AMD's Next-Gen Radeon GPUs Could Bring New Performance Gains

AMD is preparing its next-generation processors and graphics cards, and recent software updates have revealed details about the upcoming hardware. Linux kernel updates, Windows graphics drivers, and leaked GPU codenames have hinted at Zen 6 processors, next-generation Radeon GPUs, possible PlayStation 6 hardware, and a potential Steam Deck 2 processor.

Among these discoveries, a GPU identified as AT2 has drawn attention because of its connection to AMD's upcoming graphics architecture and reports about its potential performance. AMD has recently submitted several important updates for the upcoming Linux 7.4 kernel. These updates prepare Linux for its next-generation Zen 6 processors.

AMD Zen 6 Processors Get New Software Support

Zen 6 could change AMD's CPU design. Instead of relying only on traditional performance cores and compact Zen 6C cores, upcoming Ryzen processors could also feature a third category of low-power cores. The idea is simple. Not every task needs maximum processing power.

When gaming, editing videos, or running demanding applications, a computer needs fast, powerful cores. However, when browsing websites, watching videos, or running background applications, using those same powerful cores can waste energy. Low-power cores can handle lighter workloads while using less power, potentially improving laptop battery life.

The CPU updates are only part of the story, as AMD's graphics division has also been working on upcoming hardware. Recent graphics updates include support for several unreleased components involving memory management, system control, input and output systems, and VPE 3.0.

VPE stands for Video Processing Engine and handles certain video-processing operations. The move to version 3.0 suggests AMD is preparing an update to this component. However, these software additions don't specify which future Radeon products will use them.

AT2 could be part of AMD's next-generation Radeon GPU lineup.

The most important discovery concerns AT2, which is directly tied to rumors about AMD's next-generation Radeon graphics architecture. For years, AMD has used Navi codenames for its gaming GPUs. For example, the Radeon RX 9070 XT uses the Navi 48 GPU. However, next-generation leaks have repeatedly mentioned a different naming family that includes AT2.

The appearance of AT2 inside an AMD driver does not prove that every leaked specification is accurate. However, it provides additional evidence that the project exists. According to recent leaks, the complete AT2 design could contain around 70 compute units. A potential consumer gaming configuration may use only 64 compute units.

The current Radeon RX 9070 XT also has 64 compute units. This raises the question of whether AMD's next-generation GPU will deliver a meaningful performance increase over the current design. However, compute unit count is only one part of GPU performance. Architecture, clock speeds, memory bandwidth, cache, and instruction efficiency also matter.