A well-respected leaker has provided some insights into the changes that AMD is planning to make in their upcoming RDNA 4 GPU architecture, particularly in relation to ray tracing capabilities. While the leaked information suggests certain upgrades that may enhance the performance of ray tracing in AMD GPUs, it does not indicate a complete overhaul of the ray tracing units.
Details of the Leak
The leak, attributed to Kepler_L2 on X via Wccftech, is known for its accuracy in predicting future GPU developments. The information points towards the introduction of a ‘Double Intersect Ray Tracing Engine’ in the RDNA 4 architecture. This could mean either a doubling of the number of RT units compared to RDNA 3 or the ability to process twice as many ray-triangle intersection calculations. The key takeaway is the anticipation of significantly improved ray tracing performance in AMD GPUs to compete with Nvidia’s leading RTX technology.
Enhancements in Ray Tracing
While the leak hints at improvements in ray tracing performance, particularly through the Double Intersect Ray Tracing Engine, the specifics of these enhancements remain unclear. In addition to handling ray-triangle intersections, the traversal through BVH acceleration structures is highlighted as a crucial aspect. Optimizations aimed at enhancing BVH traversals are expected in the RDNA 4 architecture, but details are lacking.
One significant concern raised by the leak is the absence of any mention of AMD utilizing an ASIC to accelerate BVH traversals. Considering the importance of this aspect in ray tracing performance, the lack of information on dedicated traversal units in the leaked details raises doubts about the completeness of the upgrades in RDNA 4. Nvidia’s RTX technology, with independent ray-triangle intersection engines and BVH traversal circuits, is cited for its superior performance in ray tracing.
The leak also mentions potential utilization of the RT updates in the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro, hinting at advancements in ray tracing capabilities for gaming consoles. The focus on supporting BVH8 in the GPU of the PS5 Pro could indicate a parallel with the ‘Double Intersect Ray Tracing Engine’ in RDNA 4. However, the leak cautions that these enhancements may not automatically translate into a doubling of ray tracing speed in games.
As the industry progresses towards more extensive adoption of ray tracing technology, the competitiveness of GPU manufacturers like AMD, Intel, and Nvidia becomes crucial. With Intel and Nvidia also expected to release their next-generation GPUs around the same time as AMD’s RDNA 4, the pressure is on for AMD to deliver significant improvements in their ray tracing capabilities. Ray tracing is becoming a standard feature in modern gaming, emphasizing the need for AMD to ensure their GPUs can compete with the advancements in Nvidia’s RTX technology.
While the leaked details about AMD’s next-gen RDNA 4 GPU architecture show promise in enhancing ray tracing performance, there are concerns regarding the comprehensiveness of the upgrades. As the competition in the GPU market intensifies with rival companies gearing up for new releases, AMD will need to ensure that their GPUs offer a competitive edge in ray tracing capabilities to stay relevant in the evolving gaming landscape.
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