AMD's Rumored RX 6900 Graphics Card | PlayStation's Game Pass and Next-Gen Games

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Rumored RX 6900 Graphics Card
3. The Confusing Naming Scheme of AMD Processors
4. The Elusive Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti
5. System Requirements for Cyberpunk 2077
6. Possibility of a PlayStation Game Pass Equivalent
7. Delayed Next-Gen Games for PlayStation 5
8. Shortages and Frustrations in GPU Availability
9. Nvidia's Earnings Call and Demand for Ampere GPUs
10. Conclusion

The Rumored RX 6900 Graphics Card

The graphics card market has been abuzz with rumors about AMD's potential release of the RX 6900. While AMD has confirmed the existence of the 6800, 6800 XT, and 6900 XT, there has been speculation about the RX 6900. The Euro Asian Economic Commission website has listed filings from Asus for the RX 6900. However, it is unclear whether this is an unannounced graphics card from AMD or simply a filing made by Asus in anticipation of a potential release. The differences between the RX 6900 XT and the RX 6800 XT, in terms of compute units and clock frequency, are also discussed. It remains to be seen when the custom designs of the RX 6900 will be available, as the reference designs are set for a December release.

The Confusing Naming Scheme of AMD Processors

In the world of AMD processors, the naming scheme can be quite perplexing. The recent introduction of the Ryzen 5 5500U and Ryzen 7 5700U has sparked discussion due to their code names, Lucienne and Lucienne, respectively. These processors are based on the Renoir architecture and offer slight upgrades compared to their predecessors. However, the decision to change the names from the previous numbering scheme of the 4000 series has caused confusion among customers. The introduction of the 5000 series was meant to simplify the naming structure, but the addition of these new processors has muddied the waters once again.

The Elusive Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti

Nvidia has been making headlines with the rumored release of the RTX 3070 Ti. According to reliable sources, the original plans for this card to be based on the GA104-400 core were scrapped in favor of the GA102-150 core. However, recent information suggests that even the GA102-150 core has been abandoned, and the RTX 3070 Ti will now utilize the GA103-300 A1 core. Speculation about the specifications includes 7424 FP32 CUDA cores and a 320-bit bus with potentially 10 or 20 gigabytes of memory. The release timing for this card and its availability remain uncertain.

System Requirements for Cyberpunk 2077

The highly anticipated game Cyberpunk 2077 has recently had its system specifications revealed by CD Projekt Red. The game demands a significant amount of storage space, with around 70 gigabytes required for installation. It is also noteworthy that the game recommends the use of an SSD for optimal performance. The minimum and recommended CPU requirements are surprisingly modest, with an Intel i5-3570K or AMD FX-8310 sufficing. The GPU requirements vary, depending on the desired resolution and settings, with an RTX 3070 recommended for high settings and an RTX 3080 for ray tracing ultra settings.

Possibility of a PlayStation Game Pass Equivalent

In a recent interview, Jim Ryan, the head of PlayStation, hinted at the possibility of a game pass-like subscription service for PlayStation consoles. While there is no official announcement yet, industry insiders and analysts believe that Sony might introduce such a service to compete with Xbox Game Pass. However, it is uncertain which games will be included in this potential subscription service and whether it will have day-one releases. Speculation suggests that Sony may offer slightly older titles rather than the latest releases, similar to their current PlayStation Now offering.

Delayed Next-Gen Games for PlayStation 5

Jim Ryan also revealed in the same interview that consumers should not expect games that truly showcase the capabilities of the next-generation consoles until late 2021 or even 2022. This delay is attributed to developers still familiarizing themselves with the new hardware and optimizing their game engines accordingly. The challenges of leveraging the full potential of the GPU's geometry engine and other advanced features have contributed to the timeline shift. Consequently, players will have to wait a bit longer for the groundbreaking titles that fully harness the power of the PlayStation 5.

