AMD quietly launches Radeon RX 7700 with 16GB of VRAM

In an expected move, AMD has officially unveiled a new desktop graphics card, the Radeon RX 7700. This non-XT model joins the RDNA 3 lineup a full two years after the debut of its siblings, and it arrives with a unique combination of specifications.

The new Radeon RX 7700 is based on a heavily cut-down Navi 32 GPU, featuring just 40 RDNA 3 CUs, for a total of 2,560 Stream Processors. This is a 26% reduction in core count compared to the 54 CUs found on the Radeon RX 7700 XT. However, in a bizarre twist, the memory subsystem is actually a significant step up. The RX 7700 comes equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, running at 19.5 Gbps. This is the same memory configuration as the RX 7800 XT, and it's significantly better than the 12 GB, 192-bit setup on the RX 7700 XT.

So, what does this strange combination of a weaker GPU with a stronger memory system mean for performance? According to AMD's own figures, the RX 7700 is approximately 17% slower than the RX 7700 XT, despite having a superior memory bandwidth.

This level of performance, combined with the quiet launch, strongly suggests that the RX 7700 is not a card intended for the DIY retail market. Instead, this looks to be an OEM-exclusive part. AMD has not announced any pricing or regional availability, but we wouldn't expect to see this one on store shelves anytime soon. It's a curious new addition to the lineup and certainly one of the oddest GPUs AMD has released in a while.

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KitGuru says: Based on the specs and performance figures, how much would you be willing to spend on this card if it were to become available at retailers?

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