Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Unveils Next-Generation RDNA 4 GPUs and FSR 4 Upscaling Technology at CES 2024
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, AMD provided a glimpse into the future of gaming graphics with the preview of its highly anticipated RDNA 4 architecture and the accompanying Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs. This new architecture marks a significant leap forward in graphics processing, promising enhanced performance, improved visual fidelity, and a deeper integration of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. While specific details regarding specifications, pricing, and release dates remain under wraps, AMD’s announcement has generated considerable excitement within the gaming community. The company confirmed that the Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070, the first GPUs based on the RDNA 4 architecture, will be available in the first quarter of 2024 from various video card manufacturers.
The cornerstone of RDNA 4 is its emphasis on AI integration. AMD has rebuilt the architecture from the ground up, incorporating "a significant boost in AI," promising a transformative impact on gaming experiences. Optimizations to the compute units, enhancements to the ray-tracing engine, and improvements in media encoding quality further contribute to the overall performance uplift. Built on a cutting-edge 4nm process, the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 will feature AMD’s second-generation AI accelerators, third-generation ray-tracing accelerators, and second-generation radiance display engine. These advancements pave the way for more realistic visuals, immersive gameplay, and improved efficiency.
A key feature enabled by the RDNA 4 architecture is FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4), AMD’s latest iteration of its upscaling and frame-generation technology. FSR 4 leverages machine learning and is specifically designed to harness the power of RDNA 4’s dedicated AI accelerator hardware. This integration enables FSR 4 to deliver enhanced image quality and performance improvements, pushing the boundaries of gaming visuals. Initially, FSR 4 will be exclusive to the Radeon RX 9070 series graphics cards and will be supported in games that already integrate FSR 3.1. Microsoft’s Matt Booty confirmed during AMD’s keynote that FSR 4 will be available in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 later in 2024.
While AMD has yet to disclose specific performance metrics for FSR 4 or the RX 9070 series GPUs, early indications suggest that the 9070 series aims to compete with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4070 Super. A comparison slide presented by AMD during the keynote hinted at a similar performance level between these competing GPUs. The exact performance differences and how FSR 4 compares to Nvidia’s DLSS technology remain to be seen, and further details are expected closer to launch.
Beyond gaming performance, AMD is also expanding the capabilities of its Adrenalin software with new AI-powered features. These additions include the ability to generate images using AI models, summarize local documents, and utilize an AMD chatbot for assistance with graphics settings and other inquiries. These features highlight AMD’s commitment to integrating AI across its software ecosystem, enhancing user experience and providing innovative functionalities.
The introduction of the Radeon RX 9000 series marks a significant step forward for AMD in the graphics card market. By combining a redesigned architecture with a focus on AI integration, AMD aims to deliver substantial performance gains and enhanced visual fidelity for gamers. While many details remain undisclosed, the preview at CES 2024 has generated significant anticipation for the upcoming release of the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 GPUs in Q1 2024. The company’s decision to reserve the 8000-series branding for RDNA 3.5 mobile GPUs explains the jump from the 7000 series directly to the 9000 series for these new desktop GPUs. AMD has promised to reveal more details about FSR 4 and its RDNA 4 GPUs leading up to their launch, leaving gamers eagerly awaiting further information.
