AMD’s Radeon RX 7000 sequence graphics playing cards are primarily based on the RDNA 3 structure, and for those who sustain with {hardware} information, you have most likely heard of RDNA 3.5. That revision to the RDNA 3 design will not be coming to discrete GPUs, although; it is strictly for built-in graphics. Instead, AMD’s subsequent Radeons can be primarily based on RDNA 4. Little is thought concerning the next-gen GPU structure from AMD, however we might have simply gotten our first clues.
In an replace to LLVM, AMD worker Jay Foad added help for “new GFX12 targets gfx1200 and gfx1201.” GFX12 refers back to the subsequent RDNA revision, that being RDNA 4, whereas gfx1200 and gfx1201 seek advice from particular person GPU fashions utilizing that structure. We do not know something about what these GPUs are literally like, and this patch observe does not reveal any of that data. That’s to not say that there is nothing to be gleaned right here, although.
As you’ll be able to see from this small sampling of “gfx” numbers, AMD’s authentic RDNA GPU, the Radeon RX 5700 XT, was primarily based the Navi 10 GPU, which was assigned the “gfx1010” moniker. Despite being a major evolution of that design, RDNA 2 solely necessitated a bump from 1010 to 1030; the final digit sometimes signifies one thing just like the meant market section. RDNA 3 moved the counter as much as 1100, implying a way more vital architectural change.
If AMD’s next-generation Radeon GPUs are leaping all the way in which as much as “gfx1200”, that might imply that the corporate’s subsequent graphics processors can be one other appreciable change from RDNA 3. That’s most likely a superb factor, as whereas RDNA 3 GPUs are utterly competent, they did not actually impress us by way of energy effectivity in comparison with RDNA 2. Similarly, the ray-tracing efficiency, whereas improved, nonetheless lags behind competitor NVIDIA. As a outcome, RDNA 3 GPUs can fall behind GeForce playing cards which are in any other case slower while you allow ray-traced results.
We’ve already heard from earlier leaks that AMD’s RDNA 4 lineup will not be going to incorporate any high-end graphics playing cards. The purpose for this, in accordance with serial leaker RedGamingTech, is that AMD was planning a fancy multi-chip design for RDNA 4’s high-end GPUs which has since been canceled because of difficulties in getting it working. Supposedly, all the RDNA 4 GPUs that may see launch can be primarily based on lower-end monolithic designs, and it is potential that they’re going to be launched alongside a refresh of Navi 31.
Of course, none of those elements are anticipated to see launch till the latter a part of subsequent 12 months on the earliest. With that in thoughts, take any present leaks with a bushel of salt as a result of there’s nonetheless loads of time for AMD’s plans to vary. Hopefully RDNA 4 can shore up AMD’s energy effectivity and provide some compelling mid-range GPUs, as a result of the mid-range GPU market proper now’s type of a catastrophe space.
