The massive image: AMD has trailed Nvidia in ray tracing efficiency throughout a number of GPU generations for a number of years. Nonetheless, a dependable leaker now means that Crew Pink is poised to reassess its technique relating to this know-how. This data contradicts earlier rumors indicating that the upcoming Radeon lineup wouldn’t see important enhancements in ray tracing capabilities.
Famend leaker Kepler_L2 lately remarked that AMD’s upcoming RDNA 4 graphics playing cards will function a “model new” ray tracing implementation. Whereas this remark does not explicitly state whether or not the forthcoming merchandise, possible named Radeon RX 8000, will considerably improve ray tracing efficiency in comparison with their predecessors, it does recommend a renewed emphasis on the know-how.
When questioned additional, Kepler elaborated that whereas the RX 7000 GPUs deal with ray tracing equally to the RX 6000 collection, the RDNA 4’s RT know-how seems to be “utterly totally different.”
Ray tracing has been an space the place current AMD merchandise have notably lagged behind Nvidia’s choices. As an example, our benchmarks reveal that AMD’s present flagship, the RX 7900 XTX, experiences a considerably better efficiency influence from ray tracing in comparison with Nvidia’s equally priced GeForce RTX 4080.
RDNA3 RT was primarily based on RDNA2 with some enhancements. RDNA4 RT appears utterly totally different.
– Kepler (@Kepler_L2) April 30, 2024
Prior studies introduced a markedly totally different outlook. Earlier this yr, sources knowledgeable YouTuber RedGamingTech that RDNA 4 would solely see a 25 p.c enchancment in ray tracing efficiency over RDNA 3. This determine would possible place AMD’s upcoming playing cards unfavorably towards Nvidia’s forthcoming Blackwell collection and Intel’s Arc Battlemage GPUs when it comes to ray tracing capabilities. All three GPU generations are anticipated to debut later this yr.
One side the place sources concur is AMD’s resolution to abstain from the present heavyweight GPU competitors, as an alternative concentrating on extra inexpensive mid-range choices. Kepler reiterated earlier studies indicating that no RDNA 4 card will rival the highest two Blackwell GPUs – possible named the RTX 5090 and 5080.
Latest data-mined code suggests that AMD scrapped a card that doubtlessly may have doubled the efficiency of the 7900 XTX, boasting as much as twice as many chiplets and compute items. In the meantime, the Battlemage collection will mark Intel’s inaugural entry into the enthusiast-class discrete graphics chip market.
One other intriguing growth relating to AMD’s future ray tracing efficiency revolves across the anticipated specs of Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 5 Professional console.
Rumors recommend that, regardless of being primarily based on RDNA 2 structure, it may deal with ray tracing operations as much as 4 occasions sooner than the bottom PS5. This projection may doubtlessly surpass the ray tracing capabilities of any present AMD product, together with RDNA 3 GPUs that exceed the console’s worth vary. It stays to be seen whether or not Sony has proprietary know-how at play or if the mid-generation refresh will incorporate AMD’s newest improvements.
