AMD finally took the wraps off their RDNA 4 GPUs in a big reveal on February 28th, packed with impressive performance numbers and a range of pricing details.
I’ll admit, I had my doubts that AMD might fumble the RDNA 4 unveiling. Whether it was about overpricing, underwhelming performance, or negligible FSR 4 enhancements, I was worried.
Yet, for me, the highlight of AMD’s announcement has to be the RX 9070 XT, which offers performance on par with the RTX 5070 Ti, only falling short by 2% at 4K ultra settings. That’s pure performance we’re talking about—before even considering the FSR 4 or DLSS 4 upscaling magic.
So, did AMD make a misstep with their pricing strategy? Absolutely not. They’ve nailed it.
The RX 9070 XT comes in with an MSRP of $599, undercutting the RTX 5070 Ti by a generous $150. Plus, given that the RTX 5070 Ti is nearing $1,000 in the wild market—without even getting into scalper territory—AMD has a golden chance to scoop up a bigger slice of the GPU pie.
AMD plans to drop their RDNA 4 GPUs, including both the RX 9070 XT and its sibling, the $549 RX 9070, on March 6 with a promise of “wide availability.”
If they can deliver on that promise, I plan to be among the first in line to grab what AMD touts as “the world’s best graphics card under $600.” Here’s why.
### Shaking Up the Mid-Range Market with RDNA 4
A lot of us, me included, are just looking for a GPU that comfortably handles modern games without burning a hole in our wallets.
NVIDIA’s recent RTX 5000 “Blackwell” series caused quite a stir, practically bulldozing the mid-range scene despite being tagged at mid-range prices. Between stock issues, skyrocketing third-party prices, and scalper antics, the RTX 5070 Ti’s price is nudging $1,000, which is far beyond most gamers’ reach.
There are murmurs about the $599 RTX 5070 launching on March 6 after delays. Will stock be sufficient? That’s anyone’s guess.
But the rumor mill has been buzzing with talk of RDNA 4 shipments getting to retailers as early as December 2024. Combine these whispers with AMD’s bold claim of “wide availability” during their RDNA 4 briefing, and things are looking promising.
Having two next-gen options in the mid-range category can only be good news for PC gamers, giving NVIDIA the competition it urgently needs.
The RX 9070 XT keeps neck and neck with NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti in terms of sheer performance, while costing $150 less. According to AMD, this reflects a 23% gain in performance-per-dollar.
If your gaming rig is crying out for a mid-range GPU, the RX 9070 XT could well be your new best friend.
### Bridging the Ray Tracing Gap
While NVIDIA still leads the pack when it comes to ray tracing, AMD is certainly closing the distance.
I’m personally not obsessed with having ray tracing enabled across the board, and I’m definitely not alone in that sentiment.
I just want a card that handles ray tracing when it’s unavoidable, and the RX 9070 XT seems to deliver exactly that.
Though AMD hasn’t quite caught up to NVIDIA’s ray tracing prowess, they’ve evidently been hard at work between their RDNA 3 and RDNA 4 developments.
Their presentation painted a vastly improved picture, showcasing the RX 9070 XT’s performance at 4K with ray tracing, surpassing most expectations despite trailing behind NVIDIA in only two games, Spider-Man 2 and Far Cry 6.
Compared to last-gen’s RX 7900 GRE, the RX 9070 XT boasts up to a 66% boost in 4K ray tracing performance. drop it to 1440p, my preferred gaming resolution, and you see an even more impressive 68% improvement.
I’m eagerly awaiting hands-on reviews of the RDNA 4 ray tracing performance but don’t expect major discrepancies to ruin my plans to buy.
### The Evolution of FSR 4
AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is stepping up its game, aiming to rival NVIDIA’s DLSS.
FSR 4 marks a major leap as AMD incorporates machine learning—a leap forward from the spatial algorithms of previous FSR versions—aligning closer with NVIDIA’s AI-driven DLSS tech.
With RDNA 4’s advancements complementing FSR 4, the changes are exactly what I’ve been waiting for.
With FSR 4 switched on in the RX 9070 XT, AMD predicts a performance increase as high as 4.4 times at 4K.
As seen in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, frame rates soar from 43 FPS to 191 FPS with FSR 4, and Spider-Man 2 isn’t far behind, climbing from 48 FPS to 192 FPS at 4K.
Monster Hunter Wilds also enjoys substantial gains, jumping from 42 FPS to 147 FPS at 4K, all thanks to FSR 4.
Reports confirm FSR 4 doesn’t just crank up frame rates. It smooths out the detail issues that FSR 3.1 faced, especially at high resolutions.
Count me in for quality frames by the bucketload, even if DLSS 4 retains its edge in upscaling prowess.
### Game On, NVIDIA
AMD’s RX 9070 XT debut couldn’t be timelier, even if it was two months late.
In that period, I went from having high hopes for the RTX 5070 to fully backing AMD for my next PC enhancement. Upgrading from an RX 6800 to an RX 9070 XT will be transformative, especially paired with my Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU.
NVIDIA, meanwhile, is busy shooting itself in the foot. Since the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 surfaced on January 30, the reasons to avoid the RTX 5000 lineup keep piling up.
Be it melting RTX 5090 power cables, missing ROPs in the entire RTX 5000 series, sky-high prices, or scarce availability, NVIDIA has tarnished its standing among many in the gaming community.
Even though NVIDIA still offers some of the most powerful GPUs around, AMD’s reemergence with RDNA 4 is a big win for anyone eyeing a sub-$600 purchase.
Are you considering the RX 9070 XT? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
