AMD’s upcoming Navi 48 GPU, built upon the new RDNA 4 architecture, is generating buzz with its potential to deliver RTX 4080-level gaming performance. Leaks suggest that the Navi 48 will trade blows with the RTX 4080 in rasterization performance, while its ray tracing capabilities could even surpass the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, potentially reaching close to the RTX 4080 in certain AMD-optimized games.
The leaker, Moore’s Law is Dead, notes that the Navi 48 will be available in high volumes by Q4 2024, targeting system integrators. While the GPU, potentially named Radeon RX 8800 XT, will feature a reference cooler, it will not be sold directly through AMD’s website.
Interestingly, RDNA 4 seems to be at the heart of Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro. The console, featuring a custom AMD SoC fabricated by TSMC, is reportedly up to 45% faster in rasterization and 2-3x faster in ray tracing compared to the standard PS5. This hints at significant optimizations within RDNA 4, which will be utilized in the new Radeon RX 8000 series GPUs set to launch later this year and into 2025.
AMD’s strategy with RDNA 4 is clear: targeting the sub-$600 market, aiming to dominate the space below the GeForce RTX 4080. This is a smart move, considering the majority of customers lie in this price range, seeking high performance without breaking the bank. While AMD is not aiming to compete directly with Nvidia’s next-gen Blackwell architecture and the RTX 50 series, RDNA 4 is expected to shine with its optimizations, performance-per-watt efficiency, and potentially competitive pricing, making it a compelling offering for gamers.
