HUGE gains expected from AMD’s next-gen UDNA GPU architecture
AMD reportedly targets huge per-CU performance boosts with its UDNA graphics architecture
According to the leaker KeplerL2, AMD is aiming to deliver massive gains in per-CU (Compute Unit) performance with its next-generation UDNA GPU architecture. The leaker expects a doubling in AI and Raster performance, alongside “20%-ish” gains in raster performance.
With UDNA, AMD is diving deeper into AI and ray tracing. AMD’s recently released RDNA 4 GPUs already deliver significant increases in ray tracing and AI performance, and AMD plans to continue down this road with UDNA.
AMD’s next-generation UDNA graphics architecture is due to power next-generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony. Today’s Xbox and PlayStation consoles are based on AMD’s RDNA 2 graphics architecture. Moving to UDNA will give Microsoft and Sony three generations of architectural improvements to deliver a “next-generation” console experience. These systems will benefit from AI enhancements, high-performance ray tracing implementations, and improved rasterisation performance.
What 2x RT performance mean for UDNA GPU framerates
In response to commenters, KeplerL2 has clarified that his 2x increase in RT performance claim does not mean that games with ray tracing will see their performance doubled. AMD’s doubling of ray tracing performance will only halve the frametimes of RT portions of a game’s frametimes. In other words, this change should greatly lower the performance impact of enabling ray tracing effects.
Similarly, AMD’s boosted AI performance will lower the performance impact of AI effects in games. One example of this is that it could reduce the performance overhead of AMD’s FSR 4 AI upscaler, making it more performant.
2x RT perf doesn't mean that FPS is doubled, it means that the RT portion of a frametime is halved.
— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) June 22, 2025
AMD is focusing on delivering the RT and AI performance that is required to enable next-generation gaming experiences. That said, AMD isn’t leaving raster performance behind with UDNA. Once again, AMD’s planning to increase the per-CU performance of its graphics architecture. If AMD can also combine this with higher-end GPU models with more CUs, AMD’s next-generation GPU designs could have what it takes to challenge Nvidia in the high-end GPU market.
You can join the discussion on AMD’s architectural improvements for RDNA 5/UDNA on the OC3D Forums.