Shortages and Frustrations in GPU Availability

The release of the latest GPUs from both AMD and Nvidia has been met with overwhelming demand and subsequent shortages. Customers have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to upgrade their hardware, but limited availability has frustrated many. The combination of constrained industry-wide capacity and long production cycles has resulted in a mismatch between supply and demand. The situation has been exacerbated by scalpers and resellers capitalizing on the scarcity. Both AMD and Nvidia have acknowledged the high demand and expressed their commitment to ramping up production to meet it. However, it may take several months for availability to catch up with the overwhelming demand.

Nvidia's Earnings Call and Demand for Ampere GPUs

During Nvidia's recent earnings call, Colette Kress, the company's CFO, commented on the strong demand for their Ampere GPUs. The demand has exceeded even their most optimistic expectations. Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO, also acknowledged the overwhelming demand and described the Ampere lineup as one of their fastest ramps in history. However, the availability challenges caused by industry-wide capacity constraints and longer production cycles may persist for the next few months. Nvidia does not anticipate meeting the demand and resolving the shortages in the near future.

Conclusion

The tech world is abuzz with excitement and frustration as new graphics cards and processors are released. The rumored RX 6900 graphics card from AMD, the confusing naming scheme of AMD processors, and the elusive Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti have generated both anticipation and confusion. Additionally, the system requirements for highly anticipated games like Cyberpunk 2077 have been unveiled, revealing the need for powerful hardware. The possibility of a PlayStation game pass equivalent and the delayed release of next-gen games for the PlayStation 5 have left gamers eagerly awaiting further updates. However, the market is currently facing shortages and frustrations in GPU availability, causing disappointment for many enthusiasts. Overall, the tech industry is experiencing a mix of excitement and challenges as it strives to meet the ever-growing demand for cutting-edge hardware.

Highlights

• The release of the rumored RX 6900 graphics card by AMD has sparked excitement and speculation in the graphics card market.
• The confusing naming scheme of AMD processors, such as the Ryzen 5 5500U and Ryzen 7 5700U, has left customers perplexed.
• The Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti has become the subject of Curiosity as rumors swirl about its specifications and release date.
• CD Projekt Red has revealed the system requirements for the highly anticipated game Cyberpunk 2077, including the need for an SSD for optimal performance.
• Sony may be considering the introduction of a game pass-like subscription service for PlayStation consoles to compete with Xbox Game Pass.
• Next-gen games that truly showcase the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 may not be available until late 2021 or 2022, as developers continue to adapt to the new hardware.
• The shortage of GPUs and frustrations in availability have made it difficult for customers to upgrade their hardware.
• Nvidia's Ampere GPUs have seen overwhelming demand, prompting the company to ramp up production to meet the market's needs.

FAQ

Q: When will the RX 6900 graphics card be released? A: The exact release date for the RX 6900 graphics card is still unknown, but custom designs are expected to launch sometime in Q1 of next year.

Q: How are the RX 6900 XT and RX 6800 XT different in terms of specifications? A: The main difference between the two graphics cards is the number of compute units and clock frequency. The RX 6900 XT features 80 compute units and a boost clock of 2250 megahertz, while the RX 6800 XT has 72 compute units and a boost clock of 2100 megahertz.

Q: Will the PlayStation game pass equivalent offer day-one releases? A: There is no official confirmation yet, but speculation suggests that the PlayStation game pass equivalent might not include day-one releases. It is more likely to offer slightly older titles as part of the subscription service.

Q: When can we expect games that fully utilize the capabilities of the PlayStation 5? A: Jim Ryan, the head of PlayStation, mentioned that games that truly showcase the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 may not be available until late 2021 or even 2022. This delay allows developers to optimize their game engines and leverage the new hardware effectively.

Q: When will the GPU shortages and availability issues be resolved? A: It may take several months for GPU availability to catch up with the overwhelming demand caused by industry-wide capacity constraints and production cycles. Both AMD and Nvidia are working to ramp up production, but it will require time to meet the high demand.