Key Takeaways
1. AMD has canceled the RDNA 4 GPU to focus resources on the RDNA 5 architecture, which is expected to show promising performance.
2. The upcoming RDNA 5/UDNA architecture, known as “GFX13,” will support HDMI 2.2 with potential bandwidths of 64 Gbps and 80 Gbps.
3. HDMI 2.2, unveiled at CES 2025, doubles the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1b and supports higher resolutions and refresh rates, but requires new “Ultra96” HDMI cables.
4. AMD’s decision to implement HDMI 2.2 at lower bandwidths may be a cost-saving strategy, although the exact reasons are unclear.
5. The RDNA 5 architecture is expected to launch in late 2026 or early 2027, with potential integration into the PS6.
We have been receiving various reports about AMD’s upcoming RDNA 5 or UDNA technology since the year 2023. In August of that same year, we mentioned that AMD decided to cancel its top-tier RDNA 4 GPU in order to allocate resources for the RDNA 5 architecture, which was expected to deliver “promising early performance metrics.” Although AMD did not release a flagship RDNA 4 GPU, it’s unclear if this decision has positively influenced the progress of RDNA 5.
New Hardware Insights
Recently, we are beginning to obtain some hardware details about the RDNA 5/UDNA architecture. Kepler_L2 has released information regarding the potential HDMI setup for AMD’s upcoming GPUs.
Kepler_L2 claims that the next-gen RDNA5/UDNA, known internally as “GFX13,” will have support for 64 Gbps and 80 Gbps HDMI 2.2. However, this does not represent the complete bandwidth capabilities of HDMI 2.2.
HDMI 2.2 Overview
Unveiled at CES 2025, HDMI 2.2 doubles the bandwidth compared to HDMI 2.1b’s 48 Gbps and brings support for 4K@480 Hz, 8K@240 Hz, and 10K@120 Hz. This is a major improvement over HDMI 2.1b, which maxes out at 4K@120 Hz and 8K@120 Hz. Nonetheless, to fully utilize the enhanced bandwidth, users will need to purchase the new “Ultra96” HDMI cables.
According to reports, AMD is only implementing HDMI 2.2 at 80/64 Gbps for its next-generation Radeon GPUs. The exact reason behind this choice remains unclear, but it may be a strategy to save costs.
Future Expectations
AMD’s upcoming GPU architecture is being touted as a “Zen moment” for its graphics division. The architecture is anticipated to make its debut on desktop systems sometime in late 2026 or early 2027. There are also hints that an RDNA 5/UDNA-based Radeon iGPU could be featured in the PS6 around the same period.
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