AMD confirms no RDNA 4 GPUs for laptops in the near future

[Daniel Sims]

Recap: The unveiling of AMD's next-generation RDNA 4 graphics architecture has been muted compared to Nvidia's competing Blackwell chips. Team Red's new GPU lineup currently consists of just two mid to high-end desktop graphics cards. Although AMD recently introduced several APUs with impressive mobile graphics capabilities, none utilize RDNA 4. In a recent interview, the company confirmed it intends to stay this course for now.

In an interview with Notebookcheck, AMD confirmed that its RDNA4 graphics architecture is currently focused exclusively on desktops. While the company hasn't ruled out mobile variants, it provided no timeline or specifics about when or in what form they might arrive.

The extensive interview with Ben Conrad, AMD's Director of Product for Premium Mobile Client, primarily centered on the company's new Ryzen APU lineups, such as Strix Point and Strix Halo. Strix Point chips have already made their way into the latest handheld gaming PCs, while Strix Halo targets gaming laptops with what Conrad describes as "dedicated GPU-class performance."

Commercially known as Ryzen AI 300, Strix Point APUs feature up to 16 Ryzen 3.5 compute units, delivering significant gaming performance improvements compared to devices like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. Meanwhile, Strix Halo, also referred to as Ryzen AI Max, raises the maximum number of compute units to 40.

Although the gaming performance of AI Max processors remains untested, Conrad suggested that pairing one with a traditional dedicated GPU would be unnecessary, likening it to a CrossFire-style configuration. AMD plans to eventually integrate RDNA 4 into laptop chips, but these will likely take the form of APUs rather than discrete GPUs.

Meanwhile, manufacturers are preparing to release laptops that pair Strix Point APUs with laptop versions of Nvidia's upcoming RTX 50 series graphics cards. Several Asus models have already appeared on Best Buy's website, with prices ranging from $1,999 to $3,999. Release dates and detailed specifications are forthcoming, but the entire stack features GDDR7 VRAM except the rumored RTX 5050.

AMD teased two RDNA 4 GPUs at CES earlier this month: the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT. While independent benchmarks for these desktop GPUs aren't available yet, they are expected to compete with Nvidia's RTX 5070 and are projected to start at around $500. AMD has seemingly delayed RDNA 4's release to March to refine its software offerings including FSR 4, which promises substantial improvements in upscaling image quality over FSR 3.1.

In contrast, Nvidia is poised to launch its RTX 5080 and 5090 GPUs within the next few days, priced at $999 and $1,999, respectively. However, scalping and custom variants could push prices significantly higher.

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AMD confirms no RDNA 4 GPUs for laptops in the near future

 

[Watzupken]

I feel AMD is not just going to lose out to Nvidia, but also slowly but surely being caught up by Intel. The half hearted GPU strategy/ plan on desktop and mobile is very obvious. Feature wise, Intel’s Battlemage is ahead of AMD, and performance is also not lacking for team blue’s GPU. Having Battlemage on iGPU really kind of highlights how slow AMD is with regards to pushing their cutting edge graphics to the market. It sounds to me they are just going to regurgitate the same RDNA 3 for another year or 2.

 

[opckieran]

I feel AMD is not just going to lose out to Nvidia, but also slowly but surely being caught up by Intel. The half hearted GPU strategy/ plan on desktop and mobile is very obvious. Feature wise, Intel’s Battlemage is ahead of AMD, and performance is also not lacking for team blue’s GPU. Having Battlemage on iGPU really kind of highlights how slow AMD is with regards to pushing their cutting edge graphics to the market. It sounds to me they are just going to regurgitate the same RDNA 3 for another year or 2.

Hopefully AMD divert the mobile dGPU resources towards bringing RDNA4 to their APUs and then commit to keeping generational parity between their CPU and GPU architectures going forward. It’s pretty embarrassing to see older GPU architectures being integrated onto the fastest x86 CPU SOC on the market, especially when technologies like FSR4 are announced, only to not even be supported on those SOCs. They need to get it together; Strix Point is the last frontier for serious Radeon gaming in the Laptop Space, and RTX50 with DLSS4 is not gonna make things any easier for AMD. And despite Intel being far less practiced in the dGPU game, it’s clear that they are already showing a far more competitive strategy and performance result than AMD ever expected.

 

[toooooot]

AMD needs to bet everything on integrated graphics.
So, instead of competing with Nvidia supplying a separate cheap for laptops, AMD would offer CPU/GPU in the same package, taking less space, making less heat, and offering as much performance as mid tier laptop GPUs.
They already have a CPU, Halo strix, that has graphics that can compete with 4060m.
Push it further. in CPU 4080 rival would be a king of gaming laptops.

 

[kiwigraeme]

AMD needs to bet everything on integrated graphics.
So, instead of competing with Nvidia supplying a separate cheap for laptops, AMD would offer CPU/GPU in the same package, taking less space, making less heat, and offering as much performance as mid tier laptop GPUs.
They already have a CPU, Halo strix, that has graphics that can compete with 4060m.
Push it further. in CPU 4080 rival would be a king of gaming laptops.

I think this is the way - given Nvidia are afraid they want to compete in this space , add Apple, Intel, Qualcomm, Mediatek with Nvidia

Who wants big massive laptops anymore? - Handhelds are growing

AMD will still throw the odd one out

I more likely to buy a very efficient light laptop , with nice screen others handhelds

NVidia always BS 4070 GPU for PC nad 4070 for laptop are not even close

With 2nm wafers coming APUs will only get more powerful and efficient
When I've seen images of laptops with powerful graphics cards , they don't seem portable or independant of a power supply

Also I think AMD or Qualcomm want to team up with MS again for another way for MS to compete on phones/tablets etc - ie I don't think the windows phone is truly dead yet , or even a linux phone Apple still wants you to buy 3 sheep a phone a tablet and a imac

 

[ruid84]

It partially makes sense. RDNA 3.5 is RDNA 4 minus enhanced RT/FSR acceleration. Typically you don't enable RT on tiny, less powerful devices so the precious die space could be wasted. On the other hand, FSR 4.0 is a relevant feature for the tiny devices. Although beefy laptops with discrete GPU could benefit from both RT and FSR, AMD doesn't have enough market share of this segment to invest R&D resources for that market. I think AMD tries to weight silicon cost against consumer perceived value of their products.

 

[yRaz]

Well that sucks, I was really hoping for an RDNA4 mini PC. They need to stop mixing RDNA 3, 3.5 and 4 on their APUs.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

With Halo shipping there is no urgency for discrete RDNA4 mobile parts, so they've made the right decision. They absolutely have to deliver on price to performance ratio on desktop this year and make a compelling argument against Nvidia. Drivers have to be good, 9070XT needs to be competitive against 5070 Ti in raster, upscaling tech and RT and it needs to be at least $100 cheaper, no ifs or buts.