The highly anticipated AMD RX 9000 series graphics cards, powered by the next-gen RDNA 4 architecture, are expected soon. However, a recent leak from the Chiphell forums suggests that AMD’s initial release plans may have shifted, potentially influenced by Nvidia’s upcoming RTX 50-series launch.
AMD offered minimal details about RDNA 4 during its CES 2025 keynote, leaving the release date shrouded in mystery. While some leaks previously pointed to a January 23 launch, a Chiphell forum post by user “Napoleon” indicates this might no longer be the case. The leak suggests AMD is strategically waiting for Nvidia to reveal its hand.
Given that two of AMD’s partners already showcased RX 9000 series GPUs at CES, it’s unlikely that any engineering hurdles are causing the delay.
RDNA4 delay
Waiting for NVIDIA to play their cards first
— HXL (@9550pro) January 13, 2025
One plausible explanation is that AMD is closely monitoring Nvidia’s RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 performance to strategically price its own offerings. Previous leaks indicated a potential price range of $480 to $550 for the RX 9070 XT, positioning it competitively against Nvidia’s higher-priced RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4080, which the RX 9070 XT is rumored to rival in performance.
GigabyteTechPowerUp / Gigabyte
Adding to the intrigue, B&H Photo Video briefly listed RX 9000 series GPUs with a January 23 preorder date, fueling speculation of a January 22 review embargo. However, these listings were subsequently removed. AMD has stated RDNA 4’s arrival will be within the first quarter of 2025, specifically before the end of March, but “not March 31,” according to AMD executive Frank Azor.
A January 23 release would have given AMD a head start over Nvidia, whose initial RTX 50-series GPUs (excluding the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070, expected in February) are slated for a January 30 launch. However, given the different performance and price segments the RX 9070 XT and Nvidia’s initial RTX 50-series offerings occupy, a preemptive launch might not be as crucial for AMD.
Ultimately, the official release date remains uncertain. We’ll have to await an official announcement from AMD to confirm the launch timing for the RX 9000 series.
