AMD Navi graphics cards have been spotted in the latest MacOS Mojave update source code. Navi 16, Navi 12, Navi 10 and Navi 9 are mentioned in the code which might mean that there will be 4 different graphics cards coming out later this year. It was rumored that AMD Navi graphics cards would release in July, keeping in mind that this code is already there, it is possible that these rumors are not exaggerated and that these cards could be closer to release than we thought.
AMD Navi graphics cards are supposed to be mainstream GPUs that will replace the current Polaris cards. AMD CTO Mark Papermaster has already confirmed that the AMD Radeon VII graphics card is the high-end variant for now and that the company will focus on refreshing the remaining portfolio in 2019.
It is possible that we will not get a high-end graphics card from AMD besides the AMD Radeon VII this year and that the mainstream cards will be refreshed. This is not a bad thing as AMD does well in the mainstream segment rather than fighting with Nvidia at the top.
It is expected that these new cards will come with GDDR6 memory, just like the new Nvidia cards. The entry-level model might not need any external power and that would be great for people that do not want to get a new power supply and have an older computer lying around. The entry-level model could come with 4 GB of VRAM keeping in mind that is now the standard for graphics cards.
The higher-end models could compete with the RTX 2060 and RTX 2070 but you should not expect any card that will go up against the RTX 2080, as that is where the AMD Radeon VII comes in. We will still have Nvidia at the top with the RTX 2080 Ti or the Titan RTX.
We have also spotted a processor that could power the upcoming Xbox Scarlett and PS5 next-generation consoles. AMD is also working on ray tracing technology and we will hear about it later on in 2019.
Let us know what you think about AMD Navi graphics cards and whether or not this is something that you might be interested in getting for your next build.
