Key Takeaways
1. AMD is reportedly developing a premium RX 9080 XT model and plans to update its RDNA 4 graphics card lineup in 2025.
2. New Radeon GPUs targeted at professionals may feature up to 48 GB of VRAM and are expected to launch soon.
3. Stronger variants of RDNA 4 graphics cards are anticipated later this year, potentially including the RX 9080 XT.
4. AMD aims to enhance its presence in the high-end GPU market, especially as Nvidia shifts focus to AI and reduces RTX 50 stock.
5. AMD’s improved GPU drivers and technologies like FSR 4 may give it an advantage over Nvidia’s offerings in the upcoming high-end GPU segment.
We shared recently that AMD appears to be working on a premium RX 9080 XT model. Moore’s Law Is Dead has also mentioned a possible launch schedule for revamped high-end RDNA 4 graphics cards, based on info from various AIB and industry insiders.
Possible Refresh Timeline
According to MLID, an AIB source indicated that AMD may be updating its lineup sometime in 2025. There’s also speculation that Team Red could introduce new Radeon GPUs aimed at professionals, featuring up to 48 GB of VRAM.
Stronger Variants Coming
Another AIB contact reported from “AMD representatives” that there will be “strong variants” of RDNA 4 launched later this year. Although the specifics of these “stronger” RDNA 4 models remain unclear, it is reasonable to think that the RX 9080 XT could be among them.
So what are the implications of all this?
AMD’s Market Positioning
To begin with, AMD might be preparing to fill the gap in the high-end/flagship segment of the RDNA 4 GPU range. With an RTX 5080 Super challenger on the horizon, AMD could significantly enhance its presence in the gaming sector, especially since Nvidia is reportedly reducing its RTX 50 gaming stock to shift focus to the AI market. Thus, while gamers might struggle to find high-end RTX 50 models, the new RX 9080 XT could serve as a solid alternative.
When the announcement surfaced in 2024 that AMD wouldn’t introduce high-end flagship GPUs to rival the RTX 5080/5090, fans were left speculating about the reasons behind this. Some believed AMD was unable to get the rumored Multi-Chip Module (MCM) RDNA 4 flagship functioning. Others thought it didn’t make financial sense to enter a market where Nvidia had reigned supreme for several generations.
Nonetheless, there was an alternative perspective: AMD may have believed that the software ecosystem wasn’t fully developed enough to unleash the full capabilities of the high-end RDNA 4 GPUs.
Considering this mix of reasons, it appears to be an opportune moment for AMD to roll out a high-end/flagship RX 9000 GPU. AMD currently has robust GPU drivers for RDNA 4, which arguably outperform Nvidia’s efforts with the RTX 50 series, along with impressive FSR 4 technology and promising developments like FSR Redstone on the horizon.
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