The graphics card market may be in for a shake-up in early 2025, as rumors circulate about a potential new budget-friendly offering from AMD. Tech enthusiasts are buzzing with speculation about the possible unveiling of the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE at CES 2025, which could redefine the landscape for affordable GPUs.
The Leak
Hardware leaker Hoang Anh Phu (@AnhPhuH) recently hinted at the existence of the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The leak simply mentioned the card's name alongside a CES 2025 hashtag, suggesting a potential reveal at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2025.
Positioning and Specifications
If the rumors prove true, the RX 7650 GRE would likely slot between the existing Radeon RX 7700 XT and RX 7600 XT in AMD's lineup. While exact specifications remain unknown, we can make some educated guesses based on its positioning:
- It may feature a GPU architecture between the Navi 32 XL (used in the 7700 XT) and the Navi 33 XT (found in the 7600 XT)
- VRAM capacity could fall between 12GB and 16GB GDDR6
- Performance would likely target 1440p gaming at good framerates
Potential Pricing
Given its expected position in the lineup, the RX 7650 GRE could be priced competitively in the $300-$400 range. This would make it more expensive than the current budget champion, the Radeon RX 7600, but potentially offer better performance and more VRAM for the price increase.
The GRE Factor
The GRE (Golden Rabbit Edition) branding has historically been associated with China-exclusive or China-first GPU releases from AMD. However, recent trends suggest AMD may be expanding the use of this designation:
- The Radeon RX 7900 GRE eventually saw a global release
- A CES reveal would be unusual for a China-exclusive product
This could indicate that AMD is pivoting to use the GRE label more broadly for new GPU variants.
Market Impact
If the RX 7650 GRE materializes with competitive pricing and performance, it could significantly disrupt the budget to mid-range GPU market. This launch may pressure both AMD's own lineup and NVIDIA's offerings in similar price brackets.
Timing Considerations
The rumored CES 2025 reveal places this potential launch at an interesting time:
- It may be one of the last RDNA 3 architecture cards from AMD
- RDNA 4 GPUs are expected in early 2025
- NVIDIA's RTX 5000 series is also anticipated around the same timeframe
For PC builders and upgraders, waiting until early 2025 could prove beneficial, with new options potentially available across various price points and performance tiers.
While these rumors are exciting, it's important to approach them with cautious optimism. As we await official confirmation from AMD, the prospect of a new budget-friendly GPU option is certainly something to keep an eye on as we move into 2025.