AMD to Launch New GPUs with RDNA 4 Architecture by Early 2025: Ray Tracing Performance Expected to Double

In their latest earnings report revealed last night, AMD reported a year-over-year decline in revenue from its graphics business, primarily attributed to a significant drop in GPU sales in Q3 2023. This downturn is directly linked to AMD's transition towards its next-generation Radeon graphics cards based on the RDNA 4 architecture, which promises substantial improvements in gaming performance.

Dr. Lisa Su, AMD's CEO, announced that the RDNA 4 architecture would notably enhance ray tracing capabilities and integrate AI-driven features. These advancements are expected to debut with the new graphics cards in early 2025.

While specific details remain under wraps, the timing suggests a possible unveiling at CES 2025, where rival Nvidia is also anticipated to launch its RTX 50 series cards. Industry speculation suggests that RDNA 4 could offer double the ray tracing performance of its RDNA 3 predecessors, alongside targeted optimizations to better accommodate AI workloads.

There's also speculation that AMD might expedite the release of RDNA 4-based mobile GPUs by early next year, potentially showcased by OEMs at CES 2025.

For those considering an upgrade to a more powerful gaming laptop, it might be wise to wait for the notebooks equipped with RDNA 4 GPUs to hit the market.