AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE Launched: Aims to Disrupt Budget GPU Market in China
AMD has officially launched the Radeon RX 9070 GRE (Great Radeon Edition) graphics card, initially exclusive to the Chinese market. This move has stirred considerable interest, particularly for budget-conscious gamers, and positions AMD to potentially challenge Nvidia's dominance. Is this a strategic play by AMD to gain ground in a key market segment?
The RX 9070 GRE, based on the Navi 48 GPU, features 48 RDNA4 Compute Units, translating to 3,072 Stream Processors. AMD confirms a base clock of 2.22 GHz and a boost clock of 2.79 GHz. With two 8-pin power connectors and a Total Board Power (TBP) of 220W, it requires a 650W power supply. The card also comes with 12GB of GDDR6 memory across a 192-bit memory bus, using slower 18 Gbps modules.
AMD claims that the RX 9070 GRE is 6% faster than the RX 7900 GRE at 1440p Ultra settings in games. Pre-orders are live in China at 4,199 RMB, roughly 7% cheaper than the RX 9070 non-XT's launch price. Deliveries are expected to begin on May 8.
The launch price of the RX 9070 GRE is competitive. It's priced at approximately $575 without China's 13% VAT, which suggests a potential global price point around $500 if it were to launch worldwide later on. This places it squarely against Nvidia's potential future offerings in the budget GPU segment.
However, the memory configuration is a point of interest. The slower GDDR6 modules and narrower 192-bit interface significantly reduce memory bandwidth. While overclocking might offer some gains, independent reviews will be key to understanding the real-world performance impact.
The card's launch has fueled speculation that it might replace the standard RX 9070 in China, or that local prices for the GRE will gradually decrease. Time will tell if this new card will eventually see a global release, potentially rivaling Nvidia's RTX 5070. Nvidia is rumored to be testing new SUPER variants of its RTX 50 series cards, including an RTX 5080 Super and an RTX 5070 SUPER.
The release of the RX 9070 GRE is certainly stirring up the budget GPU market, especially in China. Its performance compared to price could make it a compelling option for gamers. Will the RX 9070 GRE remain exclusive to China, or will we see a global launch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
What are your predictions for AMD's strategy? Share your opinions and insights in the comments!