AMD Navi Rumors: seven models planned, RX 3090 XT flagship starts 2020

AMD allegedly plans seven models of the Radeon Navi architecture. The top model is the RX 3090 XT, based on Navi 20 and will be launched in 2020.

Radeon Navi: AMD continues to target middle class

AMD is not only launching the new Ryzen generation this year, but also a new generation of Radeon graphics cards. The company relies on the architecture Navi, which comes up for the first time with 7nm in a large scale. Once again, AMD is primarily targeting the mid-range segment with its architecture. For more than a year now it has been discussed that Navi is only intended for the mid-range, but should be much cheaper there than Nvidia’s RTX graphics cards. This is more than logical, as AMD can make the most profit here and is likely to appeal to the largest buyer base. Although it’s a pity that apparently future Radeon high-end graphics cards won’t be able to compete with Nvidia’s flagships, AMD’s success shouldn’t be measured against the highest class.

Meanwhile we are only months, if not weeks, away from a release of the new architecture that continues to rely on Graphics Core Next. Last December, the YouTuber AdoredTV published a lineup of allegedly planned Navi graphics cards. At that time the models RX 3060, RX 3070 and RX 3080 were mentioned. The RX 3080 was supposed to reach the performance level of the RTX 2070 from Nvidia for a price of 250 US dollars. The YouTuber has now released two more videos in which he presents more information about a lineup that has been changed in the meantime.

XT models as intermediate stage, RX 3090 XT as top model

According to AdoredTV, a total of seven models of the Radeon Navi generation are planned. There will also be intermediate stages in the form of XT graphics cards, similar to the Ti graphics cards from Nvidia. While the RX 3080 was the top model in the last leak, the RX 3090 XT is now the top model. The graphics card should come with 64 compute units and be 10 percent above the Radeon VII in terms of performance. The RX 3090 is a smaller branch with 60 compute units. It should achieve the performance of the Radeon VII. However, the downside on both graphics cards is the release date. These are supposed to be Navi 20 versions already, which however will not be launched on the market until the first quarter of 2020.

Until then AMD starts with the smaller middle class derivatives, which are equipped with Navi 10 and Navi 12 GPUs. The largest model comes with 56 compute units and is called RX 3080 XT. This model should reach the performance of the RTX 2070. The RX 3080 model positioned below is to be 10 percent higher than the RX Vega 64 and has 52 compute units. Finally, the third Navi 10 branch is called RX 3070 XT. The graphics card should come with 48 CUs and reach the level of the RX Vega 64. The RX 3070 and RX 3060 GPUs below are based on Navi 12 and come with 40 and 32 CUs respectively. They should achieve the performance of the RX Vega 56 respectively the RX 580/590.

Main target: cheaper than Nvidia

There is also new price information. These, too, are unconfirmed rumors and should therefore be handled with caution. While the prices in the first leak of AdoredTV still sounded very implausible, the pricing in this list is much more logical. Thus, the top model RX 3090 XT is expected to reach a price of a good 500 US dollars. The RX 3090 costs 430 US dollars, the RX 3080 XT 330 US dollars, which would be significantly cheaper than an RTX 2070. The RX 3080 would also remain cheap with a price of 280 US dollars. The RX 3070 XT with a price of 250 US dollars would probably be the main opponent of the RTX 2060, but much cheaper. The same applies to the RX 3070 for 200 US dollars. Only the RX 3060 with a price of 140 US dollars looks a bit overpriced. Basically, with such a pricing policy, AMD would mainly aim to be cheaper than Nvidia for the same performance.

Efficiency problems could mean lower clock rates

AdoredTV has also revealed another important piece of information in his video. AMD currently allegedly has massive problems with the efficiency of the 7nm chips. This should have an effect above all on the power consumption and the associated heat development. Accordingly, the pace could be lower than that of current generations. The Navi 20 GPU in particular is to be affected by this.

ortant piece of information in his video. AMD currently allegedly has massive problems with the efficiency of the 7nm chips. This should have an effect above all on the power consumption and the associated heat development. Accordingly, the pace could be lower than that of current generations. The Navi 20 GPU in particular is to be affected by this.

The release, however, is still planned for the third quarter. AMD has also indirectly confirmed this in the meantime. At least the mid-range models with Navi 10 and 12 chips should hit the shelves at this time. A presentation at Computex 2019, a separate event on July 7 or the E3 exhibition is therefore virtually fixed.