# Enhanced Ray Tracing and ML-Driven FSR Upscaling: AMD’s RDNA 4 Strives to Bridge the Gap with Nvidia
The rivalry between AMD and Nvidia within the GPU sector has been intense for many years, with both companies striving for supremacy in gaming, AI, and professional tasks. As Nvidia gears up to launch its RTX 50 series, AMD has started to tease its next-gen RDNA 4 architecture, which promises noteworthy enhancements in ray tracing, AI functionality, and upscaling technologies. These advancements could assist AMD in narrowing the performance divide with Nvidia, especially in arenas where Nvidia has usually maintained an advantage, like ray tracing and machine learning (ML)-assisted upscaling.
## RDNA 4: A Peek into AMD’s Vision for 2025
AMD has announced that its RDNA 4 architecture is set for a launch in early 2025, starting with the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 GPUs. These models are aimed at the upper-midrange market, designed to rival Nvidia’s RTX 4070 series. Although AMD has not yet disclosed detailed specs, the company has revealed some broad objectives for RDNA 4, including:
– **Enhanced Ray Tracing Performance**: AMD guarantees “substantially improved ray-tracing performance,” tackling a notable deficiency in its RX 6000 and RX 7000 series GPUs. Historically, AMD’s GPUs have found it challenging to compete with Nvidia’s in ray-traced gaming, even when they excelled in traditional rasterized tasks. Ameliorating this disparity could make AMD’s GPUs more attractive to gamers who emphasize visual quality.
– **Refined AI Capabilities**: RDNA 4 will incorporate “supercharged” AI compute abilities, potentially impacting gaming, content creation, and AI-oriented tasks. This aligns with wider industry patterns, as GPUs increasingly function as accelerators for machine learning and AI uses.
– **Streamlined Compute Units and Media Encoding**: AMD has suggested optimizations throughout, encompassing improved compute unit efficiency and enhanced media encoding quality. These upgrades could be advantageous for gamers, streamers, and professionals alike.
## FSR 4: AMD’s Initial ML-Enhanced Upscaling Algorithm
Among the most thrilling announcements linked to RDNA 4 is the launch of FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4), AMD’s inaugural upscaling algorithm utilizing machine learning. This represents a notable transition for AMD, as previous iterations of FSR relied on spatial upscaling methods instead of ML. By embracing machine learning, FSR 4 aspires to achieve:
– **Superior Image Quality**: ML-enhanced upscaling typically results in sharper and more intricate images compared to conventional techniques. This positions FSR 4 in direct competition with Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and Intel’s XeSS (Xe Super Sampling).
– **More Demanding Hardware Requirements**: While ML-based upscaling provides improved outcomes, it generally necessitates specialized hardware, such as dedicated AI cores. AMD has not yet indicated whether FSR 4 will be compatible with older Radeon GPUs or if it will be exclusive to RDNA 4.
Should FSR 4 match or surpass the caliber of DLSS, it could revolutionize AMD’s standing, particularly as upscaling technologies grow increasingly vital for achieving high frame rates at 4K and above.
## A Change in Naming and Market Positioning
With the RX 9000 series, AMD is embracing a new naming scheme that reflects Nvidia’s methodology. For instance, what would have been designated as the RX 9700 is now branded as the RX 9070. AMD states that this modification aims to simplify comparisons for consumers between Radeon GPUs and Nvidia’s GeForce products. However, the success of this approach is yet to be determined.
The RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 are being marketed as rivals to Nvidia’s RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4070, respectively. AMD also intends to release RX 9060-series GPUs to compete against the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti. Importantly, AMD has not disclosed any direct challengers to Nvidia’s high-end RTX 4080 and 4090 models or a successor to its flagship RX 7900 XTX. This indicates that AMD is primarily concentrating on the midrange and upper-midrange sectors for the moment, potentially leaving the high-end arena to Nvidia—at least for now.
## The Path Ahead: Challenges and Possibilities
AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture and FSR 4 constitute ambitious advancements; nonetheless, the company confronts several challenges as it attempts to lessen the gap with Nvidia:
1. **Ray Tracing Performance**: While AMD’s commitment to “significantly improved ray-tracing performance” is promising, the company must provide concrete outcomes to win over gamers. Nvidia enjoys a several-year lead in ray tracing, and its RTX 50
