AMD can’t challenge for the next flagship GPU, it just needs a better version of the RTX 5070

AMD’s new graphics cards are coming soon, but they need to hit hard against Nvidia. As the release of the new Nvidia RTX 50 series cards also looms, it’s also exciting to see what kind of competition AMD is bringing to the market. Fighting a war on two fronts, with AMD’s upcoming processors battling Intel’s lineup, and the potential Radeon RX 8000 cards attempting to take away some of Nvidia’s market share, it’s a huge moment from AMD – one that it needs to land.

As the war for the best graphics cards continues, it’s clear that the Nvidia RTX 5090 is likely to keep first place after the 4090, and it appears that AMD is tapping out against the premium GPU, seemingly focusing on a broader market as opposed to enthusiasts. But the mid-GPU market is arguably a riskier move, one that AMD can’t afford to lose.

A race to the middle for AMD and Nvidia

In a forum thread on Chiphell, user ‘zhangzhonghao’ shared a list of products that AMD is set to announce during CES 2025, which is coming up in January. The most notable entry is the upcoming graphics card running the RDNA 4 architecture, and considering the recent interview between AMD’s Senior VP, Jack Huynh, and Tom’s Hardware, it’s certainly safe to assume that the upcoming GPUs will focus on mid-range graphics cards.

However, with the excitement surrounding the PS5 Pro, which uses AMD’s new “advanced [ray tracing] feature sets”, it’s time for AMD to really stick the landing. A budget-friendly card that offers great rasterization, a hefty amount of VRAM, and good ray tracing that can only be improved using FSR will certainly turn heads, even if AMD’s solution isn’t as well marketed as Nvidia’s DLSS.

If AMD can set the upcoming RX 8000 cards as a better version of the Nvidia RTX 5070, it could see some Nvidia owners upgrade to AMD this time around. We’ve already seen the 7800XT performing well, so AMD can aim to repeat that success next gen. However, in typical AMD fashion, the company has a few hands in different baskets, so the focus isn’t really on GPUs – it’s on a wide range of products.

The leak also suggests that the 9900X3D and 9950X3D chipsets will also make an appearance at the event, following a recent rumor of the processors from September. The most exciting (rumored) reveal, in my opinion, is the upcoming AMD Z2 Extreme for handheld devices, which was spotted online in September, also slated for CES 2025.

Like any other leaks, it’s unclear whether this new set of leaks is true, speculation, or simply false – so we recommend you take it with a pinch of salt. But, AMD’s opportunity to tackle the mid-budget market could be exciting to watch, especially if it can undercut the competition.