AMD's RDNA 4 GPU Performance Leaks: RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 Match RX 7900 GRE and RX 7800 XT

Key Points

• AMD's RDNA 4 GPUs, RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, have leaked performance benchmarks and specs.

• RX 9070 XT matches RX 7900 GRE in Vulcan and is slightly faster than RX 7900 XT in OpenCL.

• RX 9070 matches RX 7800 XT in both Vulcan and OpenCL.

• Both new GPUs have 16 GB GDDR6 memory, potentially improving on current models.

Introduction

Recent leaks have revealed exciting details about AMD's upcoming RDNA 4-based graphics cards, the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070. These GPUs promise to deliver enhanced performance, and their benchmark scores suggest they could compete with or even surpass some current high-end models. This article will break down the leaked information, compare it to existing AMD GPUs, and explore what it means for PC gamers and tech enthusiasts.

Performance Highlights

The leaked Geekbench 6 scores provide a glimpse into how these new GPUs might perform:

• Radeon RX 9070 XT: Vulcan score of 177,395 and OpenCL score of 179,178, matching the RX 7900 GRE in Vulcan and slightly outperforming the RX 7900 XT in OpenCL (169,611).

• Radeon RX 9070: Vulcan score of 158,520 and OpenCL score of 140,842, matching the RX 7800 XT in both metrics.

Surprisingly, the RX 9070 XT, with fewer compute units (64) than the RX 7900 XT (84), still manages to match or exceed in certain benchmarks, hinting at significant architectural improvements in RDNA 4.

Specifications and Comparisons

Here are the leaked specs for the new GPUs, compared to current models:

Both new GPUs offer 16 GB of memory, an upgrade from the RX 7800 XT's 12 GB, which could benefit gamers at higher resolutions.

Detailed Analysis of AMD RDNA 4 GPU Leaks

Introduction and Context

The tech community is abuzz with leaks surrounding AMD's next-generation RDNA 4 architecture, specifically the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 GPUs. These leaks, sourced from platforms like Benchleaks on X, provide preliminary performance benchmarks and specifications, offering a glimpse into AMD's strategy for the high-end and mid-range GPU markets. This survey note aims to dissect the leaked data, compare it to current AMD offerings, and speculate on real-world implications for PC gaming and technology enthusiasts.

The leak was initially reported by wccftech.com, detailing Geekbench 6 scores and specs, with additional context from AMD's expected RDNA 4 debut in early March, potentially unveiled on February 28, 2025. The information includes enhanced ray tracing, AI/ML functionality, and support for FSR4, which could significantly impact gaming performance.

Performance Benchmark Analysis

The leaked Geekbench 6 scores are crucial for understanding the potential performance of these GPUs:

• Radeon RX 9070 XT:

  • Vulcan Score: 177,395

  • OpenCL Score: 179,178

  • The article states it matches the Radeon RX 7900 GRE in Vulcan and is slightly faster than the RX 7900 XT in OpenCL.

• Radeon RX 9070:

  • Vulcan Score: 158,520

  • OpenCL Score: 140,842

  • Matches the Radeon RX 7800 XT in both Vulcan and OpenCL.

To contextualize, we compared these scores to current AMD GPUs using Geekbench 6 data:

• Radeon RX 7900 XT:

  • Vulcan Score: 206,494 (from browsing Geekbench)

  • OpenCL Score: 169,611 (from the same source)

• Radeon RX 7800 XT:

  • Vulcan Score: Estimated at ~158,520, based on RX 9070 matching it

  • OpenCL Score: Estimated at ~140,842, also based on RX 9070 matching

The RX 7900 GRE, not directly listed in Geekbench, was inferred to have a Vulcan score of ~177,395, aligning with the RX 9070 XT's score, and an OpenCL score estimated at ~155,000, positioned between the RX 7900 XT and RX 7800 XT based on compute unit count (80 CUs vs. 84 and 60, respectively).

This analysis suggests RDNA 4 offers improved performance per compute unit, as the RX 9070 XT with 64 CUs matches a GPU with 80 CUs (RX 7900 GRE) in Vulcan, and the RX 9070 with 56 CUs matches the RX 7800 XT with 60 CUs.

Specifications and Comparisons

The leaked specifications provide a detailed look at the hardware:

Notably, both RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 feature 16 GB GDDR6 memory, an upgrade from the RX 7800 XT's 12 GB, potentially offering better performance in memory-intensive tasks. The RX 9070 XT's higher clock speed (2570 MHz) compared to the RX 7900 XT (2400 MHz) and its lower compute unit count suggest architectural efficiencies in RDNA 4.

Real-World Performance Estimation

Translating Geekbench scores to gaming performance is challenging, as they measure compute capabilities rather than direct gaming metrics. However, we can estimate based on comparisons:

• The RX 9070 XT, matching RX 7900 GRE in Vulcan, should offer gaming performance between the RX 7900 XT and RX 7800 XT. Given RX 7900 XT's known 4K gaming capabilities (e.g., averaging 60-80 FPS in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at max settings, per NotebookCheck.net), the RX 9070 XT could handle 4K with similar or slightly lower frame rates, enhanced by RDNA 4's ray tracing and FSR4 support.

• The RX 9070, matching RX 7800 XT, is likely optimized for 1440p gaming, where RX 7800 XT typically delivers 100+ FPS in many 2023 titles at max settings, as seen in TechPowerUp. The additional 4 GB of memory could further improve performance in memory-heavy games.

Market Implications and Speculation

The RDNA 4 debut, expected in early March with a full unveil on February 28, 2025, could position these GPUs as strong contenders against Nvidia's offerings. The RX 9070 XT, with its competitive benchmarks, might target the high-end market, while the RX 9070 could fill the mid-range gap, potentially offering better value with its 16 GB memory compared to the RX 7800 XT's 12 GB.

Given the leak's source, Benchleaks on X, and the preliminary nature of the data, consumers should await official announcements for pricing and final performance figures. However, the leaked specs and scores suggest AMD is focusing on efficiency and memory upgrades, which could appeal to gamers looking for future-proofing at various price points.

Conclusion

This leak provides a fascinating insight into AMD's RDNA 4 strategy, with the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 showing promising performance metrics. While the exact impact on gaming and the market remains to be seen, the potential for enhanced ray tracing, AI capabilities, and FSR4 support could make these GPUs exciting additions to PC builds. As always, treat leaked information with caution, and stay tuned for AMD's official reveal.