AMD Gears Up to Counter Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090
An AMD executive has announced that their answer to Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5090 is coming soon. They are refining the software to ensure peak performance in order to compete effectively. Revealed at CES, the RTX 5090 has set new standards in graphics performance, impacting AI, robotics, and high-end gaming, signaling a pivotal shift in the GPU industry.
CES Spotlight: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Unveiled
Earlier this month, the tech industry, including myself, eagerly watched Nvidia’s keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The highlight was the unveiling of their latest powerhouse graphics card: the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090.
AMD Delays Launch of New GPUs
While we also anticipated AMD’s reveal of the new Radeon RX 9000 desktop GPUs at CES 2025, a direct competitor to Nvidia, the event was a letdown. Despite showcasing its new AMD Ryzen AI Max laptop processors, details on AMD’s upcoming desktop GPUs were scant, with their release postponed to March 2025.
AMD Takes Its Time
A tweet from David McAfee, AMD’s vice president, shed light on the delay. He stated the company is taking “a bit more time” to enhance software support and integrate their advanced FSR 4 (FidelityFX Super Resolution) upscaling technology into more games. “We are taking a bit more time to optimize the software stack for peak performance and enable more FSR 4 titles,” McAfee posted on January 22.
Fierce Competition Ahead
This scenario is set to ignite compelling competition in the industry. Alongside the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series cards, Intel is poised to release its second-generation “Battlemage” Arc desktop GPUs this year. Our testing of the Intel Arc B580 at CES 2025 suggests these new Intel cards offer promising performance for under $1000—a stark contrast to the $1999 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090.
While Nvidia seems to be focusing more on AI, robotics, and data centers rather than PC gaming, positioning the 5090 as a luxury item rather than practical gaming hardware. Meanwhile, if AMD can launch its Radeon RX 9000 series at competitive prices and with compelling performance through FSR 4 upscaling, it could potentially challenge Nvidia’s mid-range cards and attract PC gamers hesitant to spend over a thousand dollars on a graphics card.