Next-Gen AMD RDNA 5 Leaks Hint at a Mid-Range Powerhouse: Is a 384-bit Bus Coming?

Prepare for a potential shake-up in the graphics card landscape, as fresh whispers from the always-active tech rumor mill hint at some truly intriguing specifications for AMD's next-next-generation RDNA 5 desktop GPUs. While we're still eagerly awaiting the arrival of RDNA 4, these early leaks suggest that AMD might be cooking up something special, particularly for the mid-range market, with an unprecedented focus on memory bandwidth.

The latest intelligence comes courtesy of reputable leakers @Kepler_L2 and @All_Van_Gogh, who have unveiled details about a chip internally codenamed "AT3." This isn't a retail name, of course, but a development identifier for a specific GPU within the RDNA 5 (or "Navi 5X") family.

And what it suggests is nothing short of fascinating.

According to the leaks, the "AT3" GPU is slated to feature 48 Compute Units (CUs). While this number might seem modest compared to today's high-end beasts like the RX 7900 XTX (96 CUs) or even the RX 7800 XT (60 CUs), the true head-turner is the rumored memory bus width: a colossal 384-bit interface.

To put this into perspective, even AMD's current flagship, the RX 7900 XTX, utilizes a 384-bit bus, while the RX 7900 XT uses a 320-bit bus. Nvidia's mighty RTX 4080 Super, a high-end contender, makes do with a 256-bit bus. The idea of a mid-range GPU sporting such a wide bus is almost unheard of in recent memory.

This massive bus width opens up intriguing possibilities.

It could potentially enable the "AT3" GPU to support a whopping 24GB of GDDR7 (or even high-speed GDDR6) memory, providing a huge pool of VRAM that would be a significant advantage in demanding games and professional applications. Such an emphasis on memory bandwidth could signal a new architectural approach from AMD, perhaps to optimize performance in certain scenarios or to compensate for other design choices within the RDNA 5 architecture.

It's important to remember that these are very early leaks for an architecture that is likely still a couple of years away.

AMD is expected to launch its RDNA 4 (Navi 4X) GPUs first, which are rumored to primarily target the mid-range and enthusiast segments, potentially skipping a direct high-end competitor to Nvidia's top offerings. RDNA 5 would then follow, building on those foundations.

If these "AT3" leaks hold true, AMD's RDNA 5 generation could deliver an incredibly compelling mid-range offering, potentially redefining performance expectations in that crucial market segment.

A GPU with 48 CUs and a 384-bit bus, especially if paired with efficient architecture and competitive clock speeds, could offer an exceptional balance of raw power and memory capacity, making it a dream for gamers and creators alike who aren't looking to break the bank on a flagship card. As always with leaks, a healthy dose of skepticism is warranted, but the prospect is undeniably exciting.