AMD at CES 2025: RDNA 4 GPUs with FSR4, new X3D CPUs for desktops and laptops

AMD has already announced its new Ryzen Z2 chips for handheld PCs, but its CES 2025 keynote also includes a whole new line of cards and new X3D processors for both desktops and laptops.

We’ll start with the graphics news, as the American company has explained two models of the new RDNA 4 architecture – RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 – as well as the long-awaited FSR upscaling tech, FSR4 .

The RX 9070 XT and 9070 are positioned to compete against Nvidia’s mid-tier 40-series and 50-series graphics cards, with the RDNA 4 architecture promising improved linear performance, AI capabilities better and even improved media encoder – all parts of the relative. weak for AMD compared to competitors like Nvidia and Intel. The cards are manufactured using the 4nm process and ship this quarter, with models from the likes of Acer, Asus, Sapphire, XFX, ASRock, Gigabyte and PowerColor.

FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 is the first time AMD uses AI for its advancement, something long from Nvidia to great effect. The features are unique to the RDNA 4 graphics card, and expect a change from AMD’s efforts in what is now a competitive space with the likes of Sony, Intel and Nvidia all in one. develop appropriate solutions. As before, frame generation and anti-lag tech are included.

AMD is also using its development card’s AI capabilities to allow users to create images, collect local data and ask questions on the AMD forum – so I’m sure it will shortly after the release of the funny photo. of inappropriate bot behavior is released.

The company’s CPU announcement is perhaps a bit simpler. First, we got what we all wanted was coming: two new desktop 9000 X3D CPUs, 9950X3D and 9900X3D, both coming in the first half of 2025.

If you’re familiar with the 7950X3D and 7900X3D, this is familiar territory, with both being dual-CCD sources but the higher number corresponding to full resolution and the lower one a cut back. . That means 16 cores for the 9950X3D and 12 for the 9900X3D, with the expansion offering a 5.7GHz max boost and 144MB of vertically-stacked v-cache. It doesn’t seem like the cache features on both cores, which is a bit disappointing.

The 9950X3D’s performance numbers are just as good, with AMD’s graphics showing eight percent better performance than the 7950X3D across 40 titles. There are some good results here and in some games, with 1.58x spin out in Counter-Strike 2, 1.28x in Far Cry 6 and 1.16x in Starfield. As for the less impactful Core Ultra 9 285K, AMD’s labs found 20 percent​​ performance on average, with 1.3x or higher results in the likes of Starfield, Cyberpunk 2077, Space Marine 2, Final Fantasy 16, Far Cry 6 and Watch Dogs: Legion.

As well as desktop chips, AMD also announced its first X3D chip for laptops, the 9955HX3D. At the top of a line codenamed Fire Range that also includes two non-X3D chips, the 9955HX and 9850HX, the flagship X3D chip includes 144MB of cache, a 5.4GHz max turbo and a 16-core, 32-thread design.

That sounds like a model for a very powerful CPU that should be announced even for a computer with full desktop chips, but we have to wait until closer in the first half of the this year to get some performance, it seems.

Overall, it’s a great announcement from AMD, although I’m sure there will be some disappointment that the bigger Ryzen 9000 X3D chips won’t go on sale right away.

Stay tuned for more news as it comes – with Nvidia next to launch its keynote in the UK morning slot.