AMD Radeon RX 9070 Announced: Specs, Price & Release in 2026
AMD just dropped their biggest GPU announcement of 2026, and I’ve been digging through every detail since the February 28 livestream ended.
The RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT represent AMD’s return to the mainstream GPU market with aggressive pricing that directly challenges NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 series.
After watching the announcement and analyzing the specifications, I can tell you this launch matters more than AMD’s recent high-end attempts.
Let me break down exactly what AMD revealed, what these cards offer, and whether they’re worth waiting for when they hit shelves on March 6, 2026.
What AMD Announced on February 28, 2026
AMD announced two new graphics cards powered by their RDNA 4 architecture: the RX 9070 at $549 and the RX 9070 XT at $599.
The announcement came through an official livestream where David McAfee, AMD’s CVP and GM of Graphics, detailed the new architecture’s improvements.
Both cards feature 16GB of GDDR6 memory, addressing the VRAM concerns that plagued competing 12GB cards.
⚠️ Important: The March 6 release date applies to reference designs. AIB partner cards from ASUS, MSI, and others may arrive slightly later.
AMD introduced FSR 4, their new machine learning-based upscaling technology exclusive to RDNA 4 GPUs.
This marks AMD’s first ML-powered upscaling solution, moving away from the temporal upscaling used in previous FSR versions.
The company also unveiled HYPR-RX improvements that combine multiple technologies for better gaming performance.
| Feature | RX 9070 | RX 9070 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Price | $549 | $599 |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Architecture | RDNA 4 | RDNA 4 |
| Release Date | March 6, 2026 | March 6, 2026 |
Jack Huynh, AMD’s SVP of Client and Graphics, emphasized the focus on mainstream performance per dollar during the announcement.
The timing positions these cards directly against NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 launch window, creating immediate competition in the mid-range segment.
RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT Specifications
The RX 9070 XT packs 4096 stream processors running at boost clocks up to 2.97 GHz on the Navi 48 GPU.
Both models use a 256-bit memory bus delivering 640 GB/s of bandwidth with their 16GB GDDR6 configuration.
The standard RX 9070 features slightly reduced compute units but maintains the same memory specifications.
| Specification | RX 9070 | RX 9070 XT | RTX 5070 (Comparison) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPU | Navi 48 | Navi 48 | GB205 |
| Stream Processors | 3584 (est.) | 4096 | 6144 CUDA cores |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz (est.) | 2.97 GHz | 2.51 GHz |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 | 12GB GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit | 192-bit |
| Bandwidth | 640 GB/s | 640 GB/s | 672 GB/s |
| TBP | 220W (est.) | 260W | 250W |
| Display Outputs | DP 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b | DP 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b | DP 2.1a, HDMI 2.1a |
The RDNA 4 architecture brings second-generation AI accelerators integrated into each compute unit.
These AI cores enable the new FSR 4 upscaling and improve performance in AI workloads by up to 2x over RDNA 3.
✅ Pro Tip: The 16GB VRAM on both models provides significant headroom for 4K gaming and future game requirements compared to 12GB competitors.
Ray tracing performance gets a boost with enhanced RT accelerators delivering up to 1.3x improvement per compute unit.
The media engine supports AV1 encoding and decoding, crucial for streaming and content creation workflows.
Power connectors include dual 8-pin PCIe on most AIB models, with some premium cards featuring the newer 12VHPWR connector.
Both cards require PCIe 5.0 x16 slots for optimal performance but remain backward compatible with PCIe 4.0 systems.
Performance Claims and Benchmarks
AMD claims the RX 9070 XT delivers 68% better performance than the RX 7900 GRE at 1440p gaming.
In their testing, the card achieved 105 fps average across multiple AAA titles at 1440p ultra settings.
The standard RX 9070 reportedly matches or beats the RTX 4070 in rasterization performance.
“Our focus with RDNA 4 was delivering exceptional performance per dollar in the segments where most gamers actually buy.”
– David McAfee, AMD CVP and GM of Graphics
FSR 4 with machine learning shows 2.1x performance uplift in supported games compared to native resolution.
AMD demonstrated Cyberpunk 2077 running at 89 fps with FSR 4 Quality mode versus 42 fps at native 4K.
- Rasterization Performance: 15-20% improvement over RTX 4070 Ti in traditional rendering
- Ray Tracing: 30% generational improvement but still trails RTX 5070 in heavy RT workloads
- AI Workloads: 2x faster than RDNA 3 in Stable Diffusion and LLM inference
The HYPR-RX feature stack combines Anti-Lag 2, Boost, and FSR 4 for up to 45% better performance in competitive games.
Power efficiency improved by 15% per watt compared to RDNA 3, though total power consumption remains similar.
⏰ Time Saver: Wait for independent reviews before making purchase decisions. AMD’s internal testing often shows best-case scenarios.
