AMD Refutes Leaked Performance Claims on RDNA 4 and Hints at Impressive Gaming Gains

In the midst of CES 2025, AMD is setting the record straight. The tech world has been buzzing with rumors about the performance of AMD's next-gen RDNA 4 architecture, particularly regarding the RX Radeon 9070 series graphics cards. Leaks have been circulating that suggested groundbreaking performance improvements, but AMD has been quick to debunk these claims, reminding everyone that the final driver for these GPUs has yet to be released. Let’s break down what we know and what AMD has revealed at CES.

CES 2025: AMD's RDNA 4 Architecture Preview

At CES 2025, AMD unveiled its RDNA 4 architecture, confirming that it will be based on TSMC’s 4nm process, bringing significant changes to GPU performance. Among the improvements are second-generation AI accelerators, third-generation ray tracing (RT) accelerators, and new, optimized compute units that promise a substantial boost in raw computational power. These advancements suggest that AMD is looking to elevate gaming and productivity performance in ways previously unseen in their GPUs.

AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 GPUs, built on RDNA 4, have garnered attention for promising enhanced AI compute and better media encoding quality via the new AMD Radiance Display Engine​. These GPUs are not just aimed at gamers; they also target professional use cases, where AI and productivity apps are becoming increasingly important.

AMD's Take on Leaked Performance Numbers

Despite these exciting features, performance leaks about the RDNA 4 GPUs have caused confusion. A series of unofficial benchmarks suggested that the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 could outperform NVIDIA's current offerings by a significant margin. However, AMD has responded by cautioning against relying on these early performance estimates, emphasizing that these were based on non-final drivers, and that no one has access to the final versions yet, not even the board partners​..

This response highlights AMD’s cautious stance as they continue to refine their products. The company’s message is clear: performance claims circulating on the internet may be premature, and it’s crucial to wait until the drivers are finalized before drawing conclusions.

What to Expect from the Radeon RX 9070 Series

So, what can we expect when the Radeon RX 9070 series finally launches? AMD’s specifications suggest a hefty boost in gaming performance, especially with the improved ray-tracing capabilities. The RX 9070 XT is rumored to come with a Navi 48 GPU, featuring boost clock speeds up to 3 GHz, 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit memory bus, and a power rating of around 260W. The standard RX 9070 will have similar specs but with a lower clock speed and 12 GB of VRAM​.

At CES, AMD showcased working prototypes of the RX 9070 cards, and while no final benchmarks were revealed, the anticipation is high. AMD's promise of enhanced gaming performance, particularly in titles with demanding ray tracing effects, could be a game-changer. The cards will likely be available through major add-in board (AIB) partners like ASUS, ASRock, and XFX, who will offer custom cooling solutions and clock configurations.

Why AMD’s RDNA 4 is a Big Deal

While the RDNA 4 architecture will likely drive up gaming performance, it’s also a big deal because it shows AMD’s growing interest in AI and professional workloads. The second-gen AI accelerators and enhanced media encoding capabilities suggest that AMD is positioning its GPUs as multi-purpose devices, not just gaming workhorses​.

This shift could signal a broader strategy for AMD to compete in markets outside of gaming. If these GPUs prove to be capable in AI and productivity tasks, they could challenge NVIDIA’s dominance in both gaming and professional industries.

Gaming Performance and Pricing

The question on every gamer’s mind is: will AMD’s RDNA 4 GPUs live up to their hype? While we can’t make any firm conclusions without official benchmarks, the signs are positive. The improved ray-tracing capabilities and AI compute features should push AMD’s cards into the competitive space with NVIDIA’s RTX 50-series GPUs. The final performance numbers, however, are still a mystery until the drivers are fully optimized​.

Moreover, pricing will be a crucial factor. AMD will need to strike a balance between competitive pricing and high performance to make a real impact in the GPU market. While nothing official has been announced, the fact that AMD has chosen to release the RX 9070 series in Q1 2025 places them in direct competition with NVIDIA, whose RTX 50-series is expected to launch in the same period​.

The Road Ahead for RDNA 4 GPUs

In the coming months, we expect more details to emerge as AMD releases the final version of the RX 9070 series. Until then, gamers and tech enthusiasts will need to keep their expectations in check and wait for AMD to provide more clarity. Based on the preview at CES, it’s clear that the RDNA 4 architecture will offer significant improvements over previous generations, but the exact scale of those improvements will depend on driver optimizations and final hardware tweaks.

Conclusion

AMD’s RDNA 4 is shaping up to be an exciting leap forward in GPU technology, promising significant improvements in gaming and AI performance. The leaked performance numbers may have been premature, but with AMD’s track record, the final product could very well exceed expectations. For now, gamers and tech enthusiasts should keep an eye on AMD’s next announcements as the Radeon RX 9070 series inches closer to release.