AMD’s RX 9070 series is still shrouded in mystery, and while Team Red hasn't officially unveiled its upcoming GPU lineup, the cards were mentioned in a pre-briefing prepared for the event. Details are sparse, but leaks have given us some possible specifications, including 16GB of VRAM. However, one question that has gamers scratching their heads is pricing, as speculations have been circulating, with numbers like $550 or even $600 being mentioned.

Although no official confirmation on pricing has been provided, AMD needs to take lessons from their past mistakes. They should aim to price the 9070 series competitively enough to challenge the RTX 5070, which is confirmed to launch at around $549. While AMD’s upcoming GPUs appear to have notable advantages over the RTX 5070, such as more VRAM and the promising improvements of FSR 4, these benefits alone won't justify a $600 price tag.

With AMD seemingly leaving the race for GPU supremacy this year (which looks set to be held by the powerful RTX 5090), they may opt for a more aggressive pricing play with their mid-range arrivals. Only time will tell, but if priced correctly, there’s nothing stopping AMD from going toe-to-toe with the upcoming RTX 5070.

AMD should price the RX 9070 series significantly less than the RTX 5070

Previously, AMD hasn’t been able to shake up the GPU market much. While their GPUs typically come in at $50 below what Nvidia charges and offer a few more GB of VRAM, that strategy won't cut it this time. Nvidia’s RTX 5070 is rumored to deliver game-changing performance, thanks to next-gen DLSS 4 and multi-frame generation technology, potentially putting it on par with the last-gen flagship RTX 4090.

Since gamers are disappointed by the RTX 5070’s low VRAM, hardcore gamers will likely appreciate the 16GB VRAM offered by the 9070 series. However, for average users who may not fully understand the demanding VRAM requirements of modern games and don't prioritize it as much, AMD will need to deliver significant value to remain competitive.

The best way for AMD to achieve this would be to price their GPUs significantly lower than the RTX 5070—something around $449. Going above that price point would once again put them in the same challenging position they've faced in the past. But by offering better performance, more VRAM, and a much more attractive price tag, AMD could gain the upper hand. While this strategy wouldn't immediately put AMD far ahead of Nvidia, it would be a meaningful step forward. Similar to what they accomplished with the Ryzen series, AMD didn't overtake Intel overnight but instead focused on delivering excellent value over time, eventually earning their current top status in the CPU market.

About the Author

Hassam Nasir

Hassam boasts over seven years of professional experience as a dedicated PC hardware reviewer and writer.