to be surpassed by the upcoming RX 90070 XT for competitive reasons against the 5070 Ti, the improvement isn’t significantly noticeable. In contrast to the RTX 5080, it achieved an average of 120 frames per second at 1440p (as opposed to 146 FPS) and 70 frames per second at 4K (versus 91 FPS).
If AMD manages to make slight enhancements with its upcoming generation of graphics processors (GPUs), then NVIDIA might face significant competition once RDNA 4 hits the market.
👉 Where to buy RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 on launch day
AMD’s last-minute decision to pull its RDNA 4 announcement
As a researcher, I’m excited to delve into the world of graphics processing units, particularly the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. This remarkable GPU belongs to the RDNA 3 generation, a lineage that, it appears, is being superseded by the upcoming RDNA 4 series. The announcement at CES 2025 seemed to encounter some challenges, leading many of us to eagerly anticipate the advancements the new generation will bring.
AMD distributed press kits containing preliminary details about RDNA 4 before their CES presentation. However, during the event’s conclusion, AMD failed to address the graphics cards, leaving many of us puzzled about the fate of these products.
The unreleased presentation’s slides showcased the upcoming RDNA 4 GPU architecture, detailing minor and vague hardware enhancements. Additionally, they disclosed FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4), which is now driven by machine learning instead of traditional spatial upscaling methods. This shift seems to be a reaction to NVIDIA’s innovative Deep Learning Super-Sampling (DLSS) technology.
In a video posted by Hardware Unboxed, FSR 4 performs significantly better on the RX 9070 XT than anticipated, surpassing FSR 3.1 in many aspects. The new technology’s emphasis on machine learning appears to have addressed most of the issues from previous-generation FSR, such as trouble with intricate yet high-quality details and background scenes.
Additionally, AMD unveiled its Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 GPUs to us, with designs from various hardware partners such as Acer, ASRock, ASUS, Gigabyte, PowerColor, Sapphire, XFX, and Yeston.
In the wake of the unexpected absence, I, as a researcher, have discovered that AMD has shed some light on several key aspects. David McAfee, the Vice President and General Manager of Ryzen and Radeon at AMD, stated in a recent post on X (previously Twitter) on January 20th, “We are devoting a bit more time to finesse our software stack for optimal performance and enable additional FSR 4 titles by meticulously optimizing them.
It turned out, as disclosed by McAfee a day afterward, that the release of the future RDNA 4 graphics cards is not anticipated until March 2025.
The Radeon 9000 series equipment and software are shaping up nicely, and we’re excited to announce a diverse range of these graphics cards will be available worldwide. Can’t wait for gamers to experience them when they hit the shelves in March! (January 20, 2025)
Initially, I was disappointed by the delay in launch, but it’s becoming increasingly apparent that AMD made the wise decision. The rumors about impending RTX 5000 stock scarcity were validated by NVIDIA (through VideoCardz), and scalpers are already listing RTX 5900 GPUs for over $7,000 on eBay. Moreover, mediocre performance enhancements have left many potential buyers uncertain about their purchase.
Given that retailers have been accumulating RDNA 4 GPUs for several weeks ahead of the estimated launch date, AMD appears to be well-equipped – at least theoretically speaking – for a successful rollout of their RDNA 4 lineup.
Where do AMD’s RDNA 4 cards fit into the market?
Based on the details AMD has disclosed about its RDNA 4 GPUs thus far, it appears that there might not be a direct follow-up to the high-performing Radeon RX 7900 XTX, which competes favorably with the RTX 5080. Yet, I don’t find any grounds for doubting that an even more potent option could emerge during the lifetime of RDNA 4 architecture.
I’ve noticed that AMD is revising its model branding for RDNA 4 to align more closely with their Ryzen 9000 CPUs and NVIDIA’s RTX 5000 GPUs. It seems the RX 9070 XT might be the next in line, following the 7900 XT (dropping the second ‘X’), as AMD’s counterpart to the RTX 5070 Ti. This implies that the RX 9070 will now be going head-to-head with the RTX 5070 in the market.
It appears that NVIDIA is not planning to release its lower-tier cards until February 2025, giving us a glimpse of their actual performance. This is approximately a month before AMD’s RDNA 4 hardware might be available, provided there are no further delays. This extra time could allow AMD to strategize its pricing, hopefully making it cheaper than NVIDIA’s $549 for the RTX 5070 and $749 for the RTX 5070 Ti.
NVIDIA’s secret weapon is DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
During the CES 2025 presentation, I, as a researcher, noted an intriguing assertion by NVIDIA: the RTX 5070 is said to be on par with the RTX 4090 in terms of gaming performance. While this statement is technically accurate, it’s important to consider the context behind this claim. The performance boost is largely attributed to DLSS 4’s innovative Multi Frame Generation (MFG) technique, a feature currently exclusive to the new RTX 5000 GPUs. It’s worth mentioning that NVIDIA hasn’t definitively ruled out the possibility of DLSS 4 MFG being ported over to RTX 4000 GPUs at some point in the future.
Manufacturers are increasingly relying on NVIDIA’s AI Tensor cores to generate numerous frames, rather than requiring GPUs to individually render each frame. By using this approach, AI can produce multiple frames from a single one, thereby significantly increasing frame rates and reducing the demand for VRAM.
In our review of the NVIDIA RTX 5090, our Senior Editor Ben Wilson assessed Cyberpunk 2077 with and without MFG (Mecha Graphics Framework). The GPU performed at an average of 64 FPS without MFG, significantly improving to a notable 228 FPS when enabled. This difference is noteworthy. As for AMD’s Future Frame Rate (FSR), we’re curious about what they have planned, but it seems challenging for them to outperform NVIDIA in the field of AI upscaling.
AMD’s RDNA 4 timing looks better every day
After NVIDIA’s CES showcase, I was convinced that I would purchase an RTX 5070 for my personal gaming setup. However, as additional details emerged about DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Gen, my decision shifted. While the number of frames might be sufficient, at this moment, I prefer a GPU that signifies a more substantial upgrade in raw power compared to what the RTX 5080 provides.
It’s yet uncertain what NVIDIA has prepared for its RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti. These cards could potentially deliver a significant enhancement in raw performance, leaving AMD with little room to compete in the GPU market as many enthusiasts rush to acquire Blackwell hardware.
If AMD’s forthcoming RDNA 4 GPUs are able to rival or surpass the raw performance of the NVIDIA RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti, there’s no doubt that numerous gamers, including myself, who prioritize authentic frames over artificial ones, will be eager to experiment with AMD – particularly if it means some financial savings.
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2025-01-29 20:10