AMD to Skip RDNA 5: UDNA Takes the Spotlight After RDNA 4

[AleksandarK]

While the current generation of AMD graphics cards employs RDNA 3 at its core, and the upcoming RX 8000 series will feature RDNA 4, the latest leaks suggest RDNA 5 is not in development. Instead, UDNA will succeed RDNA 4, simplifying AMD's GPU roadmap. A credible source on the Chiphell forums, zhangzhonghao, reports that the UDNA-based RX 9000 series and Instinct MI400 AI accelerator will incorporate the same advanced Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) designs in both products, reminiscent of AMD's earlier GCN architectures before the CDNA and RDNA split. Sony's next-generation PlayStation 6 is also rumored to adopt UDNA technology. The PS5 and PS5 Pro currently utilize RDNA 2, while the Pro variant integrates elements of RDNA 4 for enhanced ray tracing. The PS6's CPU configuration remains unclear, but speculation revolves around Zen 4 or Zen 5 architectures.

The first UDNA gaming GPUs are expected to enter production by Q2 2026. Interestingly, AMD's RDNA 4 GPUs are anticipated to focus on entry-level to mid-range markets, potentially leaving high-end offerings until the UDNA generation. This strategic pause may allow AMD to refine AI-accelerated technologies like FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 4, aiming to compete with NVIDIA's DLSS. This unification is inspired by NVIDIA's CUDA ecosystem, which supports cross-platform compatibility from laptops to high-performance servers. As AMD sees it, the decision addresses the challenges posed by maintaining separate architectures, which complicate memory subsystem optimizations and hinder forward and backward compatibility. Putting developer resources into RDNA 5 is not economically or strategically wise, given that UDNA is about to take over. Additionally, the company is enabling ROCm software support across all products ranging from consumer Radeon to enterprise Instinct MI. Accelerating software for one platform will translate to the entire product stack.



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[wNotyarD]

While (re)unifying the architecture may be a step forward, what AMD needs to do is unify the software stack and get ROCm from the highest Instinct to the lowest Radeon.

 

[AleksandarK]

While (re)unifying the architecture may be a step forward, what AMD needs to do is unify the software stack and get ROCm from the highest Instinct to the lowest Radeon.

Already in the works!

 

[Dawora]

World will be sad place if there is no fast GPUs at all.

 

[Redwoodz]

While (re)unifying the architecture may be a step forward, what AMD needs to do is unify the software stack and get ROCm from the highest Instinct to the lowest Radeon.

"Additionally, the company is enabling ROCm software support across all products ranging from consumer Radeon to enterprise Instinct MI. Accelerating software for one platform will translate to the entire product stack."

 

[wNotyarD]

"Additionally, the company is enabling ROCm software support across all products ranging from consumer Radeon to enterprise Instinct MI. Accelerating software for one platform will translate to the entire product stack."

I sure hope they deliver on the promise. Support for ROCm on consumer Radeon products should be widespread, instead of locked to the top-of-the-range cards. (But I admit missing the quoted text when I read the article earlier)

 

[AleksandarK]

(But I admit missing the quoted text when I read the article earlier)

Ive added that after. People should know, so thanks!

 

[GoldenX]

Wonder how much did Sony influence this decision.

 

[3valatzy]

I don't think "skipping" is the right word. The forth generation RDNA is the last RDNA, the next architecture will be considerably different.
There have been rumours circulating about this for quite a while...

AMD RDNA 5 a "Clean Sheet" Graphics Architecture, RDNA 4 Merely Corrects a Bug Over RDNA 3

AMD's future RDNA 5 graphics architecture will bear a "clean sheet" design, and may probably not even have the RDNA branding, says WJM47196, a source of AMD leaks on ChipHell. Two generations ahead of the current RDNA 3 architecture powering the Radeon RX 7000 series discrete GPUs, RDNA 5 could...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[lilhasselhoffer]

So...what was said earlier. AMD is only focusing on the volume production (read, lower price) GPUs for the next generation and getting their crap together behind the scenes. Cool. It's almost like someone there viewed the Nvidia and AMD slap fight for marginally profitable markets in premium pricing brackets and finally said "I'm in a downward spiral and need to make better decisions." Meanwhile, a cocaine fueled bear named Nvidia is tearing through the forest and searching for honey like Winnie the Pooh was a horror story.


God, I wish that stuff like this wasn't just a Scfy channel original abomination. The image of a bear foaming at the mouth, in a leather coat, is making me happy all of the sudden.

 

[3valatzy]

So...what was said earlier. AMD is only focusing on the volume production (read, lower price) GPUs for the next generation and getting their crap together behind the scenes.

Let's see:

Navi 10 Radeon RX 5600 XT 2020 -> +12% to Navi 23 Radeon RX 6600 (2021) -> +15% to Navi 23 Radeon RX 660(5)0 XT (2022) -> +1% to Navi 33 Radeon RX 7600 (2023) -> ??? empty space in 2024.

What a great execution with volume production.

Meanwhile, Steam hardware survey shows 0% market share for the above mentioned.

 

[Daven]

Let's see:

Navi 10 Radeon RX 5600 XT 2020 -> +12% to Navi 23 Radeon RX 6600 (2021) -> +15% to Navi 23 Radeon RX 660(5)0 XT (2022) -> +1% to Navi 33 Radeon RX 7600 (2023) -> ??? empty space in 2024.

What a great execution with volume production.

Meanwhile, Steam hardware survey shows 0% market share for the above mentioned.

Every GPU costs AMD the same at volume. AMD has 15% on steam. AMD took 15% of the TAM revenue. It’s not a lot but it’s something. Definitely room for improvement.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Let's see:

Navi 10 Radeon RX 5600 XT 2020 -> +12% to Navi 23 Radeon RX 6600 (2021) -> +15% to Navi 23 Radeon RX 660(5)0 XT (2022) -> +1% to Navi 33 Radeon RX 7600 (2023) -> ??? empty space in 2024.

What a great execution with volume production.

Meanwhile, Steam hardware survey shows 0% market share for the above mentioned.

7600 XT is 48% faster than the 5600 XT.
4060 Ti is 53% faster than the 2060 Super.

Both are advancing equally slowly at the bottom of the market but if AMD wants to increase market share, they need to do better than just match Nvidia.

 

[tpa-pr]

I've only gotten back into computer hardware relatively recently, so I'm not familiar with AMD's GCN hardware. Could someone please give me a layman answer on why the unification will be beneficial?