AMD Radeon RX 8800 XT: 45% Faster Ray Tracing, RTX 4080 Performance, and Lower Power
02 Dec 2024
AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 8800 XT is shaping up to be a powerful contender in the GPU market if the latest rumors are accurate. The new card, based on AMD's RDNA 4 architecture, could offer significant performance and efficiency improvements, setting the stage for an exciting 2025 launch.
Performance Boosts in Ray Tracing and Rasterization
According to leaks from Chiphell forums, the Radeon RX 8800 XT may deliver a 45% improvement in ray tracing performance compared to AMD's current flagship, the RX 7900 XTX. In games like Resident Evil 4 Remake, the card is expected to show remarkable gains. AMD has hinted that RDNA 4 will focus heavily on enhancing ray tracing and AI technologies, making these features a priority for the next generation.
In rasterization performance, the RX 8800 XT is rumored to match NVIDIA's RTX 4080 and its SUPER variant. This puts AMD’s new card in a strong position for gamers who value high-end performance without breaking the bank.
Lower Power Consumption
One of the standout features of the Radeon RX 8800 XT is its power efficiency. It is said to use 25% less power than the RX 7900 XTX, which typically consumes 350W in gaming scenarios. The RX 8800 XT is expected to draw around 250-270W, placing it on par with NVIDIA’s RTX 4070 Ti and SUPER models in terms of power consumption.
Specifications and Models
| Model | GPU | Stream Processors | Memory | Memory Speed | TBP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RX 8800 XT | Navi 48 XTX | ~4096 | 16GB G6 256b | 20 Gbps | 270W? |
| RX 8700 XT | Navi 48 XT | ~3584 | 16GB G6 256b | 18 Gbps | TBA |
| RX 8600 XT | Navi 44 XT | TBA | 12GB G6 192b | 19 Gbps | TBA |
| Model | GPU | Stream Processors | Memory | Memory Speed | TBP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RX 7900 XTX | Navi 31 XTX | 6144 | 24GB G6 384b | 20 Gbps | 355W |
| RX 7900 XT | Navi 31 XT | 5376 | 20GB G6 320b | 20 Gbps | 315W |
| RX 7900 GRE | Navi 31 XL | 5120 | 16GB G6 256b | 18 Gbps | 260W |
| RX 7800 XT | Navi 32 XT | 3840 | 16GB G6 256b | 19.5 Gbps | 263W |
| RX 7700 XT | Navi 32 XL | 3456 | 12GB G6 192b | 18 Gbps | 245W |
| RX 7600 XT | Navi 33 XT | 2048 | 16GB G6 128b | 18 Gbps | 190W |
| RX 7600 | Navi 33 XL | 2048 | 8GB G6 128b | 18 Gbps | 165W |
The RX 8800 XT will reportedly feature the Navi 48 GPU with up to 4,096 cores and 16GB of GDDR6 memory. It’s also rumored to run at a 20 Gbps memory speed on a 256-bit bus, offering a competitive edge in bandwidth.
AMD is expected to release other models in the Navi 4X family, including the RX 8700 XT and RX 8600 XT. These cards will target different performance tiers, with the RX 8700 XT reportedly featuring 3,584 cores and 16GB of memory, while the RX 8600 XT could pack 12GB on a 192-bit bus.
Release Timeline
The RX 8800 XT is rumored to enter mass production in mid-December, with a launch expected by mid to late January 2025. This aligns with AMD’s plans to showcase its new lineup at CES 2025. The card is positioned as a mainstream product, and its rumored price of around $500 could make it highly competitive for PC gamers.