The world of graphics processing is evolving rapidly, and AMD is making significant strides with its Radeon RX 9000 RDNA 4 series graphics cards. Currently, this lineup includes four models: the ASUS Radeon RX 9070 Prime OC, ASUS Radeon RX 9070 TUF Gaming OC, ASUS Radeon RX 9070 XT Prime OC, and ASUS Radeon RX 9070 XT TUF Gaming OC. However, fresh developments suggest that AMD is poised to enrich its portfolio as ASUS prepares to launch additional Radeon RX 9060 XT cards, with the official announcement anticipated before the summer of 2025.
As reported by various sources, including H&Co, AMD's initiative seems to challenge NVIDIA's stronghold in the desktop GPU market, where AMD held merely 10% share as of 2024, but the RX 9070 series could enable the company to capture over 20% in the coming year. Much of this shift results from NVIDIA’s struggles, which have included disappointing performance from its RTX 50 series, among other issues.
According to the latest updates from ASUS, the upcoming Radeon RX 9060 XT series will comprise six models: ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 Go Dual, ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 Go Dual OC, ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 Go Prime, ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 Go Prime OC, ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 Go TUF Gaming, and ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 Go TUF Gaming OC. The inclusion of the "Dual" series marks the return of an entry-level option from ASUS, which had not been available in 2025 until now. This aligns with AMD’s broader strategy to compete effectively with NVIDIA by offering a diverse product range.
AMD's revival in the GPU sector demands further enhancements across several facets of its technology. Experts suggest that FSR 4 adoption, which is AMD's answer to NVIDIA's DLSS, lacks sufficient game title support, with only 21 compatible titles, compared to over 100 under NVIDIA's umbrella. This inadequate availability stifles potential sales and user interest.
The RX 9070 XT graphics card is commendable for its ray tracing capabilities, outperforming its competitor, the RX 7900 XTX, by nearly 15% on average. Notably, it achieves similar rays tracing performance to the RTX 4070 Ti Super. However, it lags significantly when subjected to demanding path tracing effects, revealing a performance gap of over 65% in certain use cases, such as games like Cyberpunk 2077.
Another area where AMD needs to strengthen its offerings relates to frame generation technology. Currently, FSR 3 frame generation features higher latency compared to NVIDIA’s offering, which is a crucial aspect for gamers who value smooth, responsive gameplay. Observations indicate that AMD's frame generation cannot yet compete effectively against NVIDIA's well-established and broadly supported technology.
Finally, AMD’s productivity performance, particularly in professional settings, is an area of concern. NVIDIA’s CUDA technology provides a significant edge, dominating the computational heavy tasks involving AI and rendering. AMD is attempting to bridge this gap with its forthcoming UDNA architecture, aiming to unify gaming and compute-focused capabilities.
AMD must also consider how best to enhance its Radeon Anti-Lag technology, an important feature to compete with NVIDIA Reflex, known for reducing input latency across numerous gaming titles. Currently, AMD’s solution offers limited support, focusing on only three games, a stark contrast to NVIDIA's widespread implementation.
In summary, while AMD is generating increased interest in its GPU offerings with recent developments, it must work diligently to address shortcomings in technology adoption rates, performance enhancements, and productivity capabilities. The RX 9070 series shows promise, but for AMD to maintain momentum and assert itself seriously against NVIDIA, these hurdles must be overcome before the company can genuinely claim a substantial market presence.
