The large image: AMD has trailed Nvidia in ray tracing efficiency throughout a number of GPU generations for a number of years. Nevertheless, a dependable leaker now means that Crew Crimson is poised to reassess its technique relating to this expertise. This data contradicts earlier rumors indicating that the upcoming Radeon lineup wouldn’t see vital 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 comment 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 expertise.
When questioned additional, Kepler elaborated that whereas the RX 7000 GPUs deal with ray tracing equally to the RX 6000 sequence, the RDNA 4’s RT expertise 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 impression 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 to be like utterly totally different.
– Kepler (@Kepler_L2) April 30, 2024
Prior experiences introduced a markedly totally different outlook. Earlier this yr, sources knowledgeable YouTuber RedGamingTech that RDNA 4 would solely see a 25 % enchancment in ray tracing efficiency over RDNA 3. This determine would possible place AMD’s upcoming playing cards unfavorably in opposition to Nvidia’s forthcoming Blackwell sequence 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 facet the place sources concur is AMD’s choice to abstain from the present heavyweight GPU competitors, as a substitute concentrating on extra inexpensive mid-range choices. Kepler reiterated earlier experiences indicating that no RDNA 4 card will rival the highest two Blackwell GPUs – possible named the RTX 5090 and 5080.
Latest data-mined code means 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 sequence will mark Intel’s inaugural entry into the enthusiast-class discrete graphics chip market.
One other intriguing improvement 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 instances 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 expertise at play or if the mid-generation refresh will incorporate AMD’s newest improvements.
