XFX confirms that AMD's new RDNA 4-based professional graphics card will only be shipped through pre-built systems.
XFX Radeon AI PRO R9700 Won't be Available in the DIY Market as AMD Limits its Purchase Through System Builders Only
AMD's latest RDNA 4-based PRO workstation GPU, which it showcased at Computex, has already launched in the market last month (around the end of July). The Radeon AI PRO R9700, which is based on the NAVI 48 die (the same die used on RX 9070 series) was previously announced to be launched alongside the Threadripper 9000 series. While we did see the Threadripper 9000 CPUs getting listed on various retailers, the Radeon AI PRO R9700 can't be seen on any retailer for purchase.
This is because XFX has restricted its sales to select system builders. AMD's board partner, XFX, has officially announced that its XFX Radeon AI PRO R9700 edition, which shares AMD's reference design, will be available to system integrators. While the GPU has technically launched in the market, it is likely going to take a few more days before getting listed by the system integrators. This eliminates any chances of getting one in the DIY market.
The Radeon AI PRO R9700 is AMD's alternative to the RX 9070 series for workstations, bringing more VRAM for AI workloads and is built using 2nd-gen AI accelerators. While the RX 9070 XT gets 16 GB VRAM, the R9700 ships with 32 GB GDDR6 VRAM for better performance. Now, since the GPU will only be available via system integrators, it will be hard to know its official MSRP.
Unlike the previous generation, AMD has decided not to sell the reference design and it appears that some of its board partners have restricted the availability in the DIY market for unknown reasons. Moreover, the RDNA 4 lineup may not see a stronger GPU than the R9700 since AMD hasn't revealed any plans to release any more powerful GPU die than the NAVI 48. In the previous lineup, we had both 80 and 90-class PRO GPUs, shipping with 32 GB and 48 GB VRAM capacity. The R9700 is technically a direct competitor to the PRO W7700 but brings double the VRAM capacity with the same 256-bit memory bus interface.
News Source: XFX
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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