AMD Launches It’s RDNA3 GPUs: 3 Key New Features

AMD’s RDNA3 microarchitecture will power the next generation of Radeon RX GPUs and is Team Red’s answer to NVIDIA’s highly-publicized and somewhat controversial 4000-Series GPUs.

So, what’s new with the next generation Radeon RX 7900 XTX and 7900 XT? Let’s find out.

Radeon RX 7900 XTX and 7900 XT Specifications

During the AMD Presents: together we advance_gaming event, Dr. Lisa Su, the Chairperson and CEO of AMD, revealed the first RDNA3-powered GPUs—the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT and the 7900 XTX.

These two video cards are AMD’s answer to NVIDIA’s RTX 4090 and RTX 4080, so many are excited about what they will offer. But, before anything else, let’s check out their specifications.

These numbers are impressive, especially given that these cards require less power and space than their counterparts from Team Green. But moving beyond that, let’s look at the new technologies and capabilities the RDNA3 architecture will deliver to its users.

1. Chiplet Design

AMD’s biggest change to the RDNA 3 architecture is introducing a chiplet design. This makes the RX 7900 XTX and the RX 7900 XT the first GPUs with this form factor.

The chiplet design allows AMD to take a modular approach to GPU building, allowing AMD to optimize efficiency and performance in its GPU designs. By mixing and matching the right technology for each function, the company can ensure it delivers the perfect balance between processing power and power consumption.

For example, RDNA3 uses two different dies for its chipset. It has a 5nm Graphics Compute Die for its high-performance parts, like the shaders, display engine, and media engine, but simultaneously also uses a 6nm Memory Cache Die. The GPU uses this for systems that require less performance, like the GDDR6 controllers and Infinity Cache.

Because of this design, the RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT are substantially smaller than the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 while simultaneously requiring less power.

2. FPS Output

One of the ways gamers measure performance is by checking the number of frames per second (fps) while gaming. A high frame rate allows for smoother gameplay. However, this demands a lot from your GPU. For example, if you’re gaming on a 4K monitor at 144Hz, that means your computer is rendering a 4K image 144 times per second.

So, to prove the performance of the 7900 XTX, AMD showed off its FPS in popular games using different resolutions. At 1440p settings, the XTX hit the frame rate caps of Apex Legends and Overwatch 2 at 300 and 600 fps, respectively. Furthermore, Valorant displays a massive 833 fps, allowing absolutely buttery-smooth performance.

Now, if you want to play fast-paced games on your 4K monitor, you’re in for a treat. The 7900 XTX delivers high frame rates, even on AAA games, with maximum settings and FSR turned on. According to AMD, the 7900 XTX hits 275 fps with Hitman 3, 306 fps with COD: Modern Warfare 2, and 353 fps with F1 2022.

And if you put in eSports titles in the 4K mix, you’ll see that the top RDNA3-powered card can hit 295 fps, 355 fps, and 704 fps with Apex Legends, Overwatch 2, and Valorant. AMD even boasted that you could game with their top card at 8K resolution beyond 60 fps—but they also said that you shouldn’t do it.

Another thing that allows the 7900 XTX to hit these limits is its DisplayPort 2.1 compatibility. Unlike NVIDIA’s 4000-Series cards, which only use DisplayPort 1.4, the latest DisplayPort standard can pump out more than 240Hz at 4K resolution.

This allows players to take advantage of the massive power of the RDNA3-powered GPU and enjoy the capabilities of the best 4K gaming monitors.

3. Price and Availability

One of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is how AMD’s 7000-Series GPUs will compare to NVIDIA’s 4000-Series in terms of price. After all, NVIDIA’s 4090 and 4080 GPUs, launched in September 2022, will cost you an arm and a leg. They start at $1,599 and $1,199, respectively, which many say costs too much.

So, AMD undercut the 4090 by over a third—the top-end Radeon RX 7900 XTX has a launch price of $999, and you can get the Radeon RX 7900 XT for only $899. These prices make AMD’s offerings a tempting proposition, especially for those who want high-end performance without breaking the bank.

The Radeon RX 7900 XTX and 7900 XT are launching on December 13, 2022—a little over a month from its announcement date and right in time for the holidays. With this, those looking to upgrade their gaming rigs with their holiday bonuses will have more affordable options.

However, all the performance numbers we’ve discussed are theoretical values from AMD, so don’t go out and buy these GPUs as soon as they become available. Instead, wait for actual, real-world reviews from your trusted reviewers to see how the cards will perform. That way, you know what you’re getting into when you do buy the GPUs.

Will AMD Capture the GPU Crown From NVIDIA?

As of Q2 2022, NVIDIA owns 80% of the discrete GPU market share. However, many users are now complaining about the unreasonably high prices of the 4000-Series GPUs. The 4090s massive power consumption and colossal size are also points of contention.

With the release of the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT, gamers now have a far more affordable option that can deliver comparative or even superior performance that requires a fraction of the power.

Unless NVIDIA changes the increasing price, size, and power consumption trends on mid-range 4000-Series and even future GPU models, AMD’s Radeon RX 7000-Series GPUs are starting to look like the better option for most gamers.