Pricing and Availability Details
The RX 9070 launches at $549 MSRP, matching NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 pricing directly.
The RX 9070 XT at $599 positions itself $200 below the RTX 5070 Ti while offering similar performance targets.
Reference designs from AMD hit stores March 6, 2026, with limited initial quantities expected.
| Partner | RX 9070 Models | RX 9070 XT Models | Expected Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS | TUF, Dual | TUF, Strix | +$50-100 |
| MSI | Ventus, Gaming | Gaming X, Suprim | +$40-120 |
| Sapphire | Pulse | Nitro+ | +$30-80 |
| XFX | Speedster | Speedster MERC | +$40-90 |
I’ve tracked GPU launches for years, and AMD typically struggles with day-one availability.
Expect AIB partner cards to arrive 1-2 weeks after reference models with better cooling solutions.
European pricing will likely hit €599 for the RX 9070 and €649 for the XT model based on historical conversions.
Retailers already report pre-order interest exceeding initial allocation estimates, suggesting immediate sellouts.
RDNA 4 Architecture Deep Dive
RDNA 4 represents AMD’s first ground-up architecture redesign focused on AI acceleration and efficiency.
Each compute unit now includes dedicated matrix multiplication hardware for AI workloads.
The new architecture achieves 2.5x better ray tracing performance per watt compared to RDNA 2.
- Unified Memory Architecture: Improved data sharing between CPU and GPU for better performance
- Enhanced Infinity Cache: Larger L3 cache reduces memory bandwidth bottlenecks
- Dual Issue Wave32: Improved shader efficiency for modern game engines
- Hardware VRS Tier 2: Variable rate shading for better performance without visual loss
The AI accelerators enable real-time upscaling inference at 1.5ms latency, matching DLSS 3 responsiveness.
AMD implemented new compression algorithms that improve effective memory bandwidth by 20%.
RDNA 4: AMD’s fourth-generation GPU architecture featuring dedicated AI accelerators, improved ray tracing, and machine learning capabilities for gaming and compute workloads.
The media engine adds dual AV1 encoders, crucial for streaming at higher quality with lower bitrates.
Display capabilities include support for 8K120Hz and 4K480Hz through DisplayPort 2.1a UHBR20.
Power management improvements include finer-grained clock control and enhanced boost algorithms.
How It Stacks Up Against NVIDIA RTX 5070 in 2026?
The RX 9070 matches the RTX 5070’s $549 price but offers 4GB more VRAM.
NVIDIA’s card features superior ray tracing and DLSS 4 with Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation.
AMD counters with better rasterization performance and the open-source advantage for Linux users.
| Feature | AMD Advantage | NVIDIA Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 16GB vs 12GB | – |
| Price | Same MSRP | – |
| Ray Tracing | – | 30-40% faster |
| Upscaling | FSR 4 (new) | DLSS 4 (mature) |
| Linux Support | Open drivers | – |
| Power Draw | – | Lower TDP |
For 1440p gaming without ray tracing, the RX 9070 series offers better value with more VRAM headroom.
Content creators needing CUDA will still lean toward NVIDIA, but AMD’s OpenCL performance has improved significantly.
The real winner depends on your specific use case and whether you prioritize ray tracing or traditional performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the AMD RX 9070 be available?
The AMD RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT will be available starting March 6, 2025. Reference models launch first, with AIB partner cards following 1-2 weeks later.
How much does the RX 9070 cost?
The RX 9070 has an MSRP of $549, while the RX 9070 XT costs $599. AIB partner models typically add $30-120 to these base prices depending on cooling and features.
Is the RX 9070 better than RTX 5070?
The RX 9070 offers better rasterization performance and 4GB more VRAM than the RTX 5070. However, the RTX 5070 provides superior ray tracing and more mature upscaling with DLSS 4.
What is FSR 4?
FSR 4 is AMD’s new machine learning-based upscaling technology exclusive to RDNA 4 GPUs. It uses AI acceleration to improve image quality and performance, competing directly with NVIDIA’s DLSS.
Does RX 9070 support ray tracing?
Yes, the RX 9070 series includes second-generation ray tracing accelerators with 30% better performance than RDNA 3. While improved, it still trails NVIDIA’s ray tracing performance in demanding scenarios.
What power supply do I need for RX 9070?
AMD recommends a 700W power supply for the RX 9070 and 750W for the RX 9070 XT. Both cards use dual 8-pin PCIe power connectors on most models.
Final Thoughts on AMD’s RX 9070 Launch
AMD’s RX 9070 series marks a smart strategic shift toward the mainstream market where most GPU sales happen.
The 16GB VRAM advantage and competitive pricing make these cards serious contenders for 1440p and entry-level 4K gaming.
I recommend waiting for independent reviews before purchasing, especially to verify FSR 4 quality and real-world performance.
If you’re building a system in March 2026, the RX 9070 offers compelling value, particularly for users who don’t prioritize ray tracing.