AMD has recently decided to delay the launch of the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT until March, sparking a lot of discussion about why this change happened. Some sources suggest that Team Red is taking extra time to refine the software for the RDNA 4 GPUs. Others believe that the delay is influenced by the upcoming RTX 50 series cards, particularly the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070, which may be putting pressure on AMD.
Retailers Have Stock
As the situation unfolds, it appears that retailers already have RX 9000 series cards in stock but are unable to sell them just yet. A Bulgarian retailer named Gplay released a video claiming that they possess these GPUs that were initially set to launch in January, now postponed to March. This supports earlier reports regarding the cards’ availability.
Pricing Speculations
Additionally, Gplay’s video hints that AMD may have initially intended to set higher prices for the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 than what recent leaks suggest. Currently, rumors have the RX 9070 XT priced between $479 and $550. If Gplay’s claims hold true, the pricing might have been aimed at positioning the RX 9070 XT similarly to the RX 7900 XT and pricing the RX 9070 significantly above the RX 7800 XT. VideoCardz reports that the RX 9070 XT might have been priced around $899, with the RX 9070 potentially around $749. For context, the RX 7900 XT and RX 7800 XT launched at $899 and $499, respectively, although you can find these GPUs listed for lower prices on Amazon now.
AMD’s Response
If AMD had indeed priced the new cards along the lines of Gplay’s statement, it would have created a difficult situation for the RDNA 4 GPUs, especially since Nvidia has set the prices for the RTX 5070 at $549 and the RTX 5070 Ti at $749, which are lower than many anticipated. Despite Gplay’s compelling claims, Frank Azor has refuted any thoughts that AMD ever considered such high pricing for the RX 9070 XT. He responded to VideoCardz’s post on X by stating that a starting price of $899 was never part of their strategy.
Given that AMD seemingly did not plan to charge $899 for the RX 9070 XT, it’s plausible to think that the delay in the RDNA 4 release stems from a desire to launch with well-developed drivers and to strike the right balance between price and performance. Regardless of the final reasons, it is crucial for the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT to make a significant impact for AMD in this new generation of GPUs.
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