Nvidia and AMD both announced their next generation PC graphics cards at CES 2025.
Nvidia’s new GeForce RTX 50 series and AMD’s new Radeon RX 9070 series bring modest raw performance improvements alongside significantly enhanced neural upscaling, neural frame generation, and ray tracing capabilities.
Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 50 Series
Nvidia announced the RTX 5070, RTX 5070 ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 PC graphics cards, the first consumer products to use its new Blackwell GPU architecture.
CUDA Cores | VRAM | Bus Width | TDP | MSRP | |
RTX 5070 | 6144 | 12 GB GDDR7 |
192-bit | 250W | $550 |
RTX 5070 Ti | 8960 | 16 GB GDDR7 |
256-bit | 300W | $750 |
RTX 5080 | 10752 | 16 GB GDDR7 |
256-bit | 360W | $1000 |
RTX 5090 | 21760 | 32 GB GDDR7 |
512-bit | 575W | $2000 |
But raw raster performance isn’t Blackwell’s main focus.The new architecture also brings fourth-generation RT Cores and fifth-generation tensor Cores. Those RT Cores have a 2x ray triangle intersection rate for higher ray tracing performance, while the Tensor Cores enable the flagship feature of the new DLSS 4: Multi Frame Generation.
Nvidia says the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 will arrive on January 30, priced at $950 and $2000 respectively, while RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti will launch in february at $
The Race for VR Dominance: PC VR Pushes Forward with Next-Gen Hardware
While standalone VR headsets like the Meta Quest continue to dominate the consumer market, PC VR enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the next generation of hardware.These gamers crave high-fidelity experiences, pushing the boundaries of what’s visually possible in virtual reality.
take the simple pleasures of popular titles like Beat Saber, Gorilla Tag, and walkabout Mini Golf.These games have long been playable on PC VR setups at stunning resolutions and max settings. But the true magic of PC VR lies in its ability to handle far more demanding experiences.
Think about immersive flight and racing simulators, detailed VRChat worlds bustling with dozens of avatars, or high-fidelity AAA VR titles like Skydance’s behemoth. These experiences demand serious graphical horsepower, and even the current champion, the RTX 4090, struggles to deliver a perfect experience at ideal resolutions with maxed-out settings. VR is incredibly demanding. We’re talking about stereo rendering, expansive fields of view, and zero tolerance for added latency.
With the imminent arrival of 4K per eye PC VR headsets like Shiftall’s MeganeX superlight and Pimax Dream air in 2025, joining a lineup that already includes 3K per eye contenders like the Somnium VR1 and Pimax Crystal Light, the need for even greater graphical power becomes even more crucial. PC VR users will be clamoring for the hardware to truly unleash the potential of these stunning displays.
AMD Enters the Ring with RX 9070 Series
In the race for VR supremacy, AMD is entering the fray with its new RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards. While details are scarce, AMD positions the RX 9070 cards as affordable performers, aiming to compete directly with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 rather than its higher-end offerings.
AMD hasn’t yet revealed pricing for their new cards,nor have they provided a concrete release timeline beyond a vague “Q1 2025” window.
However,AMD is bringing some exciting new technology to the table. Both the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT integrate AMD’s second-generation AI accelerators. These accelerators power FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4), AMD’s answer to Nvidia’s DLSS 4.While AMD hasn’t divulged the specific improvements of FSR 4, like DLSS, it’s not widely supported by VR games yet.
simultaneously occurring, SteamVR usage hit near-record levels in December 2024, demonstrating the growing popularity of PC VR. As the technology evolves, the competition between AMD and Nvidia will undoubtedly push the boundaries of what’s possible in virtual reality, ultimately benefiting gamers with even more immersive and visually stunning experiences.
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What specific advancements in real-time ray tracing capabilities are offered by the Blackwell architecture and how do they benefit VR experiences?
Interview with Dr. Emily Carter, Senior Graphics Architect at Nvidia, on the Future of PC VR and Next-Gen GPUs
Archyde News: Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us today. With the recent announcement of Nvidia’s RTX 50 series at CES 2025, there’s a lot of excitement about how these GPUs will shape the future of PC VR. Can you give us an overview of what makes the Blackwell architecture so groundbreaking for VR enthusiasts?
Dr. Emily Carter: Absolutely, and thank you for having me.The Blackwell architecture is a notable leap forward, not just in raw performance but in how we approach rendering for immersive experiences like VR. With fourth-generation RT Cores and fifth-generation Tensor Cores, we’re able to deliver ray tracing performance that’s twice as fast as before. this is critical for VR, where realistic lighting and reflections can make or break immersion. Additionally, our new DLSS 4: Multi Frame Generation leverages AI to create smoother, more detailed visuals, which is essential for high-resolution VR headsets.
Archyde News: Speaking of high-resolution VR, we’re seeing headsets like the Shiftall MeganeX and Pimax Dream Air pushing for 4K per eye. How do the RTX 50 series GPUs handle such demanding displays?
dr. Carter: Great question. 4K per eye is a massive leap in pixel density, and it requires an enormous amount of computational power. The RTX 5090, for example, with its 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and 512-bit bus width, is designed to handle these ultra-high resolutions. But it’s not just about brute force. Our DLSS 4 technology plays a crucial role here. By using AI to generate additional frames and upscale images, we can maintain high frame rates and visual fidelity even at these resolutions. This is especially crucial for VR, where low latency and smooth performance are non-negotiable.
Archyde News: you mentioned latency. How does the Blackwell architecture address the unique challenges of VR, such as motion sickness and the need for instantaneous response times?
Dr. Carter: Latency is one of the biggest challenges in VR, and it’s something we’ve focused on heavily with Blackwell. Our new architecture reduces rendering latency by optimizing how frames are processed and delivered. The RT Cores and tensor Cores work in tandem to ensure that ray-traced effects and AI-generated frames are delivered as quickly as possible. we’ve also improved our driver stack to minimize overhead, which is critical for maintaining that “instant” feel in VR. For users, this means a more cozy and immersive experience, even in fast-paced games or simulations.
Archyde News: With the RTX 50 series, Nvidia seems to be targeting not just gamers but also creators and professionals. How do these GPUs benefit VR content creators?
Dr. carter: VR content creation is incredibly demanding, whether you’re building detailed VRChat worlds or developing AAA VR titles. The RTX 50 series, especially the 5090, offers the memory bandwidth and compute power needed for real-time rendering and simulation. Creators can work with higher polygon counts, more complex textures, and advanced lighting effects without sacrificing performance. Additionally, DLSS 4 allows creators to preview their work in near-final quality, which streamlines the growth process. It’s a win-win for both creators and end-users.
Archyde News: looking ahead, what do you see as the next big frontier for PC VR, and how is Nvidia preparing for it?
Dr. carter: The next frontier is undoubtedly about pushing the boundaries of realism and interactivity. We’re talking about fully immersive worlds with photorealistic graphics, advanced physics, and AI-driven interactions. To achieve this, we’re investing heavily in technologies like neural rendering and real-time ray tracing. We’re also working closely with headset manufacturers to ensure our GPUs are optimized for their hardware. The goal is to make VR experiences indistinguishable from reality, and I believe we’re closer than ever to achieving that vision.
Archyde News: Thank you, Dr. Carter, for sharing your insights. It’s clear that the RTX 50 series is a game-changer for PC VR, and we’re excited to see how it shapes the future of immersive experiences.
Dr. Carter: Thank you! It’s an exciting time for VR, and we’re thrilled to be at the forefront of this revolution.