AMD may lastly have the GPU Nvidia forgot to make
Nvidia has at all times led in desktop GPUs — till now. The RTX 50-Series’ disastrous launch was the deciding factor in the GPU war against AMD, and Team Red received regardless of releasing solely three GPUs (with completely different variants) within the RDNA 4 lineup.
This low-key method labored effectively for AMD, because the PC neighborhood shifted towards price range and mid-range builds as an alternative of chasing high efficiency due to the excessive prices.
Still, the query lingers: When will AMD return to the flagship fashions? The final time it made a high-end GPU was in 2022 with the RX 7900 XTX, and it wasn’t nice.
However, this edge over Nvidia and the truth that Team Green’s priorities have shifted give AMD a cause to focus on the premium section as soon as extra, and it’d already be doing so, making the GPU that Nvidia skipped out on.
Nvidia GPU drought is the longest in years
Blackwell’s scarcity and Nvidia’s AI pivot are stalling the subsequent launch
The Blackwell GPUs got here out in January 2025 and, greater than a yr later, are nonetheless briefly provide. As if the GPUs aren’t costly sufficient, the RTX 5090 remains to be being scalped for greater than $5,000 in some trading floors as a result of AI firms love the GPU and are gobbling up demand, leaving scraps for the individuals the GPU is definitely meant for.
Nvidia has provided mid-cycle upgrades to the unique RTX lineup with the Super GPUs, ironing out flaws and delivering higher efficiency and worth general. The Super GPUs often launch a yr after the bottom RTX lineup, however Nvidia could not have something to supply this yr regardless of earlier plans.
Rising reminiscence prices and barely assembly demand for the RTX 50-Series GPU are the explanation why plans for the Super refresh are successfully shelved.
If this setback is not sufficient, Nvidia might need nothing to indicate for it even in 2027, as quite a few experiences recommend. This places the GPU market in a tough spot, since Nvidia stays the default decide for high-end builds.
AMD’s subsequent flagship is constructed to outrun Nvidia’s greatest
Leaks level to a GPU aimed squarely at an RTX 50 Super card which will by no means ship
With RDNA 5 GPUs, AMD is about to return to the flagship market, and it might be coming again with a bang. Reports recommend the lineup shall be primarily based on a 3nm structure, transfer towards GDDR7 reminiscence, and supply improved specs.
One dependable leaker claims one of many higher-end GPUs within the RDNA 5 lineup shall be codenamed AT2, which is meant to function 70 CUs, and that the RDNA 5 GPUs general are focusing on 3.1–3.4 GHz (by way of AnandTech). Based on early specs, the AT2 is estimated to be 15–25% sooner than the RX 9070 XT.
This roughly places the AT2 in opposition to a supposed RTX 5080 Super, if the GPU ever comes out, however alas.
Historically, xx-80 Super GPUs have seen massive enhancements in price-to-performance due to decrease costs and better efficiency than the bottom GPU, which is precisely what’s wanted proper now to make higher-end gaming extra possible given how costly GPUs are.
Fortunately, AMD is compensating for the shortfall left by Nvidia, even when it is with just one GPU.
AMD is not ready till 2028 to make its transfer
One RDNA 5 GPU lands early, effectively earlier than the remainder of the lineup
The subsequent Xbox and PlayStation consoles will each use the RDNA structure, so the AT2 GPU is a style of what next-generation gaming will appear to be. AT2 would be the solely GPU from the RDNA 5 household to be launched subsequent yr, and like Nvidia, AMD can also be delaying the remainder of the releases to 2028.
With China’s CXMT coming into the reminiscence market, provide is rising, and reminiscence costs are anticipated to ease by 2028, making {that a} possible time to launch the subsequent technology of GPUs.
However, AMD is not prepared to attend until 2028 to provide everybody a style of what it is engaged on. If all goes effectively, the AT2 will solely enhance prospects’ starvation for what the subsequent technology of GPUs holds, particularly coming after a 2-year hiatus.
Later in 2028, AMD plans to launch AT0, the GPU meant to go toe-to-toe with the RTX 6090, suggesting that Nvidia has an extended battle forward.
A two-year hole offers AMD room to shut greater than the {hardware} hole
Nvidia’s AI focus has led it to neglect the desktop GPU market. Following a poor RTX 50-Series launch and no new GPU for two years straight, Nvidia has a variety of expectations to meet with the upcoming RTX 60-Series GPUs.
This offers AMD loads of time to catch up, and apart from a return to the higher-end GPU sector, it is also engaged on a brand new Neural Rendering model akin to DLSS (by way of AnandTech)
With this hole, we could attain some extent the place Nvidia now not has an edge over AMD, both when it comes to function set or {hardware}. In any case, all eyes are on the AT2 GPU, meant to fill the hole left by the dearth of GPU releases, to see how effectively it performs.
Nevertheless, each Nvidia and AMD should shock their prospects.
