AMD is set to make waves once again as it gears up to launch the highly anticipated Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU at the CES 2025 event. This launch marks the introduction of AMD's new RDNA 4 architecture and signals the company’s intentions to reclaim ground within the competitive graphics card market dominated by NVIDIA.
Recent leaks surrounding the RX 9070 XT hint at impressive performance benchmarks, with reports indicating the card achieved a score of 22,894 points on the Time Spy graphics benchmarking test. According to leaker @All_The_Watts, this score places the RX 9070 XT on par with AMD’s RX 7900 GRE but shows it lagging behind the RX 7900 XT significantly. Given the previous rumors, enthusiasts had hoped for the RX 9070 XT to potentially rival NVIDIA's RTX 4080. Instead, this latest benchmark suggests it may not even match the performance of the RX 7900 XT, which showcases nearly 17% higher performance, prompting many to question the overall positioning of this new GPU.
One of the most notable changes with the Radeon RX 9070 XT is its new naming scheme, which skips the expected RX 8000 series altogether. AMD appears to be strategically distancing its new release from past generations and aligning its product lines for clearer market differentiation. Rumors suggest this change is intended to simplify branding, especially as AMD eyes functionality overlapping with integrated graphics offerings. Hoang Anh Phu, a known leaker, noted this switch, indicating it reflects AMD’s aim to refine its positioning and take aim at NVIDIA's stronghold within certain price brackets.
Despite the doubts about its competitive performance, the RX 9070 XT is expected to launch with significant technological upgrades. Among these is the anticipated FSR 4 technology, which AMD has suggested will be “fully AI-based.” This new form of FidelityFX Super Resolution is being viewed as AMD's answer to NVIDIA's DLSS technology, which has gained praise for its efficiency and cache of superior performance gains through AI inference. Such advancements could become necessary selling points as consumers navigate their choices between AMD and NVIDIA offerings.
Pricing for the RX 9070 XT is projected to be around $649, which places it firmly against NVIDIA’s equivalent offerings, including the RTX 4070 Ti, which is already winning over users with its performance and ray tracing capabilities. The RX 9070’s exact specifications, such as VRAM, are still somewhat hazy, but reports suggest it may boast 16GB paired with a 256-bit memory bus, making it competitive within the mid-range sector. Comparisons are already being drawn between AMD's anticipated releases and existing market leaders, with gamers eager to see where the dust settles post-launch at CES 2025.
All eyes will be on AMD as they prepare to announce this new flagship GPU, alongside Ryzen CPUs rumored to debut at the same event. With the graphics card space heating up, fans are filled with anticipation, especially with NVIDIA also expected to introduce the RTX 5000 series during the same period.
AMD’s success with the RX 9070 XT could hinge significantly on its gaming performance. If it lives up to expectations, it may serve as the catalyst for AMD's revival within the higher-end and premium gaming segments, which have often ebbed away toward NVIDIA’s products. The added dimension of advanced AI capabilities through FSR 4 could provide AMD with more tools to entice tech-savvy consumers and dedicated gamers alike.
For now, the developments surrounding the RX 9070 XT offer tantalizing hints of what’s to come, and as CES 2025 draws near, excitement builds for both AMD and its dedicated fanbase. The stakes are higher than ever, and consumers are eager to see if AMD’s innovations will live up to the hype amid fierce competition